Kopanie

Kopanie is a term used in several Slavic languages to denote two related actions: kicking with the foot and digging with a tool. The exact sense depends on the context, domain, and accompanying verbs or nouns. The noun kopanie relates to the action itself, while the related verb forms kopać (Polish) or kopat (Czech, Slovak) cover both digging and kicking in everyday speech. Etymologically, the word derives from a common Slavic root associated with striking or breaking ground.

In sports, kopanie commonly means kicking. In Polish, phrases like kopanie piłki describe kicking a ball in football. In Czech and Slovak, equivalent expressions refer to kicking a ball as kopání míče or kopanie lopty. The activity is generally described with the verb kopat, with the noun form referring to the act of kicking.

In agriculture, construction, and everyday use, kopanie refers to digging. Polish examples include kopanie ziemi (digging soil) or kopanie rowu (digging a trench). In Czech, kopání díry or kopání studní denotes digging a hole or digging a well. The term also appears in gardening, archaeology, and similar contexts where soil or earth is removed or worked.

See also discussions of digging and kicking in Slavic languages, which highlight how a single root can cover both physical acts, depending on context and terminology.