vipère

viper, adder

noun vee-PEHR Rare

Origin: Latin vipera

Also means

treacherous person

Usage Note

Vipère is the common asp or European viper (Vipera berus), the only venomous snake native to France. Figuratively, calling someone une vipère or une langue de vipère ('a viper's tongue') means they are sharp-tongued and malicious. The phrase réchauffer un serpent dans son sein is sometimes replaced colloquially with references to the vipère.

Examples

"Une vipère se chauffait sur le rocher."

Natural Translation

A viper was basking on the rock.

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