The primary sound meaning of vowels in different types of syllables.

In disyllabic and polysyllabic words the vowel letter has its alphabetical (long) meaning if:

1) it is separated from the following vowel letter or from the combinations –le, -re by only one consonant letter e.g. pilot, idle, fibre;

2) it is followed by a consonant + r +vowel e.g. library, April;

3) it is followed by a readable vowel letter e.g. diet, going.

The vowel letter has its short primary meaning:

1) if it is separated from the following vowel or the combination –le by two or more consonants e.g. render, silly, fiddle.

2) if the vowel letter (apart from “u”) is in the third stressed syllable from the end e.g. family, cylinder; but: funeral;

3) if the vowel letter is followed by a single letter “v” e.g. avid, oblivion; but: uvula, fever, over;

4) if the vowel letter is followed by a consonant and one of the combinations, such as –ic, -ish, -ity e.g. tragic, polish, cavity;

5) in disyllabic words with the sound [i] and [ju:] in the last unstressed syllable the vowel letter of a stressed syllable has a short meaning: e.g. tribune, facet; but: stupid.

But if the word ends in –y, -ie as in the words lady, Edie the letters “a”, “e” have their alphabetical (long) meaning.