The short vowel “a” and the long vowel “ai” are both sounds made by the letter “a,” but they sound different. 1. Short vowel “a”: • The sound is short and sharp, as in words like: • cat • bat • map • hat • It is pronounced like the “a” in “apple” or “man.” 2. Long vowel “ai”: • The sound is longer and is usually pronounced like the letter “a,” as in words like: • rain • train • bait • mail • It is pronounced like the “a” in “cake” or “make.” In short, the difference lies in the length and sound: