Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “copulate” come from?

Copulate comes from Latin copulare, derived from copula meaning to join or fasten, itself from copulo, combining con- with apere to fit together.

copulate (English): To engage in sexual intercourse; Joined;...

Definitions

  1. To engage in sexual intercourse; Joined;...

Ancestry of “copulate”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latincopulatusunited, joined, coupled; connected
2Latincōpulō—
3Latincōpula—
4Latincoapula—
5Latinapiodative singular of apium; ablative singular of...
6Latinapiumparsley; celery; genitive plural of apis
7LatinApis—
8Ancient GreekἌπις—
9Copticϩⲁⲡⲉ—
10Egyptianḥp—

Words derived from “copulate”

  • copulator
  • copulin
  • copulatress
  • copulater
  • copulateth
  • copulatee
  • copulable
  • copulability
Every word from Egyptian ḥp →