cp -a /source/. /dest/
#The -a option is an improved recursive option, that preserve all file attributes, and also preserve symlinks.
#The . at end of the source path is a specific cp syntax that allow to copy all files and folders, included hidden ones.
cp -R path_to_source path_to_destination/
cp -v file1.txt newfile.txt
cp -v my_file.txt my_file2.txt my_file3.txt /new_directory