Word for Wednesday: Haiku

blog home

March 21 marked World Poetry Day and to celebrate we’ve chosen poetry for this month’s Word for Wednesday theme.
 
The word poetry dates to the late-fourteenth century and comes from the Old French ‘poetrie’, from the Latin ‘poeta’. 

Over the past few weeks we’ve looked at the words sonnet, limerick, and villanelle. Today’s word is haiku. 

A haiku is a three-lined Japanese poem made up of seventeen syllables, with five syllables in the first and final lines and seven syllables in the middle line. Haiku often describe the natural world.

The word haiku was first used in English in 1902. It comes from the Japanese ‘haikai no ku’ meaning ‘comic or light verse’. The poetry form itself dates to the mid-sixteenth century.
 


23 Mar 2022
blog home

"I have just subscribed and look forward to continuing to use Spellzone. I have been really impressed with the program during the trial period and the students gave very positive feedback. Many thanks."

Teacher, International School, Geneva