ToolPetal
Syllable counter
- Runs on your device
- Nothing uploaded
- Free, no sign-up
Syllables per line
| Line | Text | Words | Syllables |
|---|
Syllables per word
* Estimated by spelling rules. Words without a star come from the built-in list. Only the first 400 different words are listed; the totals include every word.
How to use the syllable counter
- Type or paste your text. One word, a line of a poem, song lyrics or a full essay all work.
- Read the totals. The big number is the total syllables. Next to it are the word count, line count and average syllables per word.
- Check each line. The line table gives the syllables in every line, which is what you need for haiku, sonnets and song meter. With exactly three lines you also get a 5-7-5 haiku check.
- Check each word. The word list shows the count for every different word. A star means the count was estimated by spelling rules.
Worked examples
| Text | Split | Syllables |
|---|---|---|
| beautiful | beau ti ful | 3 |
| syllable | syl la ble | 3 |
| everything | ev ery thing | 3 |
| education | ed u ca tion | 4 |
| An old silent pond | an / old / si lent / pond | 5 |
The sample haiku (press Try a haiku) counts 5, 7 and 5, so the check says it fits the pattern.
How the count works
Each word is first looked up in a built-in list of common words that spelling rules get wrong, with counts taken from the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. Any other word is counted by rules: groups of vowels make a syllable, a silent e at the end is dropped, endings like -ed after t or d and -es after s, x, z, ch, sh, c or g add one, and pairs such as the i and a in "piano" are split. These rules give the dictionary answer for about 9 in 10 English words, so an unusual word or name can be off by one. Hyphenated words are counted part by part. Numbers written as digits are not counted, so spell them out (twenty three) if they matter. Some words are said two ways, such as "fire" or "family", and the count follows one common way.
Reading ease and grade level
Reading ease is the Flesch score: 206.835 minus 1.015 x (words per sentence) minus 84.6 x (syllables per word). Higher is easier; 60 to 70 is plain English. Grade level is the Flesch-Kincaid grade: 0.39 x (words per sentence) + 11.8 x (syllables per word) - 15.59, roughly the US school grade needed to read the text. Sentences are counted at full stops, question marks and exclamation marks, so they mean little for a poem with no punctuation.
Questions
How do I count syllables in a word?
Type or paste the word into the box. The count appears at once, and the word list shows the count for each word you enter. You can also clap or tap once for each vowel sound as you say the word.
How many syllables are in a haiku?
A traditional English haiku has 17 syllables over three lines: 5, 7 and 5. Paste three lines and the tool checks the 5-7-5 pattern for you.
How accurate is this syllable counter?
Common words that spelling rules get wrong are in a built-in list with counts from the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. Other words are counted by rules, which match the dictionary for about 9 in 10 words, so an unusual word or name can be off by one. Words counted by rules are marked with a star.
Does it count syllables per line?
Yes. The line table lists every line with its word count and syllable count, which helps with poems, sonnets and song lyrics.
What are reading ease and grade level?
They are the Flesch reading ease score and the Flesch-Kincaid grade level, worked out from words per sentence and syllables per word. A higher reading ease means easier text, and grade level is roughly the US school grade needed to read it.
Is my text sent anywhere?
No. The counting runs in your browser and the text is not uploaded.