How many syllables does a haiku have?

In the classic form 17, spread over three lines: 5 syllables, then 7, then 5 again. Haikugarden counts the syllables of every line for you.

Yes. As a guest you can start straight away without signing up. A free account opens levels 2 to 4, your collection and your progress. There is nothing to buy.

With an account every finished haiku goes into your collection by itself; anything written offline is saved once you are back online. When you revise a haiku, the old version is kept. As a guest your browser only remembers your latest haiku, and it is carried over when you create an account.

Can I play on my phone?

Yes, Haikugarden is made for phones and works just as well on tablets and computers – in the browser, with nothing to download. You can change the text size and switch between light and dark in the settings.

How to Write a Haiku – 5-7-5 Haiku Game Online

Learn to write haiku with Haikugarden

A haiku is a short poem from Japan: three lines of 5, 7 and 5 syllables that capture a single moment, often from nature or everyday life. In Haikugarden you put your haiku together from a word bank while the game counts the syllables for you. Step by step you write more of it yourself, until the whole haiku is your own.

Haikugarden is meant to be calm: no points, no leaderboard, no timer. Every finished haiku becomes a card in your collection. It is free to play in your browser on phone, tablet and PC, and as a guest you can start right away without signing up.

How a haiku works

The first line has five syllables, the second seven and the third five again. A syllable is one beat of speech – clap along as you say it: "cher-ry blos-soms" has four.
Every word in the word bank shows its number of syllables, and at the top you see how full each line already is.
If a line does not fit, you get a friendly note. You can keep adjusting or keep the haiku just as it is.

Four levels, ten themes

Level 1 – Word bank: build 5-7-5 from 14 words and phrases. The bank can always be made to fit.
Level 2 – Complete the line: an example haiku is given with one line missing.
Level 3 – Your own line: you write one line yourself, the others come from the word bank.
Level 4 – Free writing: all three lines are yours, with a writing prompt and the syllable display.
Ten themes: spring, summer, autumn, winter, nature, weather, animals, city, feelings and everyday life – plus a prompt of the day as a suggestion.
There is also syllable training (split words, guess the syllables, fill the gap), nine mini lessons that open one by one – on kigo, the season word, for example – and 30 example haiku.
As a guest you play level 1 with every theme. With a free PanicLines account all levels are open, your haiku stay in your collection and you can follow your progress.

Controls

Tap or click a word and it goes into the active line; the selection then moves on to the next open line.
You can also drag words onto a line. Tap a placed word to put it back.
Type your own lines into the text field; the game counts the syllables as you write.
On a computer everything works with the keyboard too: Tab moves to the next word, Enter places it.

Tips for your haiku

Show, don't explain: write what you see, hear or feel – "puddles shine" rather than "it is nice".
Use a season word such as cherry blossoms, fireflies or fresh snow to place your haiku in time at once.
Two images side by side: a small cut between two pictures leaves room for the reader to fill in the rest.
Leave things out: filler words cost syllables. If you are two short, look for a fitting image rather than a "very" or "just".
Stuck? "Hint" highlights a word that still lets every line work out. In your own lines it suggests words with the right number of syllables.

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables does a haiku have?: In the classic form 17, spread over three lines: 5 syllables, then 7, then 5 again. Haikugarden counts the syllables of every line for you.
Is Haikugarden free?: Yes. As a guest you can start straight away without signing up. A free account opens levels 2 to 4, your collection and your progress. There is nothing to buy.
Are my haiku saved?: With an account every finished haiku goes into your collection by itself; anything written offline is saved once you are back online. When you revise a haiku, the old version is kept. As a guest your browser only remembers your latest haiku, and it is carried over when you create an account.
Can I play on my phone?: Yes, Haikugarden is made for phones and works just as well on tablets and computers – in the browser, with nothing to download. You can change the text size and switch between light and dark in the settings.