culebrear

to zigzag

verb koo-leh-BRREH-ahr Rare

Origin: Derived from culebra (snake), literally 'to move like a snake'.

Also means

to snake along

Usage Note

Culebrear is formed from culebra (snake) and vividly describes sinuous movement — of a river, a road, a person weaving through a crowd, or even a rumour spreading in a twisting way. It is an -ar verb with regular conjugation. In figurative use it can suggest evasiveness or indirect manoeuvring, similar to English 'to wriggle'.

Examples

"El río culebreaba entre los cerros."

Natural Translation

The river snaked between the hills.

Free starter pack

Building your Spanish vocabulary?

Get the 100 most common Spanish words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.

Related Words

Explore Spanish by topic

SpanishNow

How to Say "You" in Spanish: Tú, Usted, Vos & Vosotros

Spanish has five words for "you": tú, usted, vos, vosotros, and ustedes. Learn which to use by who you're talking to and where — plus the verb endings.

June 3, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

Spanish Numbers 1-100: Count, Spell & Pronounce

Spanish numbers 1 to 100 are a system, not a list: three patterns build every number. Master the spelling, the accent rule, and how to say prices fast.

June 9, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

How to Say "I Like" in Spanish: Gustar Without the Confusion

Say I like in Spanish with gustar the right way: me gusta vs me gustan, why it's never yo gusto, the pronouns, articles, and five verbs that copy the pattern.

June 9, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

Ser vs. Estar: When to Use Each in Spanish

Ser vs estar made simple: how you feel and where you are use estar, everything else uses ser. Master the rule, the exceptions, and the traps that flip meaning.

June 3, 2026 6 min read