noun

ukulele

yoo-kuh-LAY-lee

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

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

Word forms

ukuleles plural

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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.

Synonyms

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uke

Related words

uke

Rhymes for ukulele

ele tele Pele Lele Adele Steele Michele Daniele Gabriele Raffaele clientele

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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