Haiku Syllable Counter
Type each line separately. This checks the traditional Japanese-derived 5-7-5 pattern most English-language haiku follow — three lines, five and seven and five syllables.
The 5-7-5 rule
A haiku in English is usually three lines: 5 syllables, then 7, then 5, for 17 in total. Count each line on its own. A line can hold any number of words, and only the syllables matter. Here is a short example, counted word by word:
cold rain on the roof
cold (1) · rain (1) · on (1) · the (1) · roof (1) = 5
the kettle hums a low note
the (1) · ket-tle (2) · hums (1) · a (1) · low (1) · note (1) = 7
nobody is home
no-bod-y (3) · is (1) · home (1) = 5
A caveat on the original form
5-7-5 counts on (a Japanese sound unit, closer to a mora than an English syllable) in the original form, not English syllables one-for-one. Many English haiku poets and translators treat 5-7-5 as a loose guideline rather than a strict rule, and plenty of well-regarded English haiku don't hit it exactly. This tool checks the count English speakers usually mean by "5-7-5," not a claim about the original Japanese form.
Why English syllable counts vary
Some words have two accepted pronunciations, and your accent decides which one you use. This counter follows the main entry in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. The words that most often cause a disagreement:
- fire: counted as 2 (FY-er). Many speakers say 1.
- hour: counted as 2 (OW-er). Often heard as 1.
- every: counted as 3 (EV-er-ee). Often said as 2 (EV-ree).
If a line is one syllable off, look for one of these words first. To check a single word, use the syllable dictionary.
How this counter works, and its limits
Each word is looked up in the dictionary of about 126,000 words. For a word the dictionary doesn't know, such as a name or a new coinage, the counter estimates from vowel groups. That estimate is right most of the time but not always, so check made-up words by ear. The counter checks syllables only. It can't tell you whether a poem works as a haiku: whether it holds one clear image, a season or a turn between lines.
Writing longer lines? Try the iambic pentameter checker for ten-syllable da-DUM lines, or count a full draft with the syllable counter.
FAQ
- What is the 5-7-5 rule for haiku?
- An English haiku is usually written as three lines of 5, 7 and 5 syllables, 17 in total. The pattern comes from the Japanese form, which counts sound units called on rather than syllables.
- Does a haiku have to be exactly 5-7-5?
- Not always. Many English haiku poets write shorter lines, because 17 English syllables carry more than 17 Japanese on. School assignments and contests usually ask for strict 5-7-5, so check the brief.
- Why does my syllable count differ from the counter?
- Some words have more than one accepted pronunciation. "Fire," "hour" and "every" are counted by the dictionary's main entry but are often said with one syllable fewer. If your accent counts a word differently, trust your reading and adjust.
- Do haiku need to rhyme?
- No. Traditional haiku do not rhyme. They usually focus on one moment in nature and often include a seasonal word and a shift or contrast between the lines.
Keep going
- Look up an individual word's syllable count and see its phonetic breakdown before you drop it into a line. Syllable Dictionary
- Writing something longer than a haiku? Check ten-syllable, stressed-unstressed lines here instead. Iambic Pentameter Checker