Syllable Counter
Count syllables per word and per line, live, with a built-in haiku (5-7-5) check.
Per line
How syllables are counted
This tool lowercases each word, strips punctuation, then counts vowel groups — consecutive runs of a, e, i, o, u or y — since each group of run-together vowel sounds is normally one syllable. "Silent" is s-i-l-e-n-t: the vowel groups are "i" and "e", giving 2 syllables.
A few spelling patterns don't pronounce the way they're written, so the counter adjusts for them:
- Silent trailing "e" — words like "pond" → "pone" hypothetically would count the trailing e, but real silent-e words like "time" or "silence" drop it: "silence" has vowel groups i, e, e (3), minus the silent final e = 2.
- "-le" after a consonant is kept, since it forms its own syllable — "table" (t-a-ble) is 2 syllables, not 1, even though it ends in a silent-looking e.
- "-es"/"-ed" endings after most consonants don't add a syllable ("walked" is 1, not 2), but they do after "t"/"d" ("wanted" is 2) or a sibilant sound like s/x/z/ch/sh ("kisses" is 2).
- Every word counts as at least 1 syllable, and a short exception list covers common words the pattern-based rules get wrong, like "every" (3), "business" (2) and "queue" (1).
Worked example — the classic Bashō haiku: "An old silent pond" → An(1) old(1) si-lent(2) pond(1) = 5. "A frog jumps into the pond" → A(1) frog(1) jumps(1) in-to(2) the(1) pond(1) = 7. "Splash! Silence again." → Splash(1) Si-lence(2) a-gain(2) = 5. That's a valid 5-7-5 haiku, which is exactly what the checker above confirms.
Tips for writing syllable-accurate poetry
Read lines aloud and tap out each syllable if the count looks off — your ear is more reliable than any algorithm for edge cases like "fire" (often 1 syllable in casual speech, 2 when sung or emphasized). Compound and hyphenated words are counted as their letters read, so "well-being" counts both halves. When in doubt for a specific word, check a dictionary's syllable-break notation (e.g. "busi·ness") rather than relying purely on automated tools.
Syllable Counter: frequently asked questions
How does this syllable counter work?
It counts vowel groups in each word (treating y as a vowel), then adjusts for silent trailing "e" and unpronounced "-es"/"-ed" endings, with a small exception list for common words that break the pattern like "every" and "business".
Can a syllable counter be 100% accurate?
No automated counter is perfect — English spelling doesn't map cleanly to pronunciation, and regional accents vary. This tool is tuned against common tricky words and haiku, but always double-check unusual or technical words by ear.
How do I check if my poem is a valid haiku?
A traditional haiku has 3 lines with 5, 7 and 5 syllables. Paste your poem with each line on its own line and the tool checks each line against the 5-7-5 pattern automatically.
Why do some words count differently than I expect?
Words like "fire" or "hour" can be one or two syllables depending on how they are spoken. This tool picks the most common count for each and lists a handful of known exceptions explicitly.