copier
/kɔ.pje/
To copy in French is copier.
The verb copier means to produce something identical. It can also refer to the noun copie, which can mean an imitation that is sometimes of inferior quality or the result of gene or chromosomal duplication in genetics.
Meaning: produce something identical (verb)
Which one should you use?
While copier is the verb used to perform the action of copying, the word copie is a noun meaning a copy or an imitation.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Quebec, Canada, the term Xerox is often used to refer to a photocopy.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The third-person singular present form of copier is copie. The past participle is copié. When using the noun to mean 'a copy', note that une copie is feminine, whereas un double is a masculine way to say 'a copy'.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /kɔ.pje/ and has 2 syllables.
Did you know?
- The word copier comes from the Medieval Latin copiāre, which is related to the concept of abundance or plenty.
- While une copie is a copy, French students use the same word copie to refer to their exam paper or essay that the teacher will grade.
- A 'carbon copy' is translated as copie carbone, but in modern French emails, the 'Cc' field is still referred to as copie carbone despite the lack of carbon paper.
Examples in context
- Tu copieras les phrases.You will copy the phrases.This sentence shows the use of copier in the future tense.Tatoeba #5287068 by martin9, translation #7681738 by ouitroisheures19
- Tu copieras mes phrases.You will copy my phrases.Tatoeba #5287072 by martin9, translation #9037292 by absvfx
- Vous copierez les phrases.You'll copy the sentences.Tatoeba #5287069 by martin9, translation #12994144 by rul
- Faites une copie de ce documentMake a copy of this document
- Je souhaite une reproduction de cette peintureI would like a copy of this painting
- Tu peux me faire une copie de ce fichier ?Can you make me a copy of this file?
- Je voudrais un double de cette cléI would like a copy of this key
- Fais-moi une photocopie de ce documentMake me a copy of this document using a photocopier
- Fais-moi un Xerox de ce papierMake me a copy of this paper using a photocopier
- 12 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Emma and Nathan are working on a school project in a library.
- EmmaNathan, peux-tu copier ce paragraphe ?Nathan, can you copy this paragraph?
- NathanOui, je vais copier le texte tout de suite.Yes, I am going to copy the text right away.
- EmmaMerci, c'est très gentil de ta part.Thank you, that is very kind of you.
- NathanDe rien, Emma.You're welcome, Emma.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “copy” translations and entries copier, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries copier, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
