Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Chernobyl” come from?

Chernobyl is the English name for a city in Ukraine, derived from Russian Черно́быль, which comes from Russian черно́быль, a word of uncertain etymology and unclear original meaning.

Chernobyl (English): A major nuclear-energy accident

Definitions

  1. A major nuclear-energy accident

Ancestry of “Chernobyl”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Russianчерно́быльmugwort
2Ukrainianчорно́бильmugwort; wormwood
3Ukrainianчо́рнеblack

Words derived from “Chernobyl”

  • chernobylite
Every word from Ukrainian чо́рне →