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serpiente

ser-PYEN-tehseɾˈpjente

“serpiente” means “snake” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

snake

Also: serpent
NounfA2
A realistic, thick green snake coiled up on a smooth brown branch in a sunny jungle environment.

📝 In Action

La serpiente se deslizó silenciosamente entre las rocas.

A2

The snake slid silently between the rocks.

Debemos tener cuidado, hay serpientes venenosas en este bosque.

B1

We must be careful, there are poisonous snakes in this forest.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • culebra (snake (often non-venomous))
  • reptil (reptile)

Common Collocations

  • serpiente de cascabel – rattlesnake
  • serpiente marina – sea snake

snake

Also: viper
NounfB2informal
A person with a secretive, sly expression holding a mask behind their back, symbolizing deceit or treachery.

📝 In Action

Cuidado con ese hombre, es una serpiente; te traicionará.

B2

Be careful with that man, he is a snake; he will betray you.

Ella sonríe mucho, pero en el fondo es una serpiente.

C1

She smiles a lot, but deep down she is a viper.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Vocabulary Collections

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "serpiente" in Spanish:

serpent→snake→viper→

🗣️ Practice in a Tongue Twister

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: serpiente

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'serpiente' in its figurative, insulting meaning?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
serpentear(to wind, to slither) — Verb
serpentina(streamer (party decoration)) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Latin word *serpens*, which literally meant 'creeping thing' or 'crawler.' It is related to the older Latin verb *serpere*, meaning 'to creep' or 'to crawl.'

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: serpentePortuguese: serpente

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'serpiente' the same as 'culebra'?

They are very similar! 'Serpiente' is the general term for all snakes. 'Culebra' often refers specifically to non-venomous or harmless snakes, but in everyday conversation, many native speakers use them interchangeably.