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"Espadas" is a form of "espadar", a transitive verb which is often translated as "to swingle". "Copas" is a form of "copar", a transitive verb which is often translated as "to make a clean sweep". Learn more about the difference between "espadas" and "copas" below.
espadar
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (general)
a. to swingle
Después de cosechar y secar los tallos de lino, eran espadados para separar las fibras.After harvesting and drying flax stems, they were swingled to separate fibers.
copar(
koh
-
pahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to make a clean sweep
Según se cree, este nuevo actor copará todos los premios este año.The newcomer is expected to make a clean sweep of all the movie awards this year.
b. to take
El equipo de gimnasia de Estados Unidos copó la mayor cantidad de medallas de oro en los Juegos Olímpicos.The US gymnastics team took the most gold medals at the Olympic Games.
c. to monopolize
Los juegos coparon las noticias y no hubo mucha información acerca de otros sucesos.The games monopolized the news and there was little coverage of anything else.
d. to monopolise (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
No puedes copar la reunión entera con tus propuestas.You can't monopolise the whole meeting with your proposals.
e. to corner (the market)
La China está copando los mercados de minerales de tierras raras en África.China is cornering the rare-earth minerals markets in Africa.
2. (to occupy all of) (South America)
Regionalism used in South America: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela
a. to fill
Los fans de la cantante coparon completamente la sala de conciertos.The singer's fans filled the concert hall completely.
3. (military)
a. to take
La patrulla militar copó los puestos enemigos en una maniobra furtiva.The military patrol took the enemy's posts in a stealth maneuver.
