Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| serpiente | /seɾˈpjente/ | feminine |
| culebra | /kuˈlebɾa/ | feminine |
| sierpe | /ˈsjeɾpe/ | archaic, feminine |
| víbora | /ˈbiboɾa/ | Mexico, colloquial, feminine |
In Spanish, several words are used to refer to a legless reptile depending on the context, the size of the animal or the region you are in. The term serpiente is the most common, general and scientifically accurate term for any snake.
Which one should you use?
While serpiente is the neutral and most common term, culebra is often used in a non-technical way to refer to smaller or non-venomous snakes. Sierpe is a much more specialized term, and víbora is used colloquially to mean snake in general in certain areas, even though it literally means viper.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Use sierpe only if you are reading or writing in an archaic or literary style, such as poetry. In casual conversation in Mexico, you may hear víbora used for any snake.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, the word víbora is used colloquially to refer to snakes in general.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
All forms of the noun for snake, including serpiente, culebra, sierpe and víbora, are feminine. This means they require feminine articles such as la or una. Additionally, there are verbs derived from these forms, such as culebrear (derived from culebra), which means to move in a winding, snake-like motion.
How do you pronounce it?
/seɾˈpjente/
Did you know?
- The verb culebrear describes a winding motion and can be used for things that are not animals, such as a twisting road or a river.
- The words serpiente and sierpe are doublets, meaning they both come from the same Latin root but entered the language through different grammatical forms.
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, using the word víbora instead of serpiente can shift the tone from a neutral description to something more menacing.
Examples in context
- Tom pisó una víbora.Tom stepped on a snake.This sentence shows how to use víbora to describe stepping on a snake.Tatoeba #7061270 by luischir, translation #7060062 by Hybrid
- No pise la serpiente.Don't step on the snake.This sentence demonstrates the use of serpiente in a command.Tatoeba #10216651 by Shishir, translation #10216610 by shekitten
- ¿La serpiente está viva?Is the snake alive?This sentence shows how to ask if a serpiente is alive.Tatoeba #1134798 by Shishir, translation #1138309 by CK
- Vi una serpiente en el jardínI saw a snake in the garden
- Estudié los comportamientos de varios ofidios en la selvaI studied the behavior of various snakes in the jungle
- Ten cuidado al caminar, hay muchas culebras en esta zonaBe careful walking, there are many snakes in this area
- Es necesario mantener distancia de esa víbora, es muy venenosaIt's necessary to keep your distance from that snake, it's very poisonous
- 49 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofía and Alejandro are walking in the forest.
- Sofía¡Mira, Alejandro! Hay una serpiente allí.Look, Alejandro! There is a snake there.
- AlejandroNo te acerques a esa serpiente.Do not get close to that snake.
- SofíaParece que la serpiente es pequeña.It seems that the snake is small.
- AlejandroMejor caminemos por el otro lado.Better if we walk the other way.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “snake” translations and entries serpiente, culebra, sierpe, víbora, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries culebra, serpiente, sierpe, víbora, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
