Meanings
plural Slytherins
- 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.
“You know, there are colors beyond black and green. You're not a Slytherin.”
2012, Molly Harper, My Bluegrass Baby, Pocket Star Books, published 2012, →ISBN, page 572 more examples
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, Michele Bigley, Explorer's Guide Northern California, The Countryman Press, published 2013, →ISBN, page 409“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.”
2013, Tracey Solheim, Foolish Games, Berkley, published 2013, →ISBN
Origin
Coined by English author J. K. Rowling, presumably from slither (verb) + -in (variant of -en (“pertaining to”)) or -ing (“belonging to; of the kind of”).
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Chinese Mandarin 斯萊特林 /斯莱特林, 史萊哲林 /史莱哲林
- 斯萊特林 /斯莱特林 (Sīláitèlín)Harry Potter house
- 史萊哲林 /史莱哲林 (Shǐláizhélín)Harry Potter house
Czech Zmijozelák, Zmijozelan
- ZmijozelákHarry Potter house
- ZmijozelanHarry Potter house
Dutch Zwadderaar
- ZwadderaarHarry Potter house
Finnish Luihuinen
- LuihuinenHarry Potter house
French Serpentard
- SerpentardHarry Potter house
Hebrew סלית׳רין
- סלית׳רין (slithrin)Harry Potter house
Hindi नागशक्ति
- नागशक्ति (nāgśakti)Harry Potter house
Hungarian Mardekár
- MardekárHarry Potter house
Italian Serpeverde
- SerpeverdeHarry Potter house
Japanese スリザリン
- スリザリン (Surizarin)Harry Potter house
Polish Ślizgon
- ŚlizgonHarry Potter house
Portuguese Sonserina
- SonserinaHarry Potter house
Russian Сли́зерин, слизеринец
- Сли́зерин (Slízerin)Harry Potter house
- слизеринец (slizerinec)person having traits associated with the house
Rhymes & wordplay
Sounds the same
Cite this entry
Slytherin. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Slytherin
“Slytherin.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Slytherin. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Slytherin,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Slytherin.
Source: Slytherin on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.