Haiku

Pronunciation: /ˈhaɪˌkuː/

Definitions of haiku

noun a traditional form of Japanese poetry consisting of three lines with a 5-7-5 syllable structure

Example Sentences

A1 I learned about haikus in my English class.

A2 She wrote a haiku about the changing seasons.

B1 The teacher asked the students to write a haiku for homework.

B2 His haiku captured the essence of nature in just a few lines.

C1 The poet's haiku was published in a prestigious literary magazine.

C2 She studied the history and structure of haikus in depth for her thesis.

Examples of haiku in a Sentence

formal The poet composed a beautiful haiku about the changing seasons.

informal I tried my hand at writing a haiku, but it was harder than I thought!

slang Check out this dope haiku I wrote last night.

figurative Her words danced across the page like a haiku in motion.

Grammatical Forms of haiku

• past tense: haikued
• plural: haikus
• comparative: more haiku
• superlative: most haiku
• present tense: haikus
• future tense: will haiku
• perfect tense: have haikued
• continuous tense: is haikuing
• singular: haiku
• positive degree: haiku
• infinitive: to haiku
• gerund: haikuing
• participle: haikued

Origin and Evolution of haiku

First Known Use: 1601 year

Language of Origin: Japanese

Story behind the word: The word 'haiku' originates from Japan, where it is a traditional form of poetry.

Evolution of the word: Originally, haikus were called 'hokku' and were the opening stanza of a collaborative linked-verse poem known as 'renga'. It wasn't until the 19th century that haiku became a standalone form of poetry with its own distinct structure and themes.