Gopnik (Russian: ???????, IPA: ['?opn??k]) is a pejorative stereotype describing a particular subculture in Russia, Ukraine, and other former Soviet republics to refer to young men or women of sometimes lower-class suburban areas (usually under 25 years of age) coming from families of poor education and (sometimes) income. The female form is gopnitsa (Russian: ????????), and the collective noun is gopota (Russian: ???????). The subculture of Gopniks has its roots in late Russian Empire, and evolved during the 20th century in many cities in the Soviet Union.
Video Gopnik
Etymology
Gopnik is most likely derived from the Russian slang term for a street robbery: gop-stop (Russian: ???-????).
However, it could also be related to GOP, the acronym for the Gorodskoye Obshchestvo Prizreniya. These were almshouses for the destitute created by the Bolshevik government after the October Revolution in 1917. According to Dahl's Explanatory Dictionary, a Russian explanatory dictionary (first published in the 19th century), an old slang word for "sleeping on street" was "??????" (literally, "to gop") something that was related to the "mazuricks", or the criminals of Saint Petersburg.
Maps Gopnik
Stereotypical appearance and behaviour
Gopniks are often seen squatting in groups "in court" (?? ???????), "at the pictures" (?? ????????), or "doing the crab" (?? ?????) outside blocks of flats or schools. It is described as a learned behavior attributed to Russian prison culture to avoid sitting on the cold ground.
Gopniks are often seen wearing Adidas tracksuits, which were popularised by the 1980 Moscow Olympics Soviet team. Sunflower seeds (colloquially semyon (?????), semki (?????) or semechki (???????)) are habitually eaten by gopniks, especially in Ukraine and Russia. Gopniks can also be seen wearing flat caps and Adidas backpacks.
Gopniks are often associated with cheap alcohol, such as low quality vodka and light beer, and cheap cigarettes.
See also
- Ars (slang) (Israel)
- Bogan (Australia)
- Cholo (Mexico)
- Chav (England)
- Dresiarz (Poland)
- Flaite (Chile)
- Hoser (Canada)
- Kazan phenomenon
- Ned (Scottish)
- Nozem (Netherlands)
- Raggare (Sweden)
- Thief in law (Soviet Union)
- Yob (slang) (United Kingdom and others)
- Prolik (Hungary)
- Mchermel (slang) (Morocco)
- Jejemon (Philippines)
References
Further reading
- ???? ???????. ????????? ???????? ????. ??????-??-????, "??????", 1999. ISBN 5-222-00958-0
- ??????? ?.?. ??????? ??????? ????????????. ??????? ??????. ???????? ??????????? ?????????? ???, 1990.
- ???????? ??????. ???????. ?? ????????, 2003. ISBN 5-93321-041-2
External links
- Media related to Gopnik at Wikimedia Commons
Source of article : Wikipedia
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