Which word has the short vowel /i/ sound?

The word "winter" contains the short vowel /i/ sound, as in "win." In English, the short vowel /i/ is typically characterized by a quick, less tense articulation found in words such as "sit," "lip," and "pin." In "winter," the vowel sound between the consonants creates this short vowel phonetic quality.

In contrast, the other words do not have the short vowel /i/ sound. "White," "wave," and "wide" all feature long vowel sounds or diphthongs. For instance, "white" has a long /ī/ sound, as in "bike," "wave" contains a long /ā/ sound similar to that in "face," and "wide" also features the long /ī/ sound. Therefore, "winter" is the only option that correctly highlights the short vowel /i/ sound.