balalaika

[bal-uh-lahy-kuh]

noun

1. a Russian musical instrument having a triangular body and a neck like that of a guitar.

balalaika

/ ˌbæləˈlaɪkə /

noun

1. a plucked musical instrument, usually having a triangular body and three strings: used chiefly for Russian folk music

Word History and Origins

Origin of balalaika¹

1780–90; < Russian balaláĭka, equivalent to balalaĭ-, probably originally a v. base, akin to balabólitʾ, balákatʾ chatter, talk nonsense (compare Russian dial., Ukrainian balabáĭka balalaika), expressive derivatives of Slavic *bay- speak, tell, akin to fate, -phasia + -ka noun suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of balalaika¹

C18: from Russian

Example Sentences

He also was turned down for his requests of moonshine, tobacco for rolling cigarettes and the balalaika.

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The letters showed that Navalny asked for an eclectic range of items, including, variously, a bottle of moonshine, a balalaika, a staff, two pouches of cheap tobacco, a kimono and a black belt.

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The walls were painted with Soviet-era cartoons — a wolf with an accordion, a donkey with a balalaika, and a bear in a vyshyvanka, a traditional Ukrainian costume.

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There were Russian balalaika groups, political advertisers, choral singers and, on a recent Sunday, a spoken-word Shakespeare sonnet.

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“I got my Greek bouzouki and my Irish bouzouki, but I didn’t get my Russian balalaika or my Turkish oud,” he said.

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