Free syllable counter
Count syllables in anything
Type or paste a word, a line, or a whole verse — the syllable count updates as you go, with a breakdown for every word.
Counts update as you type. The counter uses a spelling-based estimate; for exact counts on individual dictionary words, open that word’s syllable page.
Look up one word
Want the exact count for a single word, plus how it’s pronounced and where the stress falls? Look it up:
Words by syllable count
Browse common words grouped by how many syllables they have — useful for poetry, haiku, and vocabulary building.
The quick rule
A syllable is one vowel sound — count the beats you say out loud. Not sure how to handle silent e’s, diphthongs, or endings like -le? Read the full guide to counting syllables.
Frequently asked questions
How does the syllable counter work?
Type or paste any text and it counts the vowel sounds in each word — every syllable is built around one vowel sound. Totals update as you go, with a syllable count for each word and the average per word. For a single dictionary word, its own page gives the exact count from a pronouncing dictionary.
How do you count syllables in a word?
Say the word out loud and count the beats — each beat is one vowel sound. “Wa-ter” has two, “beau-ti-ful” has three. A quick written trick: count the groups of vowel letters, then subtract a silent “e” at the end (as in “make”). Our how-to guide walks through the rules with examples.
Can I count syllables in a sentence, poem, or haiku?
Yes. Paste any amount of text and the counter totals every word and shows the syllables per word — handy for checking a haiku (5-7-5), a limerick, or the meter of a song lyric.
Are the counts accurate?
For the tens of thousands of words in the pronouncing dictionary, the per-word pages give exact counts. The live counter uses a spelling-based estimate so it can handle any text — including names and made-up words — and it's right the large majority of the time.