hula

American  

[hoo-luh] / ˈhu lə /

noun

1. a sinuous Hawaiian dance with intricate arm movements that tell a story in pantomime, usually danced to rhythmic drumming and accompanied by chanting.

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hula British  

/ ˈhuːlə /

noun

1. a Hawaiian dance performed by a woman

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Etymology

Origin of hula

Borrowed into English from Hawaiian around 1815–25

Example Sentences

Joan Anderson, who coined the name for the hula hoop and played an unsung role in its rise, has died age 101.

From BBC • Jul. 29, 2025

He reveals that he sprained it while hula hooping and he even shows photos.

From Salon • Dec. 14, 2023

“I say, ‘Maybe there’s hula dancers in here.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 5, 2023

It was a tribute to how she adored her time in Hawaii during her husband’s Navy years and how she loved learning to hula dance while there; her Secret Service code name was “Dancer.”

From Seattle Times • Dec. 1, 2023

I couldn't see her face because her head was hanging down on her chest and her stiff blonde hair fell down from its dark roots like a hula fringe.

From "The Bell Jar" by Sylvia Plath