copa

Copa is a term with multiple related meanings in Spanish and Portuguese. Linguistically, copa usually denotes a cup or goblet, and by extension a trophy or prize awarded in a competition. In sports journalism and organization, copa is widely used to name cup competitions at national, continental, and international levels.

Notable examples of cup competitions include Copa América, the main international football tournament for South American national teams; Copa Libertadores, the premier club competition in South American football; and domestic cups such as the Copa del Rey in Spain and Coppa Italia in Italy. In many contexts, la copa or la Copa del Mundo is used informally in Spanish-speaking media to refer to the FIFA World Cup trophy, though the official event name is the FIFA World Cup.

As a proper noun, Copa is also the name of Copa Airlines, the flag carrier of Panama, a major airline serving destinations across the Americas and beyond. The word can also appear as a surname or part of place names in Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking regions.

In summary, copa primarily means cup or trophy in everyday language, but it is also a common designation for various football and other cup competitions and appears in brand names and personal names.