Meanings
nounzelyonka (uncountable)
- uncountableBrilliant green, especially when thrown on the body of a victim in Russian politically-motivated attacks.
Technically, it’s known as a triarylmethane dye. In drugstores, it’s sold under the name Brilliant Green. But generations of Soviet citizens knew it as “zelyonka” (the green). […] After an application of zelyonka, a wound dries and forms a scab within a few hours.
2017 May 10, Oleg Kashin, “Russian Terrorism Now Comes in Green!”, in The New York Times
Synonyms & antonyms
Also see
Origin
- Russianзелёнка“zelyonka”
- Englishzelyonka
From Russian зелёнка (zeljónka, “zelyonka”).
More words from Russian
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
APA
zelyonka. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/zelyonka
MLA
“zelyonka.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/zelyonka. Accessed November 3, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “zelyonka,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/zelyonka.
Source: zelyonka on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.