2 syllables: co, pied. Stress on co.
KAH-peed
/ˈkɑpid/
copied is pronounced KAH-peed (/ˈkɑpid/). It has two syllables (co-pied), with the stress on "co". Copied describes something that has been duplicated or replicated from an original. It often implies a reproduction or imitation of another item, document, or idea. The term can function as an adjective or verb (past participle) in sentences, and is commonly used in formal and informal contexts to indicate that a replication has occurred.
Copied describes something that has been duplicated or replicated from an original. It often implies a reproduction or imitation of another item, document, or idea. The term can function as an adjective or verb (past participle) in sentences, and is commonly used in formal and informal contexts to indicate that a replication has occurred.
"I copied the graph from the report for my presentation."
"She copied his homework, but was caught before she could turn it in."
"The designer copied several elements from vintage fashion for the new line."
Copi ed is two syllables with primary stress on the first: /ˈkɒp.id/ (US/UK). The vowel in the first syllable is a short, rounded /ɒ/ (as in cot for many speakers), followed by a sharp /p/ and a clear /i/ that’s closer to a short /ɪ/ or a long /iː/ depending on speaker. The final /d/ is a voiced alveolar stop. Practically: start with a rounded, lax /ɒ/, quickly release into a crisp /p/, then glide into /ɪ/ or /iː/ before closing with /d/. You’ll hear a clean, two-beat rhythm: COP-ied.
Common errors include flattening the vowel to a schwa in the first syllable (co-oped) and giving the second syllable too much length, turning /ɪ/ into /iː/ or delaying the /d/. Some speakers also miss the brief release after /p/, making it feel like /ˈkɒpɢd/. To correct: keep the first syllable as /ˈkɒp/ with a crisp stop, then briefly hold the /i/ before the final /d/ without adding extra consonants or vowel length.
In US English, you’ll often hear /ˈkɑːpid/ or /ˈkɒpid/ with a lower back vowel in the first syllable; the second syllable is a quick /ɪd/ or /iːd/. UK English tends toward /ˈkɒpid/ with a shorter /ɒ/ and a sharper /d/. Australian English generally resembles UK patterns but with slightly broader vowel qualities, sometimes approaching /ˈkɒpid/ with a less rounded /ɒ/. Overall, the core is COP-ped, but vowel height and length vary by dialect.
The challenge lies in the rapid sequence of sounds: a short but strong /ɒ/ vowel, a crisp voiceless /p/, then a quick transition into a tense front vowel in /i/ before landing on a voiced /d/. The diphthongal or tense nature of the /i/ can vary by speaker, and the final /d/ sometimes blends into a soft release with preceding /t/-like quality. Practicing precise timing and muscle tension helps stabilize this two-syllable sequence.
The key nuance is stress and vowel length: COP-ied is not evenly stressed as some two-syllable words with flap-like endings. The first syllable must carry primary stress with a crisp /p/ release, and the second syllable should be distinctly a short, clipped /ɪd/ or /iːd/ depending on speaker. Avoid prolonging the /i/ too long; keep it brief and move quickly into the final /d/.
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Copied comes from the past participle of the verb copy, which originates from the Latin copia meaning abundance or supply, and later via Old French copie meaning a transcription or imitation. The sense evolved to indicate a thing made to resemble or reproduce an original. In English, copy as a noun and verb appears in Middle English, while the past participle copied solidified as a regular -ed form as printing and documentation practices expanded in the 16th-18th centuries. The word’s modern usage covers duplicated physical items, digital replicas, and abstract imitations like ideas or data. First known uses appear in legal and clerical contexts to describe exact transcripts or carbon copies, with broader usage in everyday language following industrialization and the advent of mass documentation. The semantic field broadened to include cultural phenomena like “copied” styles or trends, conveying imitation rather than mere duplication. The transition from tangible copies to digital copies mirrors technological progress, preserving the sense of exact replica while expanding to electronic files, images, and multimedia. Overall, copied retains the sense of faithful reproduction, whether in material form or in representation.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "copied" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "copied" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "copied"
-ped sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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