The story
- Proto-Indo-European*wed-
- Proto-Indo-European*wódr̥
- Proto-Balto-Slavic*wandō
- Proto-Slavic*voda
- Old East Slavicвода (voda)
- Russianвода́ (vodá)
- Russianво́дка (vódka)
- English todayvodka
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 from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.