How to pronounce haiku
Say it like HY-koo. Haiku has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce haiku. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- HY
- koo
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Haiku pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- HYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- kooKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
American vs British pronunciation of haiku
American and British speakers say haiku in essentially the same way: /ˈhaɪku/ in the US and /ˈhaɪkuː/ in the UK.
British respelling: HY-koo.
What does haiku mean?
- 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.
- 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.
Questions about saying haiku
How do you pronounce haiku?
Say HY-koo. The American pronunciation is /ˈhaɪku/. In British English it is /ˈhaɪkuː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in haiku?
Haiku has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HY). Broken into parts: HY · koo.
Do Americans and Brits say haiku the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈhaɪku/ and the British form is /ˈhaɪkuː/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.