Schlange
/ˈʃlaŋə/feminine
The English word snake is translated into German as Schlange. Wiktionary also lists Wurm.
Meaning: legless reptile (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Schlange | /ˈʃlaŋə/ | feminine |
| Wurm | /vʊrm/ | masculine, poetic |
The standard term for a legless reptile is Schlange.
Which one should you use?
While Schlange is the standard word for a snake, Wurm is used in archaic or poetic contexts to refer to a snake or a crawling creature.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural of Schlange is Schlangen.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈʃlaŋə/
Did you know?
- In German, the word Schlange is used to describe a queue of people waiting in line, such as at a cinema or a supermarket.
- In German folklore and old legends, the term Lindwurm was used to describe a wingless dragon or a giant serpent.
- The word Schlange is not just a noun for the animal but can also be used to describe a 'snake-like' movement, such as a 'Schlangenfahrt' for a winding road.
Examples in context
- Es ist eine Schlange.It's a snake.Tatoeba #13725339 by Vortarulo, translation #10357486 by shekitten
- Du bist eine Schlange!You are a snake!Tatoeba #1735318 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #27090 by orcrist
- Die Schlange biß mich.The snake bit me.Tatoeba #12459064 by Waldelfe, translation #9105914 by CK
- Der Zoo hat eine beeindruckende Schlange.The zoo has an impressive snake.
- Die Natter hat auffällige Farben.The grass snake has striking colors.
- Gestern habe ich eine riesige Schlange im Wald gesehen.Yesterday, I saw a huge snake in the forest.
- 93 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lukas and Julia are looking at a nature documentary.
- LukasSchau mal, eine Schlange!Look, a snake!
- JuliaOh, die Schlange ist wunderschön.Oh, the snake is beautiful.
- LukasSie ist sehr lang, Julia.It is very long, Julia.
- JuliaJa, sie sieht sehr gefährlich aus.Yes, it looks very dangerous.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “snake” translations and entries Schlange, Wurm, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
