Free instrument
Syllable
Counter.
A precise count of every word, line, and stanza — instant, deterministic, and private. Scan verse, check meter, draft lyrics.
Counting a haiku? The dedicated haiku syllable counter checks each line against 5-7-5 and reads kigo, kireji, and imagery.
Haiku Checker →Deterministic and private. Counts come from a rule-based engine running entirely in your browser — your text is never sent to a server.
Total syllables
Line structure
Line totals appear here — handy for checking 5-7-5.
Word by word
Each word appears as a chip with its own count.
Paste or type
Click the input panel and type a word, a line, or paste an entire poem. The readout updates as you type — no submit button.
Read the chips
Each word appears as a chip with its own count, so multi-syllable words are easy to spot at a glance.
Check line totals
Every line is listed with its total — verify haiku 5-7-5, check a pentameter ten, or scan any syllabic constraint.
01The counts that matter
Haiku
17 totalThree unrhymed lines, traditionally turning on a single image or moment in nature.
Tanka
31 totalThe haiku's older, longer ancestor — two extra seven-syllable lines give the image room to resolve.
Limerick
AABBAA comic form driven by anapestic bounce rather than strict counts — but the rhythm still shows up in the totals.
Sonnet
10 / lineFourteen lines of iambic pentameter — five da-DUM feet, so each line should scan to ten.
02How many syllables in…?
The words writers argue about. English compresses unstressed vowels in speech, so dictionaries record two counts for many common words — and in syllabic verse you may claim either. Counts below follow standard dictionary syllabification.
03Questions
Is the syllable counter free?
Yes. The syllable counter is completely free to use with no account, no signup, and no ads. You can count syllables in as many words or poems as you like.
Do I need an account to use it?
No account is needed. Just paste or type your text and the syllable count appears instantly in your browser.
How does Storgy count syllables?
The counter uses a rule-based English algorithm that groups vowel sounds, subtracts silent trailing 'e' patterns, and enforces a minimum of one syllable per word. It handles common short words (the, he, she, we) as special cases. Results are computed locally in your browser — no text is sent to a server.
Does it work for haiku?
Yes. The syllable counter is the same engine that powers the Storgy Haiku Checker. Paste your three haiku lines and check whether each line hits 5, 7, or 5 syllables. You can also use the dedicated Haiku Checker for kigo, kireji, and imagery analysis.
How many syllables are in a haiku?
Seventeen in the traditional English form, arranged five-seven-five across three lines. Paste your three lines and the per-line totals show immediately whether each one lands. Japanese haiku actually count on (sound units), not English syllables, which is why many modern English haiku run shorter than seventeen.
Why do some words have two possible syllable counts?
English compresses unstressed vowels in fast speech: 'every' is EV-ry aloud but EV-uh-ree in careful speech, 'fire' can be one gliding syllable or two. Dictionaries record both. In syllabic verse you may claim either count — poets have stretched and squeezed these words for centuries — and this counter reports the most common spoken form. The reference table below covers the words people ask about most.
04Correlated instruments
Haiku Checker
The same engine plus kigo, kireji, and imagery analysis — built for the 5-7-5 form.
Inst. 03Iambic Pentameter Checker
Counting is half of meter — this marks the stresses too, line by line against da-DUM × 5.
Inst. 04Rhyme Scheme Finder
The other half of prosody — end rhymes lettered phonetically, slant rhymes included.
Craft is deliberate.
All counting runs in your browser — nothing is sent to Storgy servers.