5-7-5 Haiku
A quick, plain explanation of the 5-7-5 format: three lines, a fixed syllable count per line, no rhyme.
Reviewed for accuracy · Last updated August 25, 2026
What 5-7-5 means
"5-7-5" describes the syllable count of each line in a traditional haiku: 5 syllables in the first line, 7 syllables in the second, and 5 syllables in the third — 17 syllables total, across exactly three lines, with no rhyme.
A syllable is a single beat of sound in a word — "cat" is one syllable, "rabbit" is two (rab-bit). Counting them by clapping, or with a syllable counter, is far more reliable than counting by eye.
Example, broken down
morning fog lifts slow (5) one heron stands in the marsh (7) the tide starts to turn (5)
Line one: mor-ning fog lifts slow — 5 syllables. Line two: one her-on stands in the marsh — 7 syllables. Line three: the tide starts to turn — 5 syllables. No rhyme, no title, and the poem stays with one small, specific scene rather than trying to cover several ideas at once.
Counting syllables correctly
The most common mistake isn't the writing — it's the counting. Words like "fire," "every," and "chocolate" can be pronounced with one fewer syllable than they look like they have on the page. See the syllable dictionary for the words people disagree on most, or just paste your draft into the Haiku Checker and let it count for you.
Frequently asked questions
Is 5-7-5 the only correct haiku format?
It's the most commonly taught version and the one most people mean by "haiku," but plenty of respected modern haiku don't follow it exactly. See Does a Haiku Have to Be 5-7-5? for the full explanation of why.
Do the lines have to rhyme?
No — haiku traditionally don't rhyme at all. 5-7-5 refers only to the syllable count per line.
What's the easiest way to check my count?
Type your poem into the Haiku Checker in Strict 5-7-5 mode — it shows the syllable count for each line instantly, along with a word-by-word breakdown if a line is off.