Here's why:
* Short vowels are typically followed by a single consonant. In "flute", the vowel "u" is followed by two consonants: "t" and "e".
* Long vowels are often followed by a consonant and a silent "e". In "flute", the "e" is silent, indicating that the "u" has a long vowel sound.
Therefore, "flute" has a long "u" sound, making it a long vowel word.