How to Say “No Cheating” in Spanish

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no se permite copiar
/no se peɾmite kopjaɾ/from spelling rules
The English phrase "no cheating" can be translated into Spanish as no se permite copiar.
no se permite copiar is a command used to tell people not to copy answers or use forbidden materials during a test. It is typically used by instructors or written on exam papers to establish the rules of an assessment. You may also use no se puede copiar to express the same rule, which translates to "one cannot copy". If you wish to tell someone not to play dirty, you can say No juegues sucio.

What does it mean word for word?

The phrase no se permite copiar literally translates to "copying is not permitted".

Which one should you use?

While no se permite copiar focuses on the policy of copying, other forms express the concept of cheating (trampa) directly. No se permiten trampas means "cheating is not allowed". If you want to urge someone specifically, you can say Le insto a no hacer trampa, which means "I urge you not to cheat".

Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?

no se permite copiar is a standard formal way to state a no-cheating policy in academic or professional settings. To express disapproval formally, you can use No haga trampa (do not cheat). For an informal setting, use No hagas trampa (don't cheat).

How does it change in a sentence?

The phrase no se permite copiar uses the impersonal se construction. This makes the command sound like a general rule or policy rather than a direct order to a specific person.

How do you pronounce it?

/no se peɾmite kopjaɾ/

Did you know?

  • While copiar refers to copying answers, the word for cheating in general is trampa, which also means 'trap' or 'snare'.
  • The word copiar is derived from the Latin 'copia', which originally referred to 'abundance' or 'plenty' before it came to mean 'to reproduce' or 'to multiply'.
  • In Spanish, the impersonal se in no se permite copiar removes the identity of the person enforcing the rule, making it feel like an objective law of nature rather than a human command.

Examples in context

  • No hagamos trampa, juguemos limpio
    Let's not cheat, let's play fair
  • No se permiten trampas, es importante jugar con honestidad
    Cheating is not allowed, it is important to play with honesty
  • No engañes, la honestidad es fundamental
    Don't cheat, honesty is crucial
  • En este examen no se permite copiar.
    In this exam, copying is not allowed.
  • Recuerden que no se permite copiar durante la prueba.
    Remember that copying is not permitted during the test.
  • El profesor dijo que no se permite copiar.
    The teacher said that copying is not allowed.

Example conversation

A teacher is giving instructions before a classroom test.

  1. Alejandro

    Lucía, guarda tu teléfono ahora mismo.
    Lucía, put your phone away right now.
  2. Lucía

    Solo estaba mirando la hora, Alejandro.
    I was only checking the time, Alejandro.
  3. Alejandro

    Ya sabes que no se permite copiar.
    You already know that no cheating is allowed.
  4. Lucía

    Está bien, lo guardaré en mi mochila.
    All right, I will put it in my backpack.

Sources

  • IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
  • Word origins: Wiktionary entries copiar, no, se, CC BY-SA 4.0.
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Carter DominicHelp make this guide better. Spot a mistake, know another way to say it, or have an example from real life? Share it below.
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