Long or Short Vowel?

• 1st–2nd grade
• Ages 6–8
• Free, no sign-up

Cake or cat? Kite or kit? Your child reads and hears each word, then decides whether its vowel is long (it says its name) or short. Later levels compare one vowel at a time, like short a and long a.

▶ Play

About the game

How to play

1. Read and listen. Tap the picture to hear the word again.
2. Listen to the vowel. Does it say its name?
3. Sort it. Tap Long or Short.
4. Sort 10 words. Right on the first try earns stars.

For parents: what Long or Short Vowel? practices

Long or Short Vowel? trains kids to hear the difference between long and short vowel sounds, the key to reading words like hop and hope. It pairs with:

• Long and short vowels
• Long vowel sounds
• Magic E

Common Core: RF.1.2a (distinguish long from short vowel sounds), RF.1.3c, RF.2.3a.

Getting the most out of it

• A long vowel says its own letter name: a, e, i, o, u.
• Look for clues like a magic e or two vowels together.
• Compare pairs out loud: cap, cape.

Games are best as a reward or a warm-up, not the main lesson. Ten minutes of play after a short lesson works better than an hour of play on its own.

More games

• Magic ECap or cape? See how silent e changes words.1st–2nd grade
• Missing VowelsFill in the missing vowels in each word.1st–3rd grade
• Suffix SurfHopeful or hopeless? Surf with suffixes.3rd–4th grade

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Last reviewed: November 11, 2026

Questions parents ask