long a /ā/

long a is the /ā/ sound like in ‘bake’, or when the vowel says its name.

1. /ā/ can be spelled a, like in ‘bacon’
   2. /ā/ can be spelled ai, like in ‘rain’
   3. /ā/ can be spelled ay, like in ‘away’
   4. when the silent e uses its magic, like in ‘bake’ (see magic e lesson in long vowels, part 2, lesson 9)

   5. /ā/ can be spelled eigh, like in ‘eight’

ai ay rain away

This is the long a sound /ā/

ai comes in the middle of a word, and is often followed by n, l or d
(snail, rain, paid).

ay comes at the end of a word.

You guessed it, ai and ay are vowel teams — 2 vowels that together say one sound: /ā/.