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"Copiar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to copy", and "pegar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to hit". Learn more about the difference between "copiar" and "pegar" below.
copiar(
koh
-
pyahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to copy
Hay que copiar los documentos que vamos a distribuir en la junta.We need to copy the documents we're going to hand out at the meeting.
2. (to mimic)
a. to imitate
Hugo intentó copiar el estilo de Rodrigo, pero solo logró verse raro.Hugo tried to imitate Rodrigo's style, but he just ended up looking weird.
b. to copy
Ale acusa a Daniela de haber copiado su nuevo diseño de vestido.Ale is accusing Daniela of having copied her new dress design.
3. (to write)
a. to take down
Estefanía copió con cuidado el discurso de su jefe.Estefania carefully took down her boss's speech.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
4. (education)
copiarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
a. to cheat
Todos saben que Rubén solo consiguió esa nota en el examen porque se copió.Everyone knows Ruben only got that grade on the test because he cheated.
pegar(
peh
-
gahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to hit
Le pegó a la pelota de béisbol y marcó un jonrón.He hit the baseball and scored a home run.
2. (to attach)
a. to paste (with glue)
Voy a pegar esto en mi cuaderno para que me inspire.I'm going to paste this in my notebook for inspiration.
b. to glue (with glue)
Pega las dos hojas y luego dóblalas por la mitad.Glue the two sheets together and then fold them in half.
c. to stick
Pega este dibujo al lado del otro con chinches.Stick this drawing next to that one with thumbtacks.
4. (computing)
a. to paste
Copia ese texto y pégalo en este documento.Copy that text and paste it into this document.
a. to give
Mi tía me pegó la gripa y ahora me tengo que quedar en casa.My aunt gave me the flu and now I have to stay home.
7. (to give)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Está en el hospital después de que le hayan pegado un tiro.He's in the hospital after having been shot.
Cuando vio el ratón, pegó un grito.When she saw the mouse, she screamed.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
pegarse
A reciprocal verb is a verb that indicates that two or more subjects perform an action on each other (e.g., Ellos se abrazan.).
a. to hit each other
Mis dos hermanos siempre se pegan cuando vamos al supermercado.My two brothers always hit each other when we go to the supermarket.
A reflexive verb is a verb that indicates that the subject performs an action on itself (e.g., Miguel se lava.).
a. to hit oneself
El niñito se pegó con su mochila y empezó a llorar.The little boy hit himself with his backpack and began to cry.
b. to bump into
Me pegué con la silla al salir de la cocina.I bumped into the chair as I was leaving the kitchen.
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
11. (to cling)
a. to stick
Los frijoles se pegaron a la olla y no los puedo quitar.The beans stuck to the pan and I can't scrape them off.
12. (to catch)
a. to pick up
Siempre se me pega el acento cubano de mi abuelo cuando lo visito.I always pick up my grandfather's Cuban accent when I visit him.
