Here's why:
* Short vowel sound: The vowel "e" in "even" makes a short "e" sound, like in "bed" or "pen."
* Single vowel: The word has only one vowel, which is a strong indicator of a short vowel sound.
* No vowel digraph or diphthong: There's no combination of vowels (digraph) or gliding vowel sounds (diphthong) in "even."