How the heck do you pronounce ukulele?
Before I became interested in the uke, I didn’t even question the way that I was pronouncing the word. Living in Southern Indiana (Columbus), I’d always heard it pronounced as: yoo-ka-lay-lee. Imagine my surprise when I found out that I have been saying it wrong all these years 
The correct Hawaiian pronunciation is actually: oo-koo-lay-lay. Who knew right? I do have to admit that it’s been really hard for me to retrain how I say it. Saying it the correct way makes me feel a little silly and almost pretentious. I’m also finding that I tend to merge my old way of saying it with the right way, coming up my own hybrid version as: yoo-koo-lay-lee.
So I’m posing this question to all that would like to answer: How do you pronounce the word ukulele and does it bother you when you hear other people pronounce it incorrectly?
I pronounce it yoo-ka-lay-lee. I think people who insist on ook-koo-lay-lay are being snobs - like ordering a ‘cappuccino’ in an Italian accent.
What’s really insane is people who pronounce ‘uke’ ook.
Woodshed:
Now I don’t feel so bad
I agree with Woodshed. yoo-ka-lay-lee is the accepted American pronunciation and has been since the twenties. This is how the english language absorbs new words. The Hawaiian way is not the “correct” way, it is only the correct way for their culture. It sounds precious for a mainlander to use it. I respect the Hawaiian language, but I speak english.
If you’re on the mainland, say yoo-ka-lay-lee. If you’re in Hawaii, say oo-koo-lay-lay. Even if you’re a mainlander. It’s awkward at first, but it’s worth the effort. No one will think you are being precious, only that you respect their culture. But really only when you’re in Hawaii, because, yes, people will think it is very strange if you say oo-koo-lay-lay on the mainland. Unless you’re Hawaiian
This reminds me of Australia and the didgeridoo. Didgeridoo is ‘white man’s’ name for it and though it has many names, one traditional name is Yidaki. I differentiate between the two as being two different types of instruments, though the same, with very different qualities. ‘Didgeridoo’ giving much more of a contemporary sound and Yidaki giving much more of a traditional sound…..both with very different playing styles.
I realize that this is a ukulele site so let’s tie it all together now
I wonder: could the same be said of ukuleles and ookeleles? .Is there a OOk-ulele that is more ‘tradional’ in sound and playing style versus a Ukulele that is more contemporary?
Also, when in Australia and going to Cairns, Australia, pronounce it ‘Cans’ or they won’t know what the heck you’re talking about
For the longest time, I pronounce ukulele as yoo-koo-lay-lee just like the mainland people did. Then when I heard Jake Shimabukuro say Ook-koo-leh-leh I changed the way I said it. I figured Jake, one of the world’s best uke players, would know what he was talking about.
I’m from Guam and most uke players say it ookoolehleh also. I pronounce uke as “yook”. When people say ‘ook’ thats when i cringe hahaha. To each his own though, it doesn’t matter what you call it we can all still make music together right?
I hardly think that people who say it the hawaiian way are snobs though. Thats a bit much to say. Unless they try to correct the way you say it then that would be crossing the line.
Didgeridoo from Yidaki? that isn’t even close to the same word! I’ve been to ‘Cans’ Australia. The ‘OZZYs’ there are very friendly.
whats with the inability to make paragraph breaks? lol