Phrase guide

little green man

noun · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • General-American: /ˌlɪtəl ˌɡɹin ˈmæn/
  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˌlɪtəl ˌɡɹiːn ˈmæn/
  • New-Zealand: /ˌlɘtɘl ˌɡɹin ˈmɛn/

1

noun

Meaning 1

A conventional fictional alien from outer space in the form of a small humanoid with green skin.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: literature, media, publishing, science-fiction

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

One of the supposed extraterrestrial occupants of a UFO.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: humorous

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A type of diminutive sprite or fairy that wears green clothing.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: arts, folklore, history, human-sciences, literature, media, publishing, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

A soldier (wearing green military fatigues) without identification in order to create an air of uncertainty around their allegiance.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: euphemistic, plural-normally

Topics: geopolitics, government, politics

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

22 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Armenian: կանաչ մարդուկ (kanačʻ marduk) — humorous: space alien, Martian — see also alien
  • Chinese Mandarin: 小綠人 /小绿人 (xiǎolǜrén) — humorous: space alien, Martian — see also alien
  • Danish: små grønne mænd — humorous: space alien, Martian — see also alien
  • Finnish: pieni vihreä mies — humorous: space alien, Martian — see also alien
  • French: petit homme vert — humorous: space alien, Martian — see also alien
  • German: kleines grünes Männchen — humorous: space alien, Martian — see also alien
  • German: grünes Männchen — humorous: space alien, Martian — see also alien
  • Greek: πράσινο ανθρωπάκι (prásino anthropáki) — humorous: space alien, Martian — see also alien
  • Polish: zielony ludzik — humorous: space alien, Martian — see also alien
  • Polish: ufoludek — humorous: space alien, Martian — see also alien
  • Romanian: omuleț verde — humorous: space alien, Martian — see also alien
  • Russian: зелёный челове́чек (zeljónyj čelovéček) — humorous: space alien, Martian — see also alien
  • Serbo-Croatian: mali zeleni — humorous: space alien, Martian — see also alien
  • Spanish: hombrecillo verde — humorous: space alien, Martian — see also alien
  • Swedish: små gröna män — humorous: space alien, Martian — see also alien
  • Ukrainian: зеле́ний чолові́чок (zelényj čolovíčok) — humorous: space alien, Martian — see also alien
  • Ukrainian: зеле́на люди́нка (zeléna ljudýnka) — humorous: space alien, Martian — see also alien
  • Chinese Mandarin: 小綠人 /小绿人 (xiǎolǜrén) — soldier lacking identification
  • German: grünes Männchen — soldier lacking identification
  • Polish: zielony ludzik — soldier lacking identification
  • Russian: зелёный челове́чек (zeljónyj čelovéček) — soldier lacking identification
  • Ukrainian: зеле́ний чолові́чок (zelényj čolovíčok) — soldier lacking identification