serpiente

Spanish

Etymology

Inherited from Latin serpentem, derived from serpere (“slither, creep”), from Proto-Indo-European *serp-. Doublet of sierpe. Cognate with English serpent.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /seɾˈpjente/ [seɾˈpjẽn̪.t̪e]
  • Audio:(file)
  • Rhymes: -ente
  • Syllabification: ser‧pien‧te

Noun

serpiente f (plural serpientes)

  1. snake, serpent (legless reptile of the sub-order Serpentes)
    Synonyms: culebra, (archaic) sierpe
  2. (specifically) a large or medium-sized snake
  3. (figuratively) snake
    Synonym: traidor

Usage notes

  • In the sense of "traitor," serpiente can be masculine.

Derived terms

See also

Further reading

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