French · Nature, Animals & Weather

"Snake" in French: serpent

le serpent

Say it: sehr-PAHNmasculine · le serpentnoun/sɛʁ.pɑ̃/

Snake in French is le serpent. Plural les serpents. Say J'ai peur des serpents if you're scared, and un serpent venimeux for a venomous one.

Zoo visit

Le serpent dort derrière la vitre.
The snake is sleeping behind the glass.
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How to pronounce serpent

Say it

sehr-PAHN

/sɛʁ.pɑ̃/

sehr-PAHN. Soft s; nasal an at the end.

"Snake" in French: quick reference

FrenchEnglish
le serpentthe snake

Default.

les serpentsthe snakes

Plural.

serpent venimeuxvenomous snake

Danger.

peur des serpentsfear of snakes

Phobia talk.

How to use serpent in real life

  1. 1Zoo visit

    Le serpent dort derrière la vitre.

    The snake is sleeping behind the glass.

    Exhibit.

  2. 2Hiking warning

    Attention, il y a des serpents ici l'été.

    Careful—there are snakes here in summer.

    Plural.

  3. 3Kids' book

    Le petit serpent traverse le chemin.

    The little snake crosses the path.

    Story.

Mistakes English speakers make with serpent

Incorrect: La serpent est longue.

Correct: Le serpent est long.

Serpent is masculine.

Incorrect: Un snake dans l'herbe.

Correct: Un serpent dans l'herbe.

Use serpent.

Good to know

Serpent appears in fairy tales and at tropical greenhouses. Vipère is a specific venomous type people mention in rural France. Stay calm: most garden snakes are harmless.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Reading a trail sign

  1. ChatPal

    Le panneau parle de serpents.

    The sign mentions snakes.

  2. You

    Je n'aime pas les serpents, on reste sur le sentier.

    I don't like snakes—we stay on the path.

  3. ChatPal

    D'accord. Si on voit un serpent, on recule.

    Okay. If we see a snake, we back up.

  4. You

    Marché conclu.

    Deal.

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"Snake" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Snake" in French

How do you say snake?

Le serpent.

What is the plural?

Les serpents.

How do I say I'm scared of snakes?

J'ai peur des serpents.

How do you pronounce serpent?

sehr-PAHN.

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  4. Step 4: Use it in real scenarios

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