Bouzouki

/buːˈzuːki/ noun

Definition

A Greek stringed instrument with a pear-shaped body and metal strings, producing a bright, distinctive sound often heard in Mediterranean music.

Etymology

From Greek μπουζούκι (buzúki), possibly derived from Turkish bozuk or a related Turkish word meaning 'broken' or 'damaged,' though this etymology is debated among scholars.

Kelly Says

The bouzouki sounds like Greece itself—but it may have Turkish roots, reminding us that empires, occupations, and trade routes mixed cultures so thoroughly that 'Greek' and 'Turkish' instruments are actually cultural relatives split by history.

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