ukulele

noun

uku·​le·​le ˌyü-kə-ˈlā-lē How to pronounce ukulele (audio)
ˌü-
variants or less commonly ukelele
: a small guitar of Portuguese origin popularized in Hawaii in the 1880s and strung typically with four strings

Illustration of ukulele

Illustration of ukulele

Examples of ukulele in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Music will be provided as well as music stands and ukuleles, if needed. Ramona Sentinel, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Jan. 2025 Meetups consist of playing popular songs together and sharing ukulele playing tips. Joe Rassel, Orlando Sentinel, 22 Jan. 2025 Instead, Lower gave away most of her belongings, stowed the rest in a trailer and drove off to join Circus Flora in St. Louis, singing and playing the ukulele. Alexis Soloski, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2025 The app supports guitar, piano, ukulele, bass and singing. Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 1 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for ukulele 

Word History

Etymology

Hawaiian ʽukulele, from ʽuku flea + lele jumping

First Known Use

1888, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ukulele was in 1888

Dictionary Entries Near ukulele

Cite this Entry

“Ukulele.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ukulele. Accessed 27 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

ukulele

noun
uku·​le·​le
ˌyü-kə-ˈlā-lē,
ˌü-
: a usually four-stringed small guitar popularized in Hawaii
Etymology

from Hawaiian ʽukulele "ukulele," literally, "jumping flea," from ʽuku "flea" + lele "jumping"

Word Origin
In the 19th century, a former British army officer named Edward Purvis lived in Hawaii as an official at the royal court. Purvis is said to have been given the Hawaiian nickname of ʽukulele, which means "jumping flea," because he was small and lively. In 1879 Portuguese immigrants arrived in the Hawaiian Islands. They brought several of their native instruments, among them a small four-stringed guitar. Purvis liked this new instrument. He quickly learned to play it. In time the small guitar became a favorite, and it took the nickname of the man who had made it popular.

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