OTP ship means a fandom’s “one true pairing” : the couple you like most, usually characters you strongly “ship” together romantically. It can be your personal favorite ship in a fandom, or sometimes the pairing many fans see as the main one.

Quick Scoop

In fandom slang:

  • Ship = a relationship you want to see, usually romantic.
  • OTP = your absolute favorite ship, your “one true pairing.”
  • NOTP = a pairing you really do not like.

Example

If someone says, “That couple is my OTP,” they mean: “Those two characters are the pair I care about most.”

Small note

People sometimes use OTP loosely, so the exact meaning can vary a bit by fandom. Some fans use it for one favorite pair; others use it for the pairing they think defines the whole fandom.

TL;DR: An OTP ship is your favorite fictional couple pairing, especially in fandom spaces.