Here's why:
* No distinction in pronunciation: In Polish, vowels are not distinguished by length. The same vowel sound is pronounced the same regardless of how long or short it is in writing.
* Stress is key: Polish has a stress-timed rhythm, meaning that each syllable is pronounced with roughly the same duration. Stress, rather than vowel length, is what distinguishes syllables.
However, there are some instances where Polish uses digraphs (two letters representing one sound) that can make vowels appear longer:
* "aa" and "ee" often represent a single, long vowel sound. For example, "maaa" (maa) and "see" (say).
* "oo" can also be a long vowel sound, but it's more common to pronounce it as a diphthong (two vowel sounds blended together).
Overall, while Polish doesn't have a distinct "long vowel" sound, the use of digraphs and the stress-timed rhythm can create the perception of longer vowels in some words.