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copiar

koh-pyahr/koˈpjaɾ/

to copy

Also: to transcribe
VerbA1regular ar
A sheet of paper with a drawing of a red apple being duplicated by a machine onto another sheet of paper.
gerundcopiando
past Participlecopiado
infinitivecopiar

📝 In Action

Necesito copiar estos documentos para la reunión.

A1

I need to copy these documents for the meeting.

Los alumnos están copiando la tarea de la pizarra.

A1

The students are copying the homework from the board.

Puedes copiar y pegar el texto en un correo nuevo.

A2

You can copy and paste the text into a new email.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • reproducir (to reproduce)
  • transcribir (to transcribe)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • copiar y pegar – copy and paste
  • copiar a mano – to copy by hand

to cheat

VerbA2regular ar
ChileMexico
A student looking at another student's paper during a test in a classroom.
gerundcopiando
past Participlecopiado
infinitivecopiar

📝 In Action

Le suspendieron por copiar en el examen final.

A2

He was failed for cheating on the final exam.

No copies a tu compañero, hazlo tú solo.

A2

Don't copy from your classmate, do it yourself.

Es imposible copiar con este profesor; siempre está mirando.

B1

It's impossible to cheat with this teacher; he is always watching.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • hacer trampa (to cheat (general))

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • pillado copiando – caught cheating

to imitate

VerbB1regular ar
A small child dressed in a large coat and hat, imitating the pose of an adult standing next to them.
gerundcopiando
past Participlecopiado
infinitivecopiar

📝 In Action

Esa marca de ropa copia los diseños de las grandes firmas.

B1

That clothing brand imitates the designs of the big labels.

El niño copia todo lo que hace su padre.

B1

The child mimics everything his father does.

No intentes copiar su estilo, busca el tuyo propio.

B2

Don't try to copy her style, find your own.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • imitar (to imitate)
  • emular (to emulate)

Antonyms

  • innovar (to innovate)
  • crear (to create)

Common Collocations

  • copiar el estilo – to copy the style

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedescopiaran
yocopiara
túcopiaras
vosotroscopiarais
nosotroscopiáramos
él/ella/ustedcopiara

present

ellos/ellas/ustedescopien
yocopie
túcopies
vosotroscopiéis
nosotroscopiemos
él/ella/ustedcopie

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedescopiaron
yocopié
túcopiaste
vosotroscopiasteis
nosotroscopiamos
él/ella/ustedcopió

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedescopiaban
yocopiaba
túcopiabas
vosotroscopiabais
nosotroscopiábamos
él/ella/ustedcopiaba

present

ellos/ellas/ustedescopian
yocopio
túcopias
vosotroscopiáis
nosotroscopiamos
él/ella/ustedcopia
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "copiar" in Spanish:

to imitate→to transcribe→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: copiar

Question 1 of 3

Which sentence means 'Don't cheat on the exam'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
copia(a copy) — Noun
copiadora(copier/photocopier) — Noun
copiado(copied) — Adjective
fotocopiar(to photocopy) — Verb
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin word 'copiare', which originally meant 'to provide in abundance'. This comes from 'copia', meaning 'plenty' or 'abundance'. Later, it evolved to mean reproducing a text so there would be many copies of it.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: copyFrench: copier

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'copiar' always a bad thing?

Not at all! In a computer context or when taking notes in class, it is a neutral, necessary action. It only has a negative tone when it refers to cheating or lacking original ideas.

What is the difference between 'copiar' and 'imitar'?

'Copiar' is usually a literal reproduction (like a photocopy or copying a friend's homework). 'Imitar' often refers to mimicking someone's voice, personality, or artistic style.

Can I use 'copiar' for making photocopies?

Yes, although 'fotocopiar' or 'sacar copias' is more specific, 'copiar' is frequently used in informal settings.