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ukulele

or u·ke·le·le

[ yoo-kuh-ley-lee; Hawaiian oo-koo-ley-ley ]

noun

  1. a small, guitarlike musical instrument associated chiefly with Hawaiian music.


ukulele

/ ˌjuːkəˈleɪlɪ /

noun

  1. a small four-stringed guitar, esp of Hawaii


ukulele

  1. A small guitar , developed in Hawaii , with four strings.


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Word History and Origins

Origin of ukulele1

1895–1900, Americanism; < Hawaiian ʿukulele leaping flea ( ʿuku flea + lele to jump, leap), a nickname given to British army officer Edward Purvis (who popularized the instrument at the court of King Kalakaua), in reference to his lively playing style

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Word History and Origins

Origin of ukulele1

C19: from Hawaiian, literally: jumping flea, from `uku flea + lele jumping

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Example Sentences

Trainor brought along a ukulele to her audition and blew him away.

There are few things cuter than a little kid killing it on the ukulele.

Bernice saw that Warren's eyes had left a ukulele he had been tinkering with and were fixed on her questioningly.

Somebody began to play a ukulele, and gay voices took up the tune.

But Fulaanu lounged with her ukulele, surrounded by amorous sailors who gazed longingly into her eyes.

Returning home for a canned luncheon she discovered Gaylord humming a love song and strumming on his ukulele.

From within, through the open window, came the tinkling of Tom's ukulele and the rollicking lilt of his voice in an Hawaiian hula.

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