What does "vodka" mean?

1. (the alcoholic drink) a strong, clear alcoholic drink that has almost no smell or taste. 2. (a serving of the drink) one glass or serving of vodka.

How do you use "vodka"?

Uncountable when referring to the liquid; countable when referring to a single serving or a specific brand.

vodka

US //ˈvɑdkə// UK //vˈɒdkɐ// vod·ka

1 the alcoholic drink (n.)
A2 Elementary

a strong, clear alcoholic drink that has almost no smell or taste.

a clear distilled spirit, traditionally made from grain or potatoes, characterized by a neutral flavor profile.

Example

He ordered a vodka and tonic with a slice of lime.

Example

The premium vodka was distilled multiple times to ensure a smooth finish and a lack of impurities.

Usage

Uncountable when referring to the liquid; countable when referring to a single serving or a specific brand.
- spirit
- liquor
2 a serving of the drink (n.)
B1 Intermediate

one glass or serving of vodka.

an individual serving or measure of vodka, typically a shot or a single pour.

Example

The bartender poured two vodkas for the customers at the end of the bar.

Example

After the toast, everyone at the table downed their vodkas in a single gulp.

Teacher's tip

In restaurants, 'a vodka' usually implies a single serving mixed with something or served neat.
- shot
- measure

Origin

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.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Last updated June 20, 2026