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gopak

American  
[goh-pak] / ˈgoʊ pæk /

noun

  1. a folk dance of the Ukraine.


gopak British  
/ ˈɡəʊˌpæk /

noun

  1. a spectacular high-leaping Russian peasant dance for men

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of gopak

1925–30; < Ukrainian gopák, derivative of gop interjection uttered during such dances < Polish hop < German hopp, hops, akin to hop 1


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

His successor Nikita Khrushchev recalled being made to perform the gopak.

From Salon ● Mar. 19, 2026

No mention was made, either, of the fact that, at Stalin's order, the elephantine Khrushchev had once performed the gopak, a fast Ukrainian dance.

From Time Magazine Archive

Why don't you dance a gopak for us?

From Time Magazine Archive

The gopak is a strenuous national dance, performed in a squatting position, with the men rapidly kicking one leg out and then the other, all the time moving around a large circle.

From Time Magazine Archive

Last week, as large slabs of the speech hit the front pages of non-Communist European newspapers, the storm broke over the heads of the cautious The "gopak" was still missing.

From Time Magazine Archive

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