Here's why:
* Long vowel sounds are typically represented by the vowel letter followed by a silent 'e' at the end of the word (like "cake," "time," or "hope").
* Short vowel sounds are the most common vowel sound in English, and they tend to have a more closed, concise sound (like "cat," "pen," or "sun").
In the word "May," the vowel 'a' has a short vowel sound, similar to the 'a' in "cat."