The word ukulele is divided into 4 syllables: u·ku·le·le. Understanding this syllable division is essential for correct pronunciation and spelling.
The phonetic transcription of ukulele:
Note: Audio requires JavaScript enabled
Borrowed from Hawaiian ʻukulele, from ʻuku (“flea”) + lele (“jump, jumping”). Borrowed from English ukulele, from Hawaiian ʻukulele, from ʻuku (“flea”) + lele (“jump, jumping”). Borrowed from English ukelele, from Hawaiian ʻukulele, from ʻuku (“flea”) + lele (“jump, jumping”). Borrowed from English ukelele, from Hawaiian ʻukulele. Unadapted borrowing from English ukelele, from Hawaiian ʻukulele. Borrowed from English ukulele. Unadapted borrowing from English ukule...
Understanding how to break down ukulele into syllables helps with:
Compare ukulele with related words to understand syllable patterns:
| Word | Syllables | Division |
|---|---|---|
| ukulele | 4 | u·ku·le·le |
| usual | 2 | usu-al |
| Ucayali | 3 | u-caya-li |
| Uccello | 3 | uc-cel-lo |
| UCLA | 2 | u-cla |
ukulele has 4 syllables: u·ku·le·le. The word is divided into 4 distinct sound units that make up the complete pronunciation.
The stress is on the first syllable: u. This means you emphasize the "u" part when pronouncing ukulele.
ukulele is pronounced as /juː.kəˈleɪ.li/ (IPA notation). The syllables are divided as: u·ku·le·le.
Breaking ukulele into syllables helps with spelling: u·ku·le·le. By pronouncing each syllable separately, you can identify the letters more easily and avoid common spelling mistakes.
Learning syllable division helps with correct pronunciation, improved spelling, better reading fluency, and is useful for poetry and lyric writing where syllable counting matters. It's especially helpful for language learners.