| Official Name: | Lopata |
| Pushpin Map: | Slovenia |
| Pushpin Label Position: | left |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Slovenia |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Slovenia |
| Subdivision Type1: | Traditional region |
| Subdivision Name1: | Lower Carniola |
| Subdivision Type2: | Statistical region |
| Subdivision Name2: | Southeast Slovenia |
| Subdivision Type3: | Municipality |
| Subdivision Name3: | Žužemberk |
| Area Total Km2: | 4.8 |
| Population As Of: | 2002 |
| Population Total: | 86 |
| Population Blank1 Title: | Ethnicities |
| Population Blank2 Title: | Religions |
| Coordinates: | 45.7827°N 14.8997°W |
| Elevation M: | 368.2 |
| Footnotes: | [1] |
Lopata (in Slovenian pronounced as /lɔˈpaːta/, German: Schaufel[2]) is a village in the hills south of Žužemberk in southeastern Slovenia. The area is part of the historical region of Lower Carniola. The Municipality of Žužemberk is now included in the Southeast Slovenia Statistical Region.[3]
Lopata was attested in historical sources in 1423 as Schauffell (and as Schawfell in 1430 and Schawffell auff der Dueren Krain 'Schaufel in Dry Carniola' in 1463). These Middle High German names are believed to be translations of the Slovene name, which is derived from the common noun lopata (now 'shovel' but originally 'flat part/area'), referring to the level terrain of the village surrounded by hills.[4]
The local church is dedicated to Saint Agnes (Slovenian: sveta Neža) and belongs to the Parish of Hinje. It has a medieval nave with 16th-, 17th-, and 18th-century additions.[5]