How to count syllables
A syllable is a beat of sound built around one vowel sound. Count the vowel sounds you hear, not the vowel letters you see: boat has two vowel letters and one syllable, rhythm has no a, e, i, o or u and still has two.
- Clap it out. Say the word slowly and clap on each beat: but-ter-fly is three claps.
- Chin drop. Put a hand under your chin and notice the beats as you speak. This can help, but check the spoken vowel sounds too.
- Silent e doesn't count. make, time and home have one syllable each.
- Regular past-tense -ed adds a syllable after t or d. want-ed and need-ed have two; walked and played have one.
- -es adds one after a hissing sound. box-es, wish-es, pag-es; but cats and dogs stay at one.
- Consonant + le makes its own syllable. ta-ble, lit-tle, ap-ple, puz-zle.
- Vowel teams usually make one sound (rain, boat, team), but some vowels side by side split: li-on, po-em, i-de-a, cre-ate.
Every, chocolate, family: why counts differ
Many common words are said with fewer syllables than they are written with. Dictionaries divide choc·o·late into three, but most Americans say /ˈtʃɑk.lət/, with two. The same happens with fam·i·ly, veg·e·ta·ble, cam·er·a and dif·fer·ent. Other words go the other way: fire, hour and our are written as one syllable, but can stretch into two when said slowly.
The counter gives the dictionary answer first and tells you when people commonly say it another way, with the pronunciation of each version. For a poem or a song, use the count you actually sing.
One, two, three or more syllables
| Type | Syllables | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Monosyllable | 1 | cat, dog, tree, school, strength |
| Two-syllable | 2 | ta-ble, hap-py, a-bout, mon-key |
| Three-syllable | 3 | beau-ti-ful, ba-na-na, el-e-phant |
| Four or more syllables | 4 or more | in-for-ma-tion, un-be-liev-a-ble |
Where to break a word at the end of a line
When a word doesn't fit, break it between syllables and add a hyphen. Leave at least two letters on the first line and three on the next (no a-/bout or read-/y), don't split a one-syllable word, and keep proper nouns whole when you can. The result above lists every break that follows these rules, based on dictionary hyphenation.
Why you can trust this counter
Syllables and stress come from two open dictionaries: the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary (how each word is said, with its stress) and the Moby Hyphenation List (how it is divided in writing). A single rule engine reconciles the two and is tested against 551 tricky words. Words missing from the dictionaries are worked out from a word that is there (walk → walking) or, as a last resort, estimated and clearly marked. Every reported mistake becomes a test before it is fixed.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know how many syllables a word has?
Count the vowel sounds you hear, not the vowel letters. Say the word slowly and clap on each beat, or put your hand under your chin and count how many times it drops. Or type the word above to see the syllables, the stress and the pronunciation.
How many syllables are in every?
Dictionaries give every two syllables (ev-ery, /ˈɛv.ri/). Said slowly or carefully, many people make it three: ev-er-y.
How many syllables are in chocolate?
It is divided into three in writing (choc-o-late), but most Americans say it with two: /ˈtʃɑk.lət/. Both counts are correct; use the one you actually say.
Does y count as a vowel?
Yes, when it makes a vowel sound: gym, my, happy and rhythm all use y as a vowel. At the start of a word, as in yes and yellow, y is a consonant.
Does silent e add a syllable?
No. The final e in make, time and hope is silent, so those words have one syllable. The exception is consonant + le at the end (ta-ble, lit-tle), which makes its own syllable.