# Syllable Counter > Count the syllables in any word, sentence, or poem using a pronouncing dictionary — with syllable division, word stress, a haiku and poem-form checker, meter scansion, reading level, and a words-by-syllables finder. - Page: https://linguaholic.com/tools/syllable-counter/ - Type: free online tool (Language learning), no sign-up, runs in the browser - Publisher: Linguaholic (https://linguaholic.com/), made by Marcel Iseli - Last updated: October 2, 2026 - Open it pre-filled: https://linguaholic.com/tools/syllable-counter/?q=beautiful - `q`: a single word to count syllables in (alias of text) (for example `beautiful`) - `text`: a line, poem or lyrics to count (encode line breaks as %0A) (for example `An old silent pond`) - `form`: poem form to check the lines against: auto, haiku, tanka, cinquain, limerick or sonnet (for example `haiku`) - `mode`: find opens the 'Find words by syllables' tab (for example `find`) - `n`: with mode=find: number of syllables, 1 to 7 (7 means 7 or more) (for example `3`) - `starts`: with mode=find: letters the words must start with (for example `b`) - `ends`: with mode=find: letters the words must end with (for example `ing`) ## What is a syllable? A **syllable** is a single beat of spoken sound, built around one vowel sound. “Cat” has one syllable, “ta·ble” has two, and “beau·ti·ful” has three. Each syllable usually has a vowel sound at its center, with consonants around it: the vowel sound matters, not the number of vowel letters. That is why “bread” (two vowels, one sound) has one syllable and “i·de·a” (three vowels, three sounds) has three. This **syllable counter** looks up every word in a pronouncing dictionary of more than 50,000 English words (plus names), so it counts the way words are actually said — not just by counting vowel letters. It shows where each word breaks into syllables, which syllable is stressed, and which words can be said more than one way. ## How to use the syllable counter 1. **Type or paste** a word, sentence, poem, or song lyrics. The total, words, lines, average syllables per word, and reading grade update as you type. 2. **Type a single word** to see its syllable count, how it divides (ev·er·y), and where the stress falls. 3. **Paste a poem** on separate lines to count the syllables in each line. Pick a form — haiku, tanka, cinquain, limerick, sonnet, or your own pattern — to check every line against it. 4. **Read the rhythm:** stressed syllables are shown in bold, and lines that follow a regular meter are labeled, like “iambic pentameter”. 5. **Find words** with a given number of syllables in the second tab — filter by part of speech, topic, stress, and letters, then copy the list. Words the dictionary doesn’t know (brand names, made-up words, typos) are estimated from their spelling and marked with a **~**. Everything runs in your browser: nothing you type is uploaded or stored. ## Frequently asked questions **How does the syllable counter work?** It looks up every word in a pronouncing dictionary of more than 50,000 English words (based on the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary, plus names), so the count reflects how words are actually said. It also shows where each word divides into syllables and which syllable is stressed. Words that aren't in the dictionary, such as brand names or made-up words, are estimated from their spelling and marked with a ~. **How many syllables are in a word like fire, every, or family?** Some words have two common pronunciations. Fire and hour can be said with 1 or 2 syllables, every and family with 2 or 3, and chocolate and different are usually 2 in everyday speech but 3 when said carefully. The counter shows both counts for these words, and either is correct — use the one that matches how you say it. **How do I check a haiku?** Paste your haiku as three lines. The counter checks the 5-7-5 pattern line by line, shows how many syllables to add or cut, and marks a line that fits only with an alternate pronunciation. You can also check tanka (5-7-5-7-7), cinquain (2-4-6-8-2), limericks, sonnets (10 syllables per line), or any custom pattern. **Can it tell me which syllable is stressed?** Yes. For every word in the dictionary, the main stressed syllable is shown in bold, for example beau·ti·ful or ba·nan·a. Type a single word to see its stress spelled out, and use the word finder to list words by stress position. **Does it check iambic pentameter and meter?** Yes. Each line of a poem is scanned: stressed syllables are shown in bold and the closest meter is named, such as iambic pentameter or trochaic tetrameter. It uses dictionary stress for longer words and treats one-syllable words flexibly, the way a reader scans by ear, so treat it as a helpful first reading. **How do I divide a word into syllables?** Split between two consonants (rab·bit), before a single consonant after a long vowel (ba·by), after a single consonant after a short stressed vowel (riv·er), and keep consonant + le together (ta·ble). Keep digraphs like ch, sh and th together, and split compound words and prefixes or suffixes first (base·ball, re·play). The counter shows the division of every word it knows. **Can I find words with a certain number of syllables?** Yes. Open the Find words by syllables tab, choose 1 to 7+ syllables, and filter by part of speech, topic, how common the word is, stress position, and starting or ending letters. Tap a word for a short definition, or copy the whole list. **What are open and closed syllables?** An open syllable ends in a vowel, which usually makes the vowel long, as in go or ba·by. A closed syllable ends in a consonant, which usually makes the vowel short, as in cat or rab·bit. They are two of the six syllable types taught in reading: closed, open, silent e, vowel team, r-controlled, and consonant-le. **What reading level does it show?** For texts of 10 words or more it shows the Flesch reading ease score (higher is easier; 60–70 is plain English) and the Flesch–Kincaid grade level, both calculated from sentence length and syllables per word. **Is it free and private?** Yes. It is free with no sign-up, and it runs entirely in your browser — nothing you type is uploaded or stored. ## Data sources Word data: Linguaholic’s English dictionary, built from the open ENABLE and SCOWL word lists, the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary (pronunciation and syllables) and Princeton WordNet (meanings). 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