bouzouki

noun

bou·​zou·​ki bü-ˈzü-kē How to pronounce bouzouki (audio)
plural bouzoukis also bouzoukia bü-ˈzü-kē-ə How to pronounce bouzouki (audio)
: a long-necked stringed instrument of Greek origin that resembles a mandolin

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web He’ll be joined by fiddler Jenna Moynihan, guitarist Kyle Sanna, and Owen Marshall on bouzouki, mandolin and banjo. Lauren Daley, BostonGlobe.com, 4 May 2023 Lindley stood out on guitar, violin, banjo, lap-pedal steel and such Middle Eastern instruments as the oud, bouzouki and saz. San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Mar. 2023 For instance, whenever Owen or the other two Irish dancers (Colin Barkell and Garrett Coleman) launch into their foot-flashing, high-springing dances, Howland’s music starts to reel, twanging with Irish bouzouki and tin flute. Helen Shaw, Vulture, 3 Apr. 2022 Each Lad is a multi-instrumentalist, and the combined lineup includes fiddle, button accordion, tenor banjo, flute, whistle, guitar, bouzouki, Uilleann pipes, 5-string banjo, concertina, and bodhran. Luann Gibbs, Cincinnati.com, 10 Feb. 2020 But what sets this sketch apart is its commitment to absurdity (the bouzouki soundtrack!) and two very serious performances from Cleese and Palin. Devan Coggan, EW.com, 4 Oct. 2019 Guitars, mandolin, fiddle, bouzouki, harmonica, whistles, bodhrans, banjo and good humor are all part of the entertainment. courant.com, 30 Sep. 2019 The bouzouki players are warming up, and cooks are busy gathering ingredients to prepare their favorite spinach pie, baklava and pastitsio for this weekend’s ASSUMPTION GREEKFEST at Assumption Greek Orthodox Church in St. Clair Shores. Greg Crawford, Detroit Free Press, 14 Aug. 2019 The musicians are as versatile as the actors, seamlessly switching from keyboards to accordion and strumming everything from eclectic guitar to bouzouki. Andrea Simakis, cleveland.com, 12 July 2019 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bouzouki.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Modern Greek mpouzouki

First Known Use

1939, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bouzouki was in 1939

Dictionary Entries Near bouzouki

Cite this Entry

“Bouzouki.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bouzouki. Accessed 10 Jun. 2023.

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