# vodka

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈvɒdkə/ · frequency rank #9,273

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

## Easily confused with
- **volta** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vodka-vs-volta)
- **Volga** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vodka-vs-volga)
- **VoD** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vod-vs-vodka)
- **Veda** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/veda-vs-vodka)
- **vidya** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vidya-vs-vodka)

## Common misspellings (7)
`ovdka`, `vdoka`, `vodak`, `voddka`, `vodkka`, `vokda`, `vvodka`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/vodka