What is the difference between a ukulele and a cavaquinho?

The ukulele (pronounced /ˌjuːkəˈleɪli/, from Hawaiian: ʻukulele), variantly spelled ukelele (particularly in the UK), or alternately abbreviated uke, is a chordophone classified as a plucked lute; it is a subset of the guitar family of instruments, generally with four strings or four courses of strings. The ukulele originated in the 19th century as a Hawaiian interpretation of small Portuguese guitar called cavaquinho.

The cavaquinho (pron. /ka.va.'ki.ɲu/ in Portuguese) is a small string instrument of the European guitar family with four wire or gut strings. It is also called machimbo, machim, machete (in the Portuguese Atlantic islands and Brazil), manchete or marchete, braguinha or braguinho, or cavaco.

Musician with cavaquinho minhotoThe most common tuning is D-G-B-D (from lower to higher pitches); other tunings include G-G-B-D and A-A-C#-E. Guitarists often use D-G-B-E tuning to emulate the last four strings of the guitar.

The ukulele is thought to be a successor of the cavaquinho.

The cavaquinho originated in Portugal, and there is evidence of it from ancient times. The ukulele is only known from the nineteenth century.

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