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 Your outstanding balance can be cleared – the only exception is charges related to STEAM science kits, ukuleles and/or Chromebooks. Andrea Manes, Orange County Register, 26 Sep. 2024 Sportswriters of the day were charmed by the swimmer who played the ukulele and made his own surfboards. Les Carpenter, Washington Post, 18 July 2024 So Lyons spent months last year living in an apartment in Tromso, strumming a ukulele and teaching English classes. Luca Evans, Orange County Register, 13 Sep. 2024 Hint 2: This classic movie has Adam Sandler playing a ukulele to Drew Barrymore. Cathy Kozlowicz, Journal Sentinel, 10 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for ukulele 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ukulele.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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 4 Nov. 2024.

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.

More from Merriam-Webster on ukulele

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!