Word
hula
Phoneticshu·la
US/ˈhuɫə/
UK/hˈuːlɐ/
Definition
n. a traditional Hawaiian dance that uses smooth hand and body movements to tell a story. It is often performed with music or chanting.
n. a traditional Polynesian dance form originating in Hawaii, characterised by rhythmic hip movements and hand gestures that represent specific narrative elements. Often accompanied by a melo (chant) or music.
Examples
“The dancers performed a beautiful hula at the beach party.”
“During the festival, local performers shared the history of the islands through a series of traditional hula dances.”
“Modern hula has evolved into two distinct styles: the ancient form accompanied by traditional percussion and the contemporary version featuring melodic instruments like the ukulele or guitar.”
Examples
simple
“The dancers performed a beautiful hula at the beach party.”
contextual
“During the festival, local performers shared the history of the islands through a series of traditional hula dances.”
complex
“Modern hula has evolved into two distinct styles: the ancient form accompanied by traditional percussion and the contemporary version featuring melodic instruments like the ukulele or guitar.”
Usage
Can be used as an uncountable noun for the dance form or as a countable noun for a specific performance.
Etymology
Borrowed from Hawaiian hula.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/hula