WordCharacterCounter.com

Vowel Counter

Count the vowels in a word, a sentence or a whole text. The vowel counter shows how many times each of a, e, i, o and u appears, compares vowels with consonants, and highlights every vowel it counted. You decide whether y counts as a vowel.

  • A, E, I, O, U
  • Y as a vowel option
  • Highlights every vowel
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Vowels in your text

Every vowel counted is highlighted, so you can see exactly what was included.

  • Vowel
  • Y counted as a vowel

Your text appears here with the matches highlighted.

Count of each vowel

How often each vowel appears, with the accented forms found in your text.

Your vowel counts appear here.

How to count vowels

Counting the vowels in a word or text takes a few seconds.

  1. Type or paste your text

    One word, a sentence or a long passage. The count updates as you type.

  2. Decide about y

    Choose whether y never counts, counts when it sounds like a vowel (as in gym and happy), or always counts. You can also leave out accented vowels such as é.

  3. Check the results

    The total vowels, a count for each vowel with any accented forms, and your text with every counted vowel highlighted.

Example

“Education” has 5 vowels, one of each: e, u, a, i and o. “Queueing” has 5 vowels in a row: u, e, u, e, i.

Count vowels in a sample

Is y a vowel?

Y is a consonant at the start of a word or syllable, and works as a vowel when it makes a vowel sound. The “When it sounds like a vowel” setting follows this rule.

WordY sounds likeCounted as
yes, yellowa consonant (y-)Consonant
beyond, canyona consonant before a vowelConsonant
gym, mythshort iVowel
my, skylong iVowel
happy, cityeeVowel

The rule is a good guide but not perfect: in words like “day” and “toy”, y is part of a two-letter vowel sound.

Vowel letters vs vowel sounds

English writes with 5 vowel letters (6 if you count y), but speaks with far more vowel sounds. The Victorian Department of Education’s guide to the 44 sounds of Australian English lists 20 vowel sounds and 24 consonant sounds. That’s why the same letter can sound different: the a in cat, cake, car and about is four different sounds.

The vowel counter counts letters, not sounds. To count vowel sounds in a word, count its syllables instead: every syllable has exactly one vowel sound. The Syllable Counter does this for you.

Words with lots of vowels, and words with none

Some English words pack in vowels; others manage without a, e, i, o or u.

WordLettersVowels (a, e, i, o, u)Notable for
onomatopoeia128Two-thirds of its letters are vowels.
queueing85Five vowels in a row.
sequoia75Every vowel once, in 7 letters.
facetious95All five vowels in alphabetical order.
rhythm60No a, e, i, o or u; y works as the vowel.
strengths91One vowel and eight consonants.

What the vowel counter shows

The vowel counter gives you more than one number.

  • A–U

    Each vowel

    A separate count and share for a, e, i, o and u, plus y if you count it.

  • é

    Accented vowels

    Forms such as é, ü and å, listed under their vowel.

  • V:C

    Vowels vs consonants

    Your vowel share of all letters, and vowels per consonant.

  • ▮

    Highlights

    Every counted vowel marked in your text, so you can check the result.

Vowel counter FAQ

What are the vowels in English?

The vowel letters are A, E, I, O and U. Y is sometimes a vowel too, when it makes a vowel sound, as in “gym” or “happy”.

Does the vowel counter count y?

Not by default. Choose “When it sounds like a vowel” to count y in words like “my” and “gym” but not in “yes”, or “Always” to count every y.

How many vowels are in the word “education”?

Five: e, u, a, i and o, one of each vowel.

Are capital letters counted?

Yes. A and a are both counted as the vowel A.

Does it count accented vowels like é?

Yes, by default, under their base vowel. Untick “Count accented vowels” to leave them out.

Can I count vowels and consonants together?

Yes. The vowel counter shows the consonant total too, and the Consonant Counter gives a count for every consonant.

Is my text uploaded?

No. The vowels are counted in your browser and nothing leaves your device.

Sources and references

  1. The 44 sounds of Australian English, Victoria State Government, Department of Education

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