koos

Koos is a masculine given name widely used in Dutch-speaking regions and in South Africa. In the Netherlands, Koos is typically a diminutive of Jakobus (Jacobus/Jacob) and has long circulated as an informal nickname, yet it has also appeared as an independent first name. In Afrikaans-speaking communities it is common as both a nickname and a given name.

Notable people with the name Koos include Koos Kombuis, a prominent South African musician and writer active in Afrikaans and broader music scenes. The name has appeared in various cultural contexts, sometimes as a stage name or pen name.

KOOS, when written in capital letters, is an acronym for Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score. It is a standardized patient-reported outcome measure used to assess a patient’s perceptions of knee function and quality of life after injury or in osteoarthritis. The instrument includes five subscales: Pain, Other Symptoms, Function in Daily Living, Function in Sport and Recreation, and Knee-Related Quality of Life. It is widely used in clinical practice and research to track treatment outcomes.

In everyday usage, Koos remains primarily a personal name, while KOOS is recognized in medical literature as a specific assessment tool. The two usages are distinguished by capitalization and context.