Syllable counter
Estimate syllables line by line, compare your lyric phrasing and correct words to match how you sing them. Count in English, Spanish, German, French or Brazilian Portuguese.
Your line-by-line counts will appear as you type.
How it works
How to use: Syllable counter
- 01
Paste the lines you want to compare
Put each lyric or poetry line on its own line, then choose the text language. The result updates as you type. Standalone section labels such as [Verse] are ignored; punctuation does not need a count of its own.
- 02
Read the estimates aloud
Compare the totals with your own pronunciation. Open Adjust pronunciation beneath the result to change an individual word count. That correction applies to matching words in the current text. Changing the text language clears these pronunciation corrections.
- 03
Copy the line counts
Copy counts saves each line with its estimated total so you can refer to it in your writing notes. A question mark means a token needs a manual count. Use Reset to clear the text and corrections when you start a different draft.
Lyric writing utility
Refining vocal rhythm and phrasing
Compare the words in two verses before you sing them to the same melody. Paste one lyric line per line, choose its language and review the counts on the right. The counter uses dictionary pronunciations where available and established syllabification libraries for English, Spanish and Portuguese. An unfamiliar French or German word is marked for a manual count. You can change any word's count to match your pronunciation. Similar line totals can help you spot crowded phrases, but they do not show stress or decide how the words fit a melody. The counting runs in your browser and uses no writing allowance or song credits.
Comparing two verses
Set the first and second verse side by side in your writing notes and check where the counts diverge. A longer line is not automatically wrong. Sing it against the melody to decide whether to shorten it, change the rhythm or leave a rest elsewhere.
Adapting a chorus into another language
Select the source language, copy its counts, then switch languages for the translated text. Compare the two sets while checking the melody. Similar totals can help you find crowded lines, but word stress and vowel placement still need an actual sung check.
Editing a short poem
Use line totals to spot a line worth revisiting, then read the poem naturally. The tool does not identify stressed syllables or classify poetic metre. If a word has more than one reasonable pronunciation, set the count that fits the way you read it.
An example to work from
Mapping a simple verse
The brief
Compare two short English lines before trying them against the same melody.
One, line, at, a and time each have one syllable in ordinary English speech. The five-syllable first line and four-syllable second line may still fit the same melody with a rest or a held note. Counts describe words, not the number of beats or notes.
Try your own ideaWorked reference example
One line at a time → 5 I find the words → 4 [Verse] → ignored section label
Make it your own
The next edit matters.
Accounting for melisma
A single syllable can be stretched over many notes, a technique known as melisma. While the tool provides a literal count, you might sing a word across four beats. Always prioritize the musical timing and your intended vocal delivery over the literal count provided by the software.
Managing French nuances
In French, the final silent e may be sounded in some sung styles and omitted in others. A vowel sequence can also be separated for a melody. Treat the estimate as a starting point, and adjust the word to the pronunciation you intend to sing.
Handling non-Latin characters
Numbers and non-Latin words are marked for a manual count because their spoken form is not known. Write a number out in the form you will actually say, or set the count for that token under Adjust pronunciation. Symbols and punctuation are not counted as words.
Keep writing
Edit a line into a singable phrase
Follow an original songwriting example, then work through your own idea, verse and chorus.
A little help
Questions about this tool?
Something else on your mind?
Ask us about writing a draft or turning your words into a song.
How accurate is the syllable counter?
Counts use dictionary pronunciations where available, with syllabification fallbacks for English, Spanish and Portuguese. Dialect, names and sung phrasing can change a count. Unknown French and German words are marked for a manual count instead of a guess.
Can I correct the count for a word?
Yes. Open Adjust pronunciation and enter the count you use. It applies to matching occurrences of that word in the current text; changing the selected language clears those corrections.
Does stretching one syllable over several notes change the count?
No. Several notes can be sung on one syllable. Use the count to compare words, then listen to how your melody distributes them across time.
Which languages can I count?
English, Spanish, German, French and Brazilian Portuguese. Choose the language of the text separately from the website language, and review the estimates aloud.
What happens to numbers and section labels?
A standalone label such as [Verse] is ignored. Numbers and unsupported scripts are marked for a manual count; spelling a number out lets the estimator work on the words you actually say.
Are my lyrics sent to an AI service?
No. The counter runs locally in your browser. It needs no login or song credits and does not send your text to a writing API.
