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"Serpiente" is a noun which is often translated as "snake", and "culebra" is a noun which is also often translated as "snake". Learn more about the difference between "serpiente" and "culebra" below.
la serpiente(
sehr
-
pyehn
-
teh
)A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
la culebra(
koo
-
leh
-
brah
)A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
2. (money owed) (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
a. debt
Ese todavía tiene culebra conmigo y estoy harto de esperar.That guy still has an outstanding debt with me and I'm tired of waiting.
3. (disorder)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
No podía dormirme con la culebra que hacía la gente por la calle después del partido.I couldn't sleep with the disturbance people were making out in the street after the game.
Unos alumnos entraron en la reunión de profesores y empezaron a hacer una culebra.Some students came into the meeting and began making a commotion.
