kop

Kop is a term used in several languages and contexts, with distinct senses that are not related to one another beyond sharing a common root in Dutch and Afrikaans.

Etymology and general meaning: In Dutch and Afrikaans, kop means “head” or “top.” This basic sense has led to its use in describing prominent features or summits, and it has borrowed into English in geographic and place-name terms.

Geography and topography: In Southern Africa and other Dutch-influenced regions, kop refers to a hill or hillock, often a prominent, rounded rise in the landscape. The diminutive kopje is used for a small hill. The term appears in many local place names and descriptions of terrain, especially in arid or semi-arid regions where isolated hills stand out from the plain.

Football culture: The Kop End is a well-known feature of several football stadiums, most famously at Liverpool FC’s Anfield. The term denotes a large, usually standing, section of the crowd and has become a generic label for similar fan-stand areas at other clubs. Supporters associated with the Kop are sometimes called Kopites, and the section is often linked with intense, vocal support.

Other uses: Beyond geography and sport, kop appears in place names and surnames in regions with Dutch or Afrikaans linguistic heritage. The word’s primary meanings remain tied to “head” or “top,” with its specialized uses deriving from that sense.

See also: kopje; Kop End; Kop (disambiguation)