serpiente
/seɾˈpjente/feminine
The English phrase "serpent" translates to Spanish as serpiente. Wiktionary also lists sierpe.
Meaning: snake (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| serpiente | /seɾˈpjente/ | feminine |
| sierpe | /ˈsjeɾpe/ | archaic, feminine |
The noun refers to a snake. You may also encounter the related verbs serpentear and serpear, which mean to wind or meander, describing a path that snakes through a landscape.
Which one should you use?
serpiente is the standard, everyday term for a snake, whereas sierpe is an archaic or literary form used primarily in poetry or classical texts.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, the term yarará is used to refer to a venomous snake.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun serpiente is feminine, so it must be preceded by feminine articles such as la or una.
How do you pronounce it?
/seɾˈpjente/
Did you know?
- In Spanish folklore and heraldry, a sierpe is often depicted as a mythical winged dragon rather than a simple snake.
- The word serpiente comes from the Latin accusative form serpentem, rather than the standard nominative form.
- The word serpiente is a feminine noun, which means that any adjective describing the snake must also be feminine, regardless of the snake's actual sex.
Examples in context
- La serpiente tentó a Eva.The serpent tempted Eve.Tatoeba #9637475 by baudelaire, translation #809841 by BraveSentry
- La astuta serpiente le dijo al bobo unicornio qué hacer.The sagacious serpent told the silly unicorn what to do.Tatoeba #3775204 by marcelostockle, translation #2652718 by KoreanBeaver
- La palabra serpiente viene del latín "serpare".The word "serpent" comes from the Latin "serpare".This sentence explains the etymological origin of the word serpiente.Tatoeba #5996805 by Adelpa, translation #13883916 by araneo
- En el bosque tropical, se pueden encontrar numerosas variedades de serpientes.In the rainforest, one can find numerous varieties of serpents.
- La culebra de cascabel es una especie venenosa.The rattlesnake is a venomous species.
- Ten cuidado al caminar por el campo, no vaya a haber una víbora.Be careful walking in the countryside, there might be a snake.
- ¡Corre, que hay una culebra en el camino!Run, there's a snake on the path!
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
At the local zoo.
- MateoMira esa serpiente verde.Look at that green snake.
- MaríaEs muy larga, Mateo.It is very long, Mateo.
- MateoNo me gusta la serpiente.I don't like the snake.
- MaríaNo tengas miedo.Don't be afraid.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “serpent” translations and entries serpiente, sierpe, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries serpiente, sierpe, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
