BYTETOOLS

Haiku Syllable Checker

Check your haiku against the 5-7-5 syllable pattern (or tanka 5-7-5-7-7) with per-line counts and a word-by-word syllable breakdown.

Syllables are estimated with a standard vowel-group heuristic (about 90% of everyday English words are counted correctly). Names and unusual words can be off by one — when in doubt, say the line out loud.

What is the Haiku Syllable Checker?

The Haiku Syllable Checker counts the syllables in each line of your poem and marks it against the classic haiku pattern of 5-7-5 — or the tanka pattern of 5-7-5-7-7.

  • Live 5-7-5 haiku and 5-7-5-7-7 tanka checking
  • Per-line over/under flags with exact differences
  • Word-by-word syllable breakdown chips
  • Silent-e, -le, -ed and -es aware syllable heuristic
  • Runs completely offline in your browser

How to use the Haiku Syllable Checker

  1. 1

    Choose the form: haiku (5-7-5) or tanka (5-7-5-7-7).

  2. 2

    Type or paste your poem, one verse line per text line.

  3. 3

    Check each line's count against its target and the over/under flags.

  4. 4

    Use the per-word breakdown to find where to add or trim a syllable.

About the Haiku Syllable Checker

The Haiku Syllable Checker counts the syllables in each line of your poem and marks it against the classic haiku pattern of 5-7-5 — or the tanka pattern of 5-7-5-7-7. Every line shows whether it is on target, over or under, and by how much, with a word-by-word breakdown so you can see exactly where a syllable came from.

Syllables are estimated with the standard vowel-group heuristic: clusters of vowels are counted, silent trailing e is trimmed (make = 1) while the syllabic -le ending is kept (table = 2), and silent -ed and -es endings are handled (walked = 1, wanted = 2). It counts everyday English words correctly about nine times out of ten.

The checker runs 100% locally in your browser — your poems are never uploaded to any server, and it keeps working offline. Like every rule-based counter, names and unusual words can be off by one syllable, so for competition entries read any flagged line aloud before rewriting it; your ear is always the final judge.

Frequently asked questions

Does a haiku have to be exactly 5-7-5?

The 5-7-5 pattern is the traditional English-language convention, taught in schools and required by many competitions. Modern haiku poets often treat it loosely — Japanese haiku actually count sounds (on), not English syllables — so know your audience's rules.

How does the tool count syllables?

With a vowel-group heuristic: it counts clusters of vowels in each word, trims silent endings like the e in “make”, keeps syllabic endings like the -le in “table”, and treats -ed as silent in “walked” but spoken in “wanted”.

Why is a word counted wrong?

No rule-based counter is perfect — English spelling hides pronunciation, and names, borrowings and words like “poem” or “fire” genuinely vary by accent. Expect roughly 90% accuracy and trust your ear on the flagged words.

Can I check a tanka too?

Yes — switch the form selector to tanka and the checker validates five lines against 5-7-5-7-7. Extra lines beyond the pattern are flagged so you notice them immediately.

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