copia de
/kopja de/from spelling rules
The Spanish phrase for "copy of" is copia de.
copia de is used to describe a duplicate of a document, a piece of writing. If you are specifically referring to a photocopy rather than a general duplicate or digital copy, use fotocopia de.
Which one should you use?
While copia de is the standard term, Ejemplar de is a formal way to say 'copy of' in Spanish.
How does it change in a sentence?
When the noun following copia de is masculine and singular (like informe), the de and the article el contract to form del. The preposition de does not contract with feminine plural articles, so you use copia de las for "copy of the" (feminine plural).
Did you know?
- Spanish uses the word copia to describe a 'carbon copy' in the phrase copia al carbón, which is also used metaphorically to describe two people who look exactly alike.
- The word copia shares its Latin root with the English word 'copious', meaning abundant or plentiful. In Latin, 'cōpia' originally referred to an abundance or a supply of something, rather than just a duplicate.
- While copia is general, Spanish speakers use ejemplar when referring to a specific physical unit of a book or magazine to distinguish the individual object from the text itself.
Examples in context
- Dame una copia de este libro.Give me a copy of this book.This sentence shows how to request a copia de of a book.Tatoeba #1604564 by teskmon, translation #56851 by CK
- Querría una copia del informe.I'd like to get a copy of that report.This sentence demonstrates using copia del (a contraction of copia de and el) for a masculine singular noun.Tatoeba #8881551 by mialiesperantistas, translation #1936484 by CK
- Haz una copia de este informe.Make a copy of this report.This sentence illustrates the command form to request making a copia de a report.Tatoeba #10048055 by ecorralest101, translation #57167 by CK
- Una copia de ese informe, por favor.A copy of that report, please.
- Necesito un ejemplar de tu contrato.I need a copy of your contract.
- Dame una copia de ese libro, por favor.Give me a copy of that book, please.
- Hazme un duplicado de este CD.Make me a copy of this CD.
- Por favor, hazme una fotocopia de este informe.Please make me a copy of this report.
- El duplicado de la llaveThe copy of the key
- Un ejemplar de un contratoA copy of a contract
- ¿Puedes hacer una copia de este documento?Can you make a copy of this document?
- Necesito urgente una copia de ese archivo.I urgently need a copy of that file.
- 18 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
At an office, Mateo is looking for a document.
- MateoElena, ¿tienes una copia de la agenda?Elena, do you have a copy of the agenda?
- ElenaSí, Mateo, aquí tienes una copia de la agenda.Yes, Mateo, here is a copy of the agenda.
- MateoMuchas gracias por tu ayuda.Thank you very much for your help.
- ElenaDe nada, no hay de qué.You're welcome, no problem.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries copia, de, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
