2 syllables: co, py. Stress on co.
KAH-pee
/ˈkɑpi/
copy is pronounced KAH-pee (/ˈkɑpi/). It has two syllables (co-py), with the stress on "co". Copy refers to a reproduction or replica of an original item, document, or digital content, or the act of duplicating something. It can also mean to imitate someone’s behavior or to duplicate text for use in another medium. In professional contexts, it often denotes material produced to be circulated or used as a model. The term spans everyday usage and technical applications, including copywriting and data copying.
Copy refers to a reproduction or replica of an original item, document, or digital content, or the act of duplicating something. It can also mean to imitate someone’s behavior or to duplicate text for use in another medium. In professional contexts, it often denotes material produced to be circulated or used as a model. The term spans everyday usage and technical applications, including copywriting and data copying.
- You may soften or misarticulate the /p/ leading to a blurred consonant and a longer vowel than needed. Ensure a clean stop release and avoid a breathy afterglide before /i/. - You might default to a long /oʊ/ in the first syllable, especially if influenced by words like 'cobalt' or 'copper'. Practice with a pure short /ɒ/ to anchor the rhythm. - In connected speech, /k/ plus /p/ sequence can fuse; keep the plosive release crisp by applying a controlled puff of air and pursuing a small pause after the /p/ for clarity. - Final /i/ can elide to a schwa in fast speech; practice with a full /i/ to keep the word distinct in rapid conversations.
"- The journalist sent a copy of the article to the editor for review."
"- Create a copy of the file and save it to the cloud."
"- He tried to copy her handwriting for the prank, but was caught."
US/UK/AU pronunciation is /ˈkɒpi/ in IPA. The first syllable is stressed. Begin with an open back rounded vowel /ɒ/, then a clear /p/ closure, and finish with a short, close front vowel /i/ as in 'see'. Your lips round slightly for /ɒ/, then release into a light aspirated /k/ followed by the /ɒ/ to /p/ transition and a crisp /i/. If you’re watching audio, you’ll hear the vowel space tighten between /ɒ/ and /i/, so keep it compact for natural rhythm.
Two common errors: (1) misplacing the stress, pronouncing it as /ˈkoʊpi/ with a long /oʊ/; (2) devoicing or misarticulating /p/ as /b/ due to voicing in rapid speech. Correction: keep the first syllable with /ɒ/ quality and crisp /p/ release, not a vowel glide. Practice with a slow pace: /ˈkɒ.pi/ and then increase speed while maintaining the clear /p/ and short /i/. Tension in the jaw around /p/ can create a blur; relax the lips and release sharply.
In US/UK/AU, the primary difference is vowel quality in the first syllable. US often uses a lax /ɒ/ or /ɑ/ depending on regional rhotic variants, while UK tends toward a more open /ɒ/ in non-rhotic speech. Australian speakers may shift toward /ɒ/ with slightly tighter mouth shape and faster lenition. The /p/ and /i/ are largely consistent, but rhoticity in the following context can affect adjacent vowels if talked in connected speech. Overall, the core /ˈkɒpi/ stays stable, with vowel crest shaping depending on accent.
The challenge lies in the compact vowel-consonant sequence /ɒ/ + /p/ + /i/, where a crisp, unaspirated /p/ can blur with the following /i/ if the tongue and lips aren’t positioned properly. Also, in rapid speech, the /ɒ/ may reduce toward a schwa, blurring syllable boundary. Coordination between lips and tongue is essential: keep the lips rounded for /ɒ/, then release the /p/ sharply, and finish with a tense, high-front /i/. Prone to over-aspiration or under-aspiration of /p/—aim for clean, light release.
A useful, unique question is: Does the /ɒ/ vowel in copy verge toward an open back /ɑ/ in certain dialects? Answer: In some dialects, particularly certain regional US varieties, /ɒ/ may approach /ɑ/ or merge with /ɔ/ in fast speech, subtly changing the first vowel’s color. Practically, you should maintain a consistent /ɒ/ for clarity, but be aware of near-open variants in rapid speech, adjusting your mouth openness slightly while keeping the /p/ crisp and the final /i/ clear.
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- US: May exhibit a faster, flatter /ɒ/ and a lighter rhotic influence on surrounding vowels in fluent speech; keep front vowel height stable and avoid diphthongizing /ɒ/. - UK: Clear, more open /ɒ/ with stronger non-rhoticity; ensure the /p/ is released with a crisp, unvoiced stop and the /i/ remains tense, almost to a near-close front unrounded vowel. - AU: Similar to UK but with slightly more centralized /ɒ/ and often faster tempo; keep lip rounding modest while maintaining a clean /p/ release and stable /i/. - IPA notes: /ˈkɒpi/ or /ˈkɒpiː/ in some dialects? Generally /ˈkɒpi/; avoid widening to /oʊ/ or /ə/ in careful speech.
Copy comes from the Old French copier, deriving from Latin copia, meaning abundance, supply, or plenty. In English, early uses of copy referred to abundance or multiple copies of documents. By the 15th century, copy had entered English with the sense of a written or printed reproduction, especially in legal and clerical contexts. The semantic shift toward ‘to imitate or reproduce’ likely aligns with the broader sense of replication or copying activities in manuscript culture and printing, where duplicating texts was routine. In modern English, copy also spans specialized domains: computer science (data copy), media (copywriting and ad text), and popular usage (to imitate). First known uses appear in legal and clerical records where multiple copies of a charter or letter were required. Over time, the word broadened to include intangible copies, such as ideas or content, and in casual speech as a verb meaning to imitate someone. The noun form ‘copy’ coexists with verbs like ‘to copy’ and phrases such as ‘copy editor,’ reflecting its transactional and creative versatility in professional settings.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "copy" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "copy" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "copy"
-ppy sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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