How to pronounce ukulele
Say it like yoo-kuh-LAY-lee. Ukulele has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (LAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce ukulele. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- yoo
- kuh
- LAY
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Ukulele pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- yooGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- kuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- LAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- leeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of ukulele
American and British speakers say ukulele in essentially the same way: /ˌjukəˈleɪli/ in the US and /juːkəˈleɪli/ in the UK.
British respelling: yoo-kuh-LAY-lee.
What does ukulele mean?
- A small four-stringed guitar.
Where does ukulele come from?
Borrowed from Hawaiian ʻukulele, from ʻuku (“flea”) + lele (“jump, jumping”).
Words that rhyme with ukulele
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of ukulele.
Questions about saying ukulele
How do you pronounce ukulele?
Say yoo-kuh-LAY-lee. The American pronunciation is /ˌjukəˈleɪli/. In British English it is /juːkəˈleɪli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in ukulele?
Ukulele has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (LAY). Broken into parts: yoo · kuh · LAY · lee.
Do Americans and Brits say ukulele the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌjukəˈleɪli/ and the British form is /juːkəˈleɪli/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.