copa
Lemma Details
Translation: cup; glass; goblet; trophy; treetop; crown (of a tree); bra cup
Part of Speech: noun
Etymology: From Latin 'cuppa', a variant of 'cupa' meaning 'tub' or 'barrel'. The English word 'cup' shares the same Latin root, making them cognates. The word evolved to take on additional meanings beyond drinking vessels, including trophies (shaped like cups) and the crown or top part of trees, showing how the basic cup-like shape concept expanded metaphorically.
Commonality: 90%
Guessability: 70%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
Mnemonics
- Think of a 'cup' - they sound similar and mean the same thing
- For the trophy meaning, imagine raising a cup-shaped trophy above your head
- For the tree meaning, picture a cup sitting on top of a tree trunk
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
In Spanish culture, 'copa' is frequently used in social contexts for toasting and celebrations. Spain and Latin American countries have various prestigious 'copas' (trophies) in sports, especially in football (soccer). The term is also used in card games, where 'copas' is one of the four suits in the Spanish deck, equivalent to hearts in the standard deck.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Copa' means cup or glass, while 'capa' means layer or cape/cloak. They differ by just one vowel but have completely different meanings.
Notes: In some contexts, 'capa' can also refer to a layer (like in geology or in an onion), which is completely unrelated to the drinking vessel meaning of 'copa'.
Mnemonic: 'Copa' has an 'o' which is round like a cup; 'capa' has an 'a' which can remind you of the 'a' in 'cape'.
Explanation: 'Copa' is a cup or glass, while 'copla' is a traditional Spanish verse form or folk song.
Notes: 'Copla' is particularly associated with Spanish cultural heritage and traditional music.
Mnemonic: 'Copla' has an extra 'l' - think of the 'l' as representing a lyric or line of poetry.