balalaika

bal·a·lai·ka

B b

Transcription

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
- [bal-uh-lahy-kuh]
- /ˌbæl əˈlaɪ kə/
- /ˌbæl.əˈlaɪ.kə/

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- [bal-uh-lahy-kuh]
- /ˌbæl əˈlaɪ kə/

Definitions of balalaika word

noun balalaika a plucked musical instrument, usually having a triangular body and three strings: used chiefly for Russian folk music 3
noun balalaika a Russian stringed instrument somewhat like a guitar but with a triangular body and usually three strings 3
noun balalaika a Russian musical instrument having a triangular body and a neck like that of a guitar. 1
noun balalaika A guitarlike musical instrument with a triangular body and two, three, or four strings, popular in Russia and other Slavic countries. 1
noun balalaika (music) A plucked stringed instrument with a triangular body, short neck and three strings, of Russian origin. 0

See all 5 definitions of balalaika

Information block about the term

Origin of balalaika

First appearance:

before 1780

One of the 45% newest English words

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

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Balalaika

noun

adjective

verb

adverb

pronoun

preposition

conjunction

determiner

exclamation

Full grammatical hierarchy of Balalaika

balalaika popularity

A pretty common term. Usually people know it’s meaning, but prefer to use a more spread out synonym. About 66% of English native speakers know the meaning and use word.

This word is included in each student's vocabulary. Most likely there is at least one movie with this word in the title.

balalaika usage trend in Literature

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