Where does “gopnik” come from?

gopnik (English) comes from Russian го́пник, from Russian го́п — go!, hop! encouraging someone to jump, hop, or leap, or exclaimed while jumping or leaping.

gopnik (English): In Russia, Eastern Europe, former Soviet...

Definitions

  1. In Russia, Eastern Europe, former Soviet...

Ancestry of “gopnik”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Russianго́пникgopnik a member of the Russian urban criminal subculture; a young hoodlum; a member of a street gang
2Russianго́пgo!, hop! encouraging someone to jump, hop, or leap, or exclaimed while jumping or leaping
Every word from Russian го́п →Every word from Russian го́пник →