vodka

Meaning

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

Synonyms

White Russian

arak

brandies

brandy

cognac

gin

schnapps

spirits

whiskey

whiskies

white

distilled spirits

rums

voddy

Bloody Caesar

Translations

Wodka

vodka

vodka

wodka

vodka

vodka

βότκα

vodca

votka

فودكا

vodca

aguardente

vodka

Cognac

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈvɒdkə/

Etymology

Cognate with Sanskrit: उदक

Cognate with Ancient Greek: ὕδωρ

Cognate with English: hydro-

Cognate with English: whisky

Cognate with English: water

In summary

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.