Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| копи́ровать | kopírovatʹ | imperfective |
| дубли́ровать | dublírovatʹ | imperfective |
The verb копи́ровать is the general term for producing something identical. In computing, it is the standard command for 'copy', as seen in the phrase копи́ровать и встави́ть (copy and paste). If you are referring to the formal reproduction of an artistic or visual work, the noun репродукция is used. For a formal duplicate of a document, file or object, use the noun дубликат. In journalism, when referring to text meant to be typeset, you might use ру́копись or материа́л.
Which one should you use?
копи́ровать is a general term for making a copy, whereas дубли́ровать is often used specifically for duplicating something to create a second version or a backup. Regarding nouns, ко́пия refers to a neutral copy, while подде́лка specifically refers to a counterfeit or a fake intended to deceive. For imitations that may be of inferior quality, you can use ко́пия.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Both копи́ровать and дубли́ровать are imperfective verbs, meaning they describe the ongoing process of copying or a repeated action. If you want to refer to the completed act of making a single copy, use the perfective form скопи́ровать.
How do you pronounce it?
kopírovatʹ
Did you know?
- A 'photocopy' is often referred to as ксеро́кс in casual Russian, turning the brand name into a common noun for the action of copying a document.
- While копи́ровать is used for digital files, a Russian speaker might use the verb переписывать to describe copying text by hand, which literally means 'to rewrite'.
- When talking about a copy of a person (a look-alike), Russians often use the term двойник, which translates to 'double' or 'doppelgänger'.
Examples in context
- Пожалуйста, передайте мне копию этого документаPlease, give me a copy of this document
- Я принес тебе копию книги, чтобы ты мог ее прочитатьI brought you a copy of the book, so you can read it
- Спасибо! Я уже читал оригинал, но удобно иметь копию для путешествияThank you! I've already read the original, but it's convenient to have a copy for traveling
Sources
- Wiktionary, “copy” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
