100 Examples of Short Vowel Sound Words

Short vowel sounds are a subset of vowel sounds that are characterized by their brevity and distinct pronunciation. These vowel sounds are short in duration and are enunciated without any significant alteration in the shape of the vocal tract. Unlike long vowel sounds, which are pronounced for a more extended period, short vowel sounds are quick and crisp. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the world of short vowel sound words, to enhance your understanding and mastery of them.

Table of Contents

Short Vowel Words

In English, there are five short vowel sounds, each represented by a specific vowel letter:

Short ‘A’ Sound: This sound is heard in words like “cat,” “bat,” and “map.”
Short ‘E’ Sound: You’ll find this sound in words like “pen,” “red,” and “set.”
Short ‘I’ Sound: Words such as “sit,” “win,” and “lid” contain the short ‘I’ sound.
Short ‘O’ Sound: The short ‘O’ sound can be heard in words like “dog,” “hot,” and “top.”
Short ‘U’ Sound: Examples of words with the short ‘U’ sound include “cup,” “mug,” and “tub.”

Mastering these short vowel sounds is crucial for accurate pronunciation and comprehension of English words. Let’s take a closer look at each of these short vowel sounds.

Chart of Short Vowel Sounds:

Vowel	Example Word
A	cat
E	bed
I	sit
O	dog
U	cup

Short A Vowel Words

The short ‘A’ sound is often described as the sound you make when you say the letter ‘A.’ It is a quick and crisp sound, like a short “ah.” To produce this sound, keep your mouth fairly open and your tongue relaxed. Here are some common words that feature the short ‘A’ sound:

Ab
Apt
Fab
Cab
Tab
Jab
Gab
Lab
Nab
Dab
Crab
Slab
Fad
Dad
Lad
Pad
Sad
Mad
Rad
Tad
Bad
Gas
Cap
Lap
Tap
Map
Gap
Rap
Nap
Zap
App
Slap
Clap
Fan
Van
Man
Tan
Ran
Pan
Ban
Glass
Mass
Class
Sass
Fast
Mast
Past
Ramp
Stamp
Lamp
Damp
Hand
Band
Stand
Snack
Shack
Lack
Knack
Hack
Slack
Pack
Rack
Back
Tack
Stack
Smack
Quack
Rat
Mat
Pat
Fat
Hat
Cat
Chat
Slat

Short E Vowel Words

The short ‘E’ sound is similar to the sound you make when you say the letter ‘E.’ It is a quick and clear sound. To pronounce this sound, position your tongue in the middle of your mouth, and keep your lips relaxed. Here are some words with the short ‘E’ sound:

Red
Med
Led
Fed
Sled
Bed
Head
Tread
Jet
Met
Net
Wet
Set
Yet
Tent
Cent
Pent
Lent
Rent
Dent
Scent
Men
Hen
Ten
Lense
Sense
Dense
Defense
Spend
Lend
Mend
Tend
End
Defend
Trend
Send
Fell
Smell
Tell
Well
Yell
Hell
Web
Vest
Test
West
Jest
Rest
Pest
Chest
Lest

Short I Vowel Words

The short ‘I’ sound is reminiscent of the letter ‘I.’ It is a brief and distinct sound. To create this sound, slightly raise your tongue toward the roof of your mouth, and keep your lips relaxed. Here are some examples of words containing the short ‘I’ sound:

Rid
Mid
Lid
Id
Kid
Hid
Bid
Lip
Clip
Sip
Rip
Tip
Nip
Dip
Whip
Big
Wig
Pig
Hit
Bit
Writ
Lit
Fit
Sit
Pit
Nit
Mitt
Silk
Milk
Win
Tin
Twin
Pin
Lint
Glint
Flint
Mint
Fill
Pill
Till
Hill
Gill
Dill
Mill
Bill
Chill
Sill
Will
Nil
Rim
Dim
Whim
Trim
Fib
Rib
Sib
Whip
Thick
Quick
Sick
Stick
Pick
Lick
Trick
Slick
Quit

Short O Vowel Words

The short ‘O’ sound is akin to the sound of the letter ‘O.’ It is a quick and straightforward sound. To pronounce this sound, form a round shape with your lips while keeping your tongue relaxed. Here are some common words featuring the short ‘O’ sound:

Cod
Rod
God
Bod
Pod
Nod
Odd
Off
Jot
Pot
Cot
Rot
Tot
Dot
Hot
Not
Lot
Got
Clot
Trot
Blot
Nob
Job
Mob
Rob
Sob
Lob
Cob
Box
Ox
Pox
Rock
Sock
Mock
Knock
Lock
Dock
Log
Dog
Bog
Hog
Cog
On
Pond
Con
Don
Stop
Shop
Drop
Cop
Mop
Hop
Bop
Sop
Top
Plop
Mom

Short U Vowel Words

The short ‘U’ sound resembles the letter ‘U’ and is a short, crisp sound. To produce this sound, round your lips and keep your tongue relaxed in the middle of your mouth. Here are some words that include the short ‘U’ sound: