kopirati

Kopirati is a verb used in several South Slavic languages, including Croatian, Serbian, Bosnian, and Slovenian, meaning to reproduce something exactly or to duplicate it. It is used for both tangible objects and intangible data, as in kopirati dokument, kopirati fotografiju, or kopirati datoteku. The infinitive form is kopirati, and related forms include kopiran (copied) and kopiranje (the act of copying). In Cyrillic-using varieties, such as Serbian, the form копирати is used.

Etymology and cognates: kopirati is generally considered to be a loanword adapted to Slavic phonology, with possible influences from German kopieren or English copy. The exact historical path varies by language region, but the basic meaning and construction are shared across these languages.

Usage and nuance: Beyond literal duplication, kopirati can also carry figurative senses such as imitating someone’s style or behavior. In everyday speech, it is common to say someone kopira nečiji rad or kopira njegov stil to denote copying or mimicking. The noun kopiranje refers to the process or act of copying.

Computing and technology: In computing, kopirati covers the operation of duplicating data, such as files or text. Localized user interfaces may display equivalents like Kopiraj in menus, while English-language commands use copy or the equivalent operation in each system's locale (for example, copy, cp, or xcopy).

Legal and ethical aspects: Copying copyrighted works without permission can be illegal, depending on jurisdiction and context. Scholarly or creative work may be subject to copyright, and proper attribution or permission is required in many cases. Plagiarism is a related but distinct concern.

See also: copy command, copyright, plagiarism, copying law.