Syllable Counter
Count syllables in words, sentences or a whole document — and see the Flesch reading-ease score that syllables drive.
Start typing or paste your text — the counts update live.
About this tool
Syllables are the hidden unit of readability. The famous Flesch reading-ease formula is built from just two ingredients — sentence length and syllables per word — which is why this counter shows both, plus your overall score. A score of 60–70 reads easily for most adults; below 40 you are in dense, academic territory.
Writers use syllable counts for poetry and haiku (5-7-5), song lyrics, speeches that must sound natural out loud, and teaching materials aimed at a specific reading level. The counter estimates syllables from vowel groups and common English spelling rules — including the tricky common cases: vowel pairs that are separate syllables (radio, video, diet), spoken -ed endings (wanted, created) and words like recipe and karate whose final e is pronounced — entirely in your browser.
How to use it
- Paste a word, line or full text into the box.
- Read the total syllables and the average per word.
- Check the Flesch score — higher means easier to read.
Frequently asked questions
How does the syllable counter work?
It applies the standard English heuristic: count vowel groups, adjust for silent endings like a trailing “e”, and count at least one syllable per word. It is highly accurate for common words and approximate for names and unusual spellings.
What is the Flesch reading-ease score?
A 0–100 readability score (higher = easier). 90–100 is very easy, 60–70 is plain English, 30–50 is difficult, and below 30 is best understood by university graduates. It is calculated from sentence length and syllables per word. Treat it as a guide only on passages of 100+ words — on a sentence or two the score swings wildly and means very little.
Can I count syllables in a single word?
Yes — type just the word and the total is its syllable count. “Calculator”, for example, is 4.