The word 'focus' is broken down into two parts. In the first part; 'Fo' the 'O' is a long vowel. In the second part 'cus' the 'U' is a short vowel. So the word focus has both a long and a short vowel in it.
Short vowel. But southern English pronunciation tends to draw the sound out more, linger over the 'a', whereas Scottish speakers will pronounce it quickly, more shortly - a variation in accent heard...
If pronounced carefully 'am' has a short vowel called ash ( æ).More details follow:Although phonologically short, ash has very often duration similar to long vowels accompanied by its diphthongal...