French word

serpent

Pronunciation

IPA/sɛʁpɑ̃/

Meaning

  • masculine nounsnake

Example

Il y a un serpent dans le jardin.

There is a snake in the garden.

Illustration for serpent (snake)

More examples

Elle a peur du serpent depuis son enfance.

She has been afraid of the snake since childhood.

Core concept

A long, scaly reptile that moves by sliding its legless body along the ground.

Common phrases

  • peur du serpent

    fear of the snake

  • peau de serpent

    snake skin

Similar words

vipère: A usually venomous snake that may bite when approached or touched.
couleuvre: A nonvenomous snake often found near water or in brush, usually avoiding people.

Definition in French

Reptile long et écailleux, dépourvu de pattes, qui se meut en glissant sur le sol.

Word origin

French serpent comes from Latin serpens, meaning a crawling creature, from serpere, 'to crawl'; English serpent has the same Latin source.

Usage tips

  • Serpent is masculine, so the usual indefinite form is un serpent, as in un serpent dans le jardin.

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