Balalaika

[balaˈlaɪ̯ka]

/[balaˈlaɪ̯ka]/ noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

The verdict

“Balalaika” is outside the top-ranked German vocabulary, used as a noun - the kind of word writers most often double-check.

Unranked
below top-frequency German
9
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - dreisaitiges, russisches Zupfinstrument mit einem dreieckigem Resonanzkörper aus Holz und einem langen Hals mit Bünden

Key facts for Balalaika
PropertyValue
HeadwordBalalaika
LanguageGerman
Part of speechNoun
IPA[balaˈlaɪ̯ka]
Letters9
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “Balalaika” sits in German frequency

Balalaika falls outside the top-100,000 ranked German words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The German entry for Balalaika is 9 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as [balaˈlaɪ̯ka]. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. The dominant gloss from Wiktionary reads: "dreisaitiges, russisches Zupfinstrument mit einem dreieckigem Resonanzkörper aus Holz und einem langen Hals mit Bünden".

Balalaika has no tracked misspelling variants, a straightforward case of a spelling with little room for common typos. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, since no other headword is close enough in sound or shape to pair with it.

No borrowing history is documented for this entry, so its spelling pattern is best understood through pronunciation rather than a traceable origin. The correct German form is Balalaika, spelled B-A-L-A-L-A-I-K-A.

Definition

  1. 1
    dreisaitiges, russisches Zupfinstrument mit einem dreieckigem Resonanzkörper aus Holz und einem langen Hals mit Bünden

This word in other languages

balalaika(English)balalaica(Español)balalaïka(Français)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "Balalaika"?
"Balalaika" is spelled B-A-L-A-L-A-I-K-A. The IPA pronunciation is [balaˈlaɪ̯ka].
What does "Balalaika" mean?
As a noun, "Balalaika" means: dreisaitiges, russisches Zupfinstrument mit einem dreieckigem Resonanzkörper aus Holz und einem langen Hals mit Bünden
How do you pronounce "Balalaika"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "Balalaika" is [balaˈlaɪ̯ka]. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "Balalaika" come from?
"Balalaika" is a German word. PlainSpell's reference spans five languages -- English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German -- with definitions, pronunciations, and spelling data for each.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “Balalaika”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct German spelling is B-A-L-A-L-A-I-K-A - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as [balaˈlaɪ̯ka] (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more German words and confusable pairs in the same reference. German words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list