copula

Name: copula, English Word Data
Creator: Wiktionary
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

/ˈkɒpjʊlə/

//ˈkɒpjʊlə// noun

By PlainSpell · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) · analyzed May 6, 2026

The verdict

“copula” is uncommon English (frequency #68,956 among 43,570 “C” headwords), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#68,956
frequency rank, English: 43,570
“C” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A word, usually a verb, used to link the subject of a sentence with a predicate (usually a subject complement or an adverbial), that unites or associates the subject with the predicate.

Key facts for copula
Property	Value
Headword	copula
Language	English
Part of speech	Noun
IPA	/ˈkɒpjʊlə/
Letters	6
Frequency rank	#68,956
Misspellings tracked	0
Confusable pairs	0
Source	Wiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “copula” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). copula lands here:

#68,956

#1#100#1K#10K#100K

← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

copula is uncommon English at frequency #68,956 among 43,570 “C” headwords, classed as anoun, transcribed /ˈkɒpjʊlə/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 5 senses are on record.

copula has no tracked misspelling variants, typically a sign the spelling maps closely to how the word sounds. Our confusable-pair dataset has no match for it, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: Borrowed from Latin cōpula (“connection, linking of words”), from co- (“together”) + apere (“fasten”). Doublet of couple. The correct English form is copula, spelled C-O-P-U-L-A.

Definition

1
A word, usually a verb, used to link the subject of a sentence with a predicate (usually a subject complement or an adverbial), that unites or associates the subject with the predicate.
2
The bond or relationship by which two things are combined into a unity.
3
A function that represents the association between two or more variables, independent of the individual marginal distributions of the variables.
4
A device that connects two or more keyboards of an organ.
5
The act of copulation; mating.

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin cōpula (“connection, linking of words”), from co- (“together”) + apere (“fasten”). Doublet of couple.

This word in other languages

cópula(Español)copule(Français)Kopula(Deutsch)cópula(Português)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "copula"?

"copula" is spelled C-O-P-U-L-A. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈkɒpjʊlə/.

What does "copula" mean?

As a noun, "copula" means: A word, usually a verb, used to link the subject of a sentence with a predicate (usually a subject complement or an adverbial), that unites or associates the subject with the predicate.

How do you pronounce "copula"?

The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "copula" is /ˈkɒpjʊlə/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.

What is the origin of the word "copula"?

Borrowed from Latin cōpula (“connection, linking of words”), from co- (“together”) + apere (“fasten”). Doublet of couple. See the full etymology section above for more details.

Is PlainSpell free to use?

Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “copula”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

The one correct English spelling is C-O-P-U-L-A - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
Say it as /ˈkɒpjʊlə/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words

Other uncommon English words near this rank

Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.