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.

From Washington Times

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

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.

From New York Times

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

From Washington Post

“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