A Russian stringed musical instrument with a triangular body and a long neck, typically played by plucking or strumming.
From Russian, the origin is uncertain but possibly from Scandinavian languages meaning 'to beat or strike.' It became the defining instrument of Russian folk music.
The balalaika became famous during the Russian folk music explosion, and its distinctive bright, tinny sound is instantly recognizable—it's so iconic that it appears in countless movies about Russia!
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