[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/ukulele/)

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# ukulele

noun (a ukulele, ukuleles); also spelled ukelele

«ukulele» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

A ukulele is a small guitar-like instrument with four strings, first made popular in Hawaii. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/ukulele/#m1)

### In the lessons

In music lessons the ukulele is a favourite first instrument in schools because it is small, cheap and easy to learn chords on. Phrases: play the ukulele, strum a ukulele, ukulele chords.

### Examples

- Our whole class is learning the ukulele. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/ukulele/#x1)
- She strummed a happy song on her ukulele. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/ukulele/#x2)
- A ukulele has four nylon strings. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/ukulele/#x3)
- The ukulele came to Hawaii from a Portuguese instrument in the 1800s. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/ukulele/#x4)
- Tune your ukulele before you play. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/ukulele/#x5)
- I can play three chords on the ukulele. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/ukulele/#x6)

### Note

Countable: a ukulele (with "a", because it starts with a "you" sound). Said you-ka-LAY-lee; in Hawaiian, oo-koo-LEH-leh. Informal short form: uke.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «ukulele» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/ukulele/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«ukulele» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/ukulele.html) on Mova free.