Slytherin

English

Etymology

Coined by British author J. K. Rowling, presumably from slither.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈslɪðəɹɪn/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Homophone: slithering (g-dropping)

Noun

Slytherin (plural Slytherins)

1. A person having traits associated with Slytherin house from the Harry Potter series, including ambition, cunning, or an affinity for snakes or the colours green and silver.
   • 2012, Molly Harper, My Bluegrass Baby, Pocket Star Books, published 2012, →ISBN, page 57:

     “You know, there are colors beyond black and green. You're not a Slytherin.”

   • 2013, Michele Bigley, Explorer's Guide Northern California, The Countryman Press, published 2013, →ISBN, page 409:

     I'll admit, this place creeps me out, but Slytherins out there will enjoy viewing (and holding) over 50 types of snakes and reptiles, including bearded dragons, horned frogs, and tarantulas.

   • 2013, Tracey Solheim, Foolish Games‎^[1], Berkley, published 2013, →ISBN:

     “It's too bad your Slytherin brother can't be persuaded to tell the truth to Will,” Annabeth mused.
     “Not unless there's something in it for him.”

   • For more quotations using this term, see Citations:Slytherin.

Coordinate terms

• Gryffindor
• Hufflepuff
• Ravenclaw

Derived terms

• Slytherinish

Translations

Harry Potter house

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: (Mainland China) 斯萊特林／斯莱特林 (zh) (Sīláitèlín); (Taiwan) 史萊哲林／史莱哲林 (Shǐláizhélín)

• Czech: Zmijozelák m, Zmijozelan m
• Dutch: Zwadderaar m
• Finnish: Luihuinen
• French: Serpentard
• Hebrew: סלית'רין m (slithrin)
• Hungarian: Mardekár
• Italian: Serpeverde
• Japanese: スリザリン (Surizarin)
• Polish: Ślizgon m
• Portuguese: Sonserina f
• Russian: Сли́зерин m (Slízerin)

person having traits associated with the house

• Russian: слизеринец m (slizerinec)