vodka

/ˈvɒdkə/

//ˈvɒdkə// noun

"vodka" is a 5-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“vodka” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #9,273 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#9,273
frequency rank, English
5
letters
7
tracked misspellings
5
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A clear distilled alcoholic liquor made from grain mash.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

vodka vs volta
60% similar
vodka vs Volga
40% similar
vodka vs VoD
20% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for vodka
PropertyValue
Headwordvodka
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈvɒdkə/
Letters5
Frequency rank#9,273
Misspellings tracked7
Confusable pairs5
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “vodka” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). vodka lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for vodka is 5 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈvɒdkə/. Corpus data places it at rank #9,273 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 5 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 7 likely wrong-spelling variants for vodka, with forms such as "ovdka", "vdoka", and "vodak". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. It also participates in 5 confusable-pair relationships, "volta", "Volga", "VoD", and more, since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: Borrowed from Russian во́дка (vódka), from вода́ (vodá, “water”) + -ка (-ka, “-let: forming diminutives”). The archaic Russian name for vodka was хле́бное вино́ (xlébnoje vinó, “grain wine”); V. Pokhlyobkin's research suggests the present name derived from … The correct English form is vodka, spelled V-O-D-K-A.

Definition

  1. 1
    A clear distilled alcoholic liquor made from grain mash.
  2. 2
    A serving of the above beverage.
  3. 3
    Neutral spirits distilled (or treated after distillation) so as to have no distinctive character, aroma, taste, or color.
  4. 4
    A Russian.
  5. 5
    Russian language.

Etymology

Borrowed from Russian во́дка (vódka), from вода́ (vodá, “water”) + -ка (-ka, “-let: forming diminutives”). The archaic Russian name for vodka was хле́бное вино́ (xlébnoje vinó, “grain wine”); V. Pokhlyobkin's research suggests the present name derived from expressions concerning the dilution of the initial pure distilled spirit such as "vodka of grain wine". Cognates include Sanskrit उदक (udaka), Ancient Greek ὕδωρ (húdōr) → English hydro-, English whisky and English water.

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ovdka,vdoka,vodak,voddka,vodkka,vokda,vvodka

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of vodka - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

ovdka2vdoka2vodak2voddka1vodkka1vokda2vvodka1
Edit distance from "vodka"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "vodka"?
"vodka" is spelled V-O-D-K-A. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈvɒdkə/.
What does "vodka" mean?
As a noun, "vodka" means: A clear distilled alcoholic liquor made from grain mash.
What words are commonly confused with "vodka"?
"vodka" is commonly confused with "volta", "Volga", "VoD". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "vodka"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "vodka" is /ˈvɒdkə/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "vodka"?
Borrowed from Russian во́дка (vódka), from вода́ (vodá, “water”) + -ка (-ka, “-let: forming diminutives”). The archaic Russian name for vodka was хле́бное вино́ (xlébnoje vinó, “grain wine”); V. Pokhlyobkin's research suggests the present name der... See the full etymology section above for more details.
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 “vodka”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is V-O-D-K-A - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈvɒdkə/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “volta” - see the side-by-side comparison. vodka vs volta
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English 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