cp file ~/Desktop

cp file "$(xdg-user-dir DESKTOP)"

xdg-user-dir DESKTOP

zanna@monster:~/Desktop$

zanna@monster:~/Desktop$ pwd
/home/zanna/Desktop

mv file1 ~/Desktop

mv /path/to/file1 ~/Desktop

mv ~/Downloads/file1 ~/Desktop

zanna@monster:~/playground$ mv -v chocolate ~/Desktop
'chocolate' -> '/home/zanna/Desktop/chocolate'

cd /somedir
mv -i file1 "$(xdg-user-dir DESKTOP)"

cd /somedir
cp -i file1 "$(xdg-user-dir DESKTOP)"