# Syllables & language

> Syllable counts in InnerHook, a lyrics writing app: every line shows its count as you type, in English or Finnish, to match verse to verse.

Canonical: https://innerhook.com/docs/syllables/
Last updated: 2026-10-06

Every lyric line in InnerHook carries two small grey numbers: its line number on the left and its syllable count on the right. The counts update as you type, so you can hear the meter with your eyes: line 3 of the second verse should land close to line 3 of the first.

## Where to find it

The counts are always on in the song editor; there is nothing to switch on. The language they are counted in is in the song brief: open **Settings** in the side panel and look for **Lyrics language** under Basics.

## How to read the counts

- **One number per line.** It's the syllables of that line only. There are no section totals; the **Tools** view in the side panel shows the current section's character count if you need a size.
- **Line numbers restart in each section**, so "line 3" means the third line of that verse or chorus.
- **Empty lines show nothing.** An empty section shows a short hint instead.
- **Numbers count as one syllable** each, and so does any word without a vowel (*hmm*). Punctuation alone counts nothing.
- **Hyphenated words** such as *well-known* are counted as one word in English.

The counts are a quick estimate by rule, not a dictionary lookup. In English a word now and then comes out one off: *leaves* or *makes* can count as two. Use the numbers to compare lines, and trust your ear when a line looks right but counts odd.

## Choose the language

InnerHook counts in one language for the whole song, so a line that mixes words from both doesn't flip back and forth.

1. Open **Settings** in the side panel (or type `/` and pick **Song brief**).
2. Under **Lyrics language**, pick **Auto**, **English** or **Finnish**.

**Auto** guesses the language from all the song's lines and shows its guess in the chip, for example **Auto (Finnish)**. If the song belongs to an [artist profile](https://innerhook.com/docs/artist-profiles/) with a language set, Auto uses the profile's language instead, and the help text under the chips says so. The language is part of the song, so co-writers see the same counts.

### English and Finnish rules

- **English** counts the groups of vowels in each word, at least one per word, and drops a silent final *e* (*June* is one syllable, *shoelace* two).
- **Finnish** follows the Finnish syllable rules: long vowels and diphthongs are one syllable (*kesäyö* is ke-sä-yö, three), and pairs like *ie*, *uo* and *yö* only join in a word's first syllable.

> **Tip**
>
> Writing in Finnish with a few English loan words? Set **Finnish** rather than Auto, so a chorus full of English hooks doesn't tip the guess.

## In Write mode

[Write mode](https://innerhook.com/docs/write-mode/) hides the line numbers and keeps the syllable counts very dim in the margin. The **Syllables** control in Write mode's corner hides or shows them; InnerHook remembers your choice on this device.

## Limits

> **Limits**
>
> - Two languages are counted: English and Finnish. Lyrics in any other language are counted with the English rules.
> - The counts are estimates by rule; they don't know how you'll actually sing a word.