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copia

KOH-pyah/ˈko.pja/

“copia” means “copy” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

copy, duplicate

Also: replica, print
NounfA1
Two identical, plain sheets of paper lying side-by-side on a simple surface, representing a duplicate or copy.

📝 In Action

Necesito una copia de mi pasaporte para el banco.

A1

I need a copy of my passport for the bank.

Esta es la única copia original del contrato.

A2

This is the only original copy of the contract.

Haz una copia de seguridad de todos tus archivos importantes.

B1

Make a backup copy of all your important files.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • duplicado (duplicate)
  • ejemplar (issue, volume)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • copia certificada – certified copy
  • copia de seguridad – backup copy

exam paper, imitation

Also: likeness
NounfB1
SpainMexico
A light blue pencil resting beside a sheet of paper structured with lines and shapes, clearly indicating a school test or assignment.

📝 In Action

El profesor recogió todas las copias después del examen.

B1

The professor collected all the exam papers after the test.

Su nueva novela es solo una mala copia del estilo de Borges.

B2

His new novel is just a poor imitation of Borges's style.

No puedes entregar una copia con tantas faltas de ortografía.

B1

You can't hand in a paper with so many spelling mistakes.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • examen (exam, test)
  • plagio (plagiarism)

Idioms & Expressions

  • ser una mala copia – to be a poor imitation or knock-off

Translate to Spanish

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: copia

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'copia' in the context of a school assignment?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
copiar(to copy (verb)) — Verb
copista(copyist, transcriber) — Noun
fotocopia(photocopy) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
propiautopía
📚 Etymology▼

The word comes from the Latin word *copia*, which originally meant 'abundance' or 'supply.' Over time, the meaning shifted in Late Latin to mean 'transcript' or 'reproduction,' because if you had an abundance of something, you could easily make a copy of it.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: copiaFrench: copie

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'copia' ever mean 'abundance' in modern Spanish, like its Latin root?

Not really. While the Latin root *copia* meant 'abundance,' modern Spanish uses words like 'abundancia' or 'cantidad' for that meaning. 'Copia' strictly means a reproduction or duplicate today.

Is 'copia' the same as 'fotocopia'?

'Fotocopia' (photocopy) is a specific type of 'copia' (copy). If you are talking about a physical paper duplicate made on a machine, you can use either, but 'fotocopia' is more precise. If it's a digital file or a replica object, you must use 'copia'.