How to Pronounce Haiku

To pronounce "haiku", say HAIK-u — 2 syllables, IPA /ˈhaɪ.kuː/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

haiku

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Accent

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Speed

Syllable by syllable — tap each one

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2

Syllables

5

Letters

/ˈhaɪ.kuː/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “haiku”

"haiku" has 2 syllables: haik-u.

What does haiku mean?

noun

  1. A Japanese poem in three lines, the first and last consisting of five morae, and the second consisting of seven morae, usually with an emphasis on the season or a naturalistic theme.
  2. A three-line poem in any language, with five syllables in the first and last lines and seven syllables in the second, usually with an emphasis on the season or a naturalistic theme.

    “Haiku, a poem”

Synonyms

hokku

Hear “haiku” in real sentences

Real example sentences from Tatoeba (CC-BY) — tap to hear each one, or see it used on YouGlish.

Related words

bashotankakatautasedokasijotrimeterheptastichquatrain

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "haiku"?▾

"Haiku" has 2 syllables: haik · u.

What is the IPA transcription of "haiku"?▾

The IPA transcription of "haiku" is /ˈhaɪ.kuː/.

What does "haiku" mean?▾

Haiku: A Japanese poem in three lines, the first and last consisting of five morae, and the second consisting of seven morae, usually with an emphasis on the season or a naturalistic theme.

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