Most vowel pairs make a long vowel sound. Therefore, when
you see two vowels together you can assume the sound is
long. The vowel that goes first is normally the sound. For
example:

Boat – The “o” is first, so the vowel sound is a long “o”

“When two vowels go walking, the first one does the talking.”

Vowel Pairs with 1 Sound

AY

Vowel Sound: Long A

Play, stay, way, May, always, pay, spray

EE

Vowel Sound: Long E

Seen, been, keep, meet, sleep, sheep,

OA

Vowel Sound: Long O

Coach, foam, throat, coat

AI

Vowel Sound: Long A

Pain, stain, pail, snail, wait

Vowel Pairs with Multiple Sounds

EA

Vowel Sounds

Short E (Head)
Long E (Speak)
Long A (Steak)

IE

Vowel Sounds

Long E (Believe)
Long I (lie)

OO

Moon vs. book

OU

Out vs. You vs. Though

shoulder, youth, soup, mountain, sour, house, shout, group,
ground, course, south, couch, count, wound, tourist, about








OW

Cow vs. Snow

Short E	Long E	Long A
Steady	Beard	Pear
Bread	Leave	Bear
Breakfast	Peach	Great

Long E	Long I
Niece	Cried
Chief	Flies
Shield	Replied

Moon	Book
Soon	Look
Mood	Good
Fool	Foot
Raccoon	Shook

Out	You	Though
House	Tour	Course
South	Wound	Shoulder

Cow	Show
Shower	Throw
Tower	Know
Now	Below
Towel	Grow