noun
haiku
HEYE-koo
noun
1
A short Japanese poem written in three lines, traditionally with five, seven, and five syllable-like units, often evoking a season or a scene from nature.
"She wrote a haiku about cherry blossoms falling in the spring wind."
"His English teacher asked the class to compose a haiku about autumn."
How to Use Haiku
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA tiny, tightly structured poem, usually about nature, built from three short lines.
Memory tip
You don't need to count syllables perfectly in English — the spirit of a haiku (a brief, vivid image) matters more than a strict 5-7-5 count.
Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
write a haiku
a haiku poem
compose a haiku
Word Forms
haiku plural, haikus plural
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Fill the Gap
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She wrote a _____ about cherry blossoms falling in the spring wind.
Etymology
From Japanese haiku, itself from an older term meaning a "paired verse" or "linked line," ultimately tracing back through Chinese characters for "playful" and "line" or "verse."