balalaika

American  

[bal-uh-lahy-kuh] / ˌbæl əˈlaɪ kə /

noun

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

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balalaika British  

/ ˌbæləˈlaɪkə /

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of balalaika

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

Example Sentences

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.

From Reuters • Jun. 2, 2023

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

From Washington Post • Oct. 3, 2021

You don’t always have four months to just teach your actor while riding a train across Russia with balalaika music playing in the background.

From Slate • Jul. 24, 2021

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

From New York Times • Sep. 15, 2020

"I am very fond of balalaika music," I said.

From "The Bell Jar" by Sylvia Plath