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noun

ukulele

yoo-kuh-LAY-lee
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Ukulele (noun) means a small four-stringed guitar-like instrument, closely associated with Hawaiian music. Example: “He strummed a cheerful tune on his ukulele at the beach party.”

noun
1
A small four-stringed guitar-like instrument, closely associated with Hawaiian music.
"He strummed a cheerful tune on his ukulele at the beach party."
"Beginners often find the ukulele easier to learn than a full-size guitar."

How to use ukulele

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA small, four-stringed Hawaiian guitar.

Common pairings
play the ukulele ukulele chords strum a ukulele
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Word forms

Plural
ukuleles
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

He strummed a cheerful tune on his _____ at the beach party.

Etymology

From Hawaiian "ukulele", literally "jumping flea" — combining "uku" ("flea") and "lele" ("to jump"), supposedly describing how fast a player's fingers move.

uke

Related words

uke

Rhymes for ukulele

See all rhymes for ukulele →

Frequently asked questions

What does “ukulele” mean?
The word “ukulele” means a small four-stringed guitar-like instrument, closely associated with Hawaiian music. In plain terms, a small, four-stringed Hawaiian guitar.
How do you pronounce “ukulele”?
“Ukulele” is pronounced yoo-kuh-LAY-lee (/juː.kəˈleɪ.li/ in IPA).
How do you use “ukulele” in a sentence?
Here is “ukulele” used in a sentence: “He strummed a cheerful tune on his ukulele at the beach party.”
What part of speech is “ukulele”?
“Ukulele” is a noun.

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