ukulele

American  

[yoo-kuh-ley-lee, oo-koo-ley-ley] / ˌyu kəˈleɪ li, ˌu kʊˈleɪ leɪ /

Or ukelele

noun

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

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ukulele British  

/ ˌjuːkəˈleɪlɪ /

noun

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

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ukulele Cultural  

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

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Etymology

Origin of ukulele

1895–1900, < 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

Example Sentences

He attended a selective public high school, wrote songs and played guitar, keyboards and ukulele.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 2, 2026

First loudly, with a ukulele, to convince her early-20th-century immigrant dad to spring for swimming lessons; later, softly, to herself as she prepares to become the first woman to swim across the English Channel.

From New York Times • May 30, 2024

Like Akaka, Cortez started playing ukulele at 8 and inherited a love of Hawaiian music from his family.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2024

A music therapist’s gentle voice fills the room with “The Itsy Bitsy Spider” to a backing track of ukulele and heart-monitor beeps.

From Slate • Jan. 28, 2024

The ukulele was a social asset second only to the traps and saxophone.

From "Cheaper by the Dozen" by Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey