What is a haiku?
A haiku is a short poem from Japan. In English it is usually written as three lines of 5, 7 and 5 syllables (17 in total), often about nature or a single moment, with a "cutting" pause between two images. The example above is a common translation of Matsuo Bashō's famous frog poem.
How syllables are counted
English spelling doesn't map neatly to sounds, so the checker estimates syllables from groups of vowels and adjusts for common patterns such as a silent final "e" ("time" = 1) and "-ed" endings ("jumped" = 1). It's right for most everyday words, but may be off by one for unusual words, names or words like "fire" and "poem", which people pronounce differently. Use the per-word breakdown to check, and trust your ear. Haiku in Japanese count "on" (sound units), not syllables, so many modern English haiku poets don't stick strictly to 5-7-5.
Frequently asked questions
How many syllables does a haiku have?
17 in English: 5, then 7, then 5 across three lines.
Is the syllable count always right?
It is an estimate based on spelling. It is accurate for most words but can be off by one for unusual ones.
✨ New: Remove the background from any image free – private, in your browser, transparent PNG.
Related free tools
Note: This free tool runs entirely in your browser. No data is sent or stored. Results are for information only.