Etymology Map
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Kopek

2 stages from Russian to English.

Today it means a Russian coin worth one hundredth of a ruble

Where does the word "kopek" come from? It comes from Russian kopeika, adopted directly into English (1690s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
kopeika
Russian · 1535
"small silver coin"
from kop'ë 'spear': the 1535 coinage reform of the regent Elena Glinskaya struck coins showing the ruler on horseback with a spear
2
Stage 2 of 2
kopek
English · 1690s
"Russian coin"
a hundredth of a ruble since Peter the Great's 1704 reform
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Read the full story

Kopek’s story begins in Russian: kopeika meant “small silver coin.” From kop'ë 'spear': the 1535 coinage reform of the regent Elena Glinskaya struck coins showing the ruler on horseback with a spear. It reached English by 1690s as kopek. A hundredth of a ruble since Peter the Great's 1704 reform. Today, kopek means a Russian coin worth one hundredth of a ruble.