Italian · Nature, Animals & Weather

"Snake" in Italian: serpente

il serpente

Say it: sehr-PEN-tehmasculine · il serpentenoun/serˈpɛn.te/

Snake in Italian is il serpente (sehr-PEN-teh), plural i serpenti. A small snake may be called una biscia in casual rural talk.

Zoo visit

I bambini guardano il serpente dietro il vetro.
The kids watch the snake behind the glass.
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How to pronounce serpente

Say it

sehr-PEN-teh

/serˈpɛn.te/

Serpente stresses PEN: sehr-PEN-teh.

"Snake" in Italian: quick reference

ItalianEnglish
il serpentethe snake

The animal.

i serpentithe snakes

Plural.

morso di serpentesnakebite

Medical warning.

serpente velenosovenomous snake

Nature caution.

How to use serpente in real life

  1. 1Zoo visit

    I bambini guardano il serpente dietro il vetro.

    The kids watch the snake behind the glass.

    Il serpente.

  2. 2Hiking warning

    In estate attenzione ai serpenti sul sentiero.

    In summer watch for snakes on the path.

    Plural serpenti.

  3. 3Documentary

    Quel serpente non è velenoso.

    That snake is not venomous.

    Quel serpente.

Mistakes English speakers make with serpente

Incorrect: La serpente.

Correct: Il serpente.

Serpente is masculine.

Incorrect: Uno snake nel giardino.

Correct: Un serpente nel giardino.

Use serpente.

Good to know

In the Italian countryside people still warn about serpenti on hot trails. Serpente is the clear standard word; biscia is a softer folk term for a harmless grass snake.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

On a nature trail

  1. ChatPal

    Hai visto quel serpente vicino alle pietre?

    Did you see that snake near the rocks?

  2. You

    Sì. Il serpente è scappato subito.

    Yes. The snake ran off right away.

  3. ChatPal

    Qui i serpenti stanno al sole al mattino.

    Here snakes sit in the sun in the morning.

  4. You

    Ok. Cammino piano e guardo se c'è un serpente.

    Ok. I'll walk slowly and watch for a snake.

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"Snake" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Snake" in Italian

Gender?

Masculine: il serpente, i serpenti.

Venomous snake?

Serpente velenoso.

Snakebite?

Morso di serpente.

Biscia vs serpente?

Biscia is informal for a harmless snake; serpente is the general word.

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