haiku

[hahy-koo]

noun

plural

haiku 

1. a major form of Japanese verse, written in 17 syllables divided into 3 lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables, and employing highly evocative allusions and comparisons, often on the subject of nature or one of the seasons.

2. a poem written in this form.

haiku

/ ˈhaɪkuː /

noun

1. an epigrammatic Japanese verse form in 17 syllables

haiku

1. A form of Japanese poetry. A haiku expresses a single feeling or impression and contains three unrhymed lines of five, seven, and five syllables, respectively.

Word History and Origins

Origin of haiku¹

First recorded in 1895–1900; from Japanese, from hai(kai) haikai + ku “stanza”; hokku

Word History and Origins

Origin of haiku¹

from Japanese, from hai amusement + ku verse

Related Words

• ballad 
• composition 
• epic 
• lyric 
• poetry 
• rhyme 
• sonnet 
• verse 
• writing 

When To Use

What does haiku mean?

Haiku is a traditional style of Japanese poetry in which 17 syllables are written in three lines, with the first line containing five syllables, the second line containing seven, and the third line containing five.The word haiku is also commonly used to refer to a poem written in this way. The plural is haiku, though it’s common to see people casually refer to haikus.For example:Haiku are poems. (five syllables)Haiku always have three lines (seven syllables)They often don’t rhyme. (five syllables)Traditional Japanese haiku often use natural subjects or imagery. This often involves using specific words that represent the seasons.However, for English speakers, haiku has become a popular style of poetry that can be about anything. Many people use haiku as a form for creating funny, entertaining, or absurd poems, using the 5-7-5 syllable format as a kind of challenge or guiding principle.