In the word 'cat,' is the syllable open or closed?

In the word 'cat,' is the syllable open or closed?

• A. Open
• B. Neither
• C. Closed
• D. Both

Answer: (C)

Vowels get their behavior in a syllable from what comes after them. An open syllable ends with a vowel, often giving it a long sound. A closed syllable has a consonant right after the vowel, which makes the vowel short and “close” the syllable. In cat, the vowel sound is short because a consonant comes after it, ending the syllable. That closing consonant means the syllable is closed. So cat is a closed syllable. An open syllable would have a long vowel sound and end with just the vowel, which isn’t the case here.

Vowels get their behavior in a syllable from what comes after them. An open syllable ends with a vowel, often giving it a long sound. A closed syllable has a consonant right after the vowel, which makes the vowel short and “close” the syllable.

In cat, the vowel sound is short because a consonant comes after it, ending the syllable. That closing consonant means the syllable is closed. So cat is a closed syllable. An open syllable would have a long vowel sound and end with just the vowel, which isn’t the case here.