By 
Jessica Oreck
 | 
TED-Ed Original

Mysteries of vernacular: Ukulele

When 19th century Portuguese travelers landed in Hawaii with a small four-stringed guitar a member of the king's court nicknamed Jumping Flea or ukulele in Hawaiian took to the instrument. Jessica Oreck and Rachael Teel explain how an affinity for the ukulele gave the instrument its name.

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