der Zopf
braid
A hairstyle in which hair is woven together in several strands.
EXAMPLE
Sie trägt ihr langes Haar meistens zu einem Zopf geflochten.
She usually wears her long hair braided into a braid.
der Zopf
braid / loaf
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
der Zopf
braided loaf
A braided baked good made from yeast dough, often sweet and eaten for breakfast or with coffee.
EXAMPLE
Zum Sonntagsfrühstück gibt es bei uns immer einen frischen Zopf mit Butter und Marmelade.
For Sunday breakfast, we always have a fresh braided loaf with butter and jam.
alte Zöpfe abschneiden
to cut old ties
An idiom meaning to get rid of outdated habits, traditions, or structures.
EXAMPLE
Die neue Geschäftsführerin will im Unternehmen alte Zöpfe abschneiden und alles modernisieren.
The new managing director wants to cut old ties in the company and modernize everything.
Usage tips
Context clue
You can tell from the context whether the hairstyle or the baked good is meant. Words like 'Haare' (hair), 'flechten' (to braid), or 'Frisur' (hairstyle) point to the hairstyle, while 'backen' (to bake), 'essen' (to eat), or 'Frühstück' (breakfast) refer to the baked good.
EXAMPLE
Kannst du mir helfen, meine Haare zu einem Zopf zu flechten?
Can you help me braid my hair into a braid?
Typical verbs
When referring to the hairstyle, typical verbs are 'einen Zopf flechten' (to braid a braid), 'einen Zopf tragen' (to wear a braid), or 'sich die Haare zu einem Zopf binden' (to tie one's hair into a braid).
EXAMPLE
Sie hat ihre langen Haare zu einem schönen Zopf gebunden.
She tied her long hair into a beautiful braid.
Typical collocations
In the meaning of the baked good, 'Zopf' (braided loaf) is often combined with verbs like 'backen' (to bake) or 'essen' (to eat). The combinations 'ein süßer Zopf' (a sweet braided loaf) or 'ein Zopf mit Rosinen' (a braided loaf with raisins) are also typical.
EXAMPLE
Meine Oma backt den besten Hefezopf.
My grandma bakes the best yeast braid.
Fixed expression
The idiom 'alte Zöpfe abschneiden' (to cut off old braids / to cut old ties) is a fixed unit. It means to break away from outdated traditions or structures. The verb here is always 'abschneiden' (to cut off).
EXAMPLE
Es ist Zeit, in diesem Verein endlich alte Zöpfe abzuschneiden.
It is time to finally cut old ties in this association.
Compare with
Zopf vs Schopf
tuft / crest
Zopf and Schopf can both refer to hair on the head. A Zopf is made by braiding several strands of hair, whereas a Schopf is a thick, often somewhat messy tuft of hair. The decisive difference is whether the hair is braided.
Zopf
Sie flocht ihr langes Haar zu einem Zopf.
She braided her long hair into a braid.
Schopf
Nach dem Aufstehen stand ihr ein unordentlicher Schopf vom Kopf ab.
After she got up, a messy shock of hair was sticking up from her head.
In real life
Loading video examples...