Snake compatibility Best and most challenging matches for the Snake

The Snake gets on best with the Ox, Rooster and Monkey, and finds the Pig and Tiger the hardest to live with. Here is how the Snake matches with every sign.

Best: Ox, Rooster, Monkey
Opposite sign: Pig

Snake matches at a glance

Snake compatibility chart

Pairing	Rating	Why
Snake and Rat	Good	A workable match. The Snake’s intuitive nature and the Rat’s resourceful nature can balance well when both make room for the other.
Snake and Ox	Excellent	Same compatibility triangle. The wise Snake and the dependable Ox see the world in a similar way and bring out the best in each other.
Snake and Tiger	Difficult	A pairing that can rub the wrong way. Misunderstandings come easily between the Snake and the Tiger, so clear communication matters.
Snake and Rabbit	Good	A workable match. The Snake’s intuitive nature and the Rabbit’s diplomatic nature can balance well when both make room for the other.
Snake and Dragon	Good	A workable match. The Snake’s intuitive nature and the Dragon’s charismatic nature can balance well when both make room for the other.
Snake and Snake	Mixed	Two Snakes understand each other instinctively but share the same blind spots.
Snake and Horse	Good	A workable match. The Snake’s intuitive nature and the Horse’s independent nature can balance well when both make room for the other.
Snake and Goat	Good	A workable match. The Snake’s intuitive nature and the Goat’s creative nature can balance well when both make room for the other.
Snake and Monkey	Excellent	Traditional “secret friends”. The Monkey quietly supports the Snake, and trust builds quickly between them.
Snake and Rooster	Excellent	Same compatibility triangle. The wise Snake and the observant Rooster see the world in a similar way and bring out the best in each other.
Snake and Dog	Good	A workable match. The Snake’s intuitive nature and the Dog’s honest nature can balance well when both make room for the other.
Snake and Pig	Challenging	Opposite signs on the zodiac wheel. The wise Snake and the generous Pig want different things, so this match needs patience and compromise.

How Chinese zodiac compatibility works

Traditional compatibility is based on where two signs sit on the zodiac wheel.

Triangles of affinity: signs four years apart share a similar temperament. The Snake belongs with the Ox and the Rooster.
Secret friends: each sign has one quiet ally. The Snake’s is the Monkey.
Opposite signs: signs six years apart pull in different directions. The Snake’s opposite is the Pig.
Uneasy pairs: a few pairings tend to misread each other. For the Snake that is the Tiger.

These are tendencies, not verdicts. A challenging match can work very well when both people understand where the friction comes from. See the full Chinese zodiac compatibility chart.

The Snake in love

Snakes are deep, loyal and selective. They are attracted to intelligence and discretion and expect the same loyalty they give.

What works

A partner who appreciates that the Snake is wise and intuitive
Shared goals with the Ox or Rooster
The steady support of the Monkey

What to watch

Secretive
Can be jealous or possessive
Different priorities with the Pig

Read the full Year of the Snake guide →

Snake compatibility questions, answered

Who is the Snake most compatible with?

The Snake is most compatible with the Ox, Rooster and Monkey. The first two share the Snake’s compatibility triangle, and the Monkey is its traditional secret friend.

Who should the Snake avoid?

The hardest matches for the Snake are the Pig, its opposite sign, and the Tiger. These pairings are not doomed, but they take more patience and compromise.

Are two Snakes compatible?

Two Snakes understand each other instinctively but share the same blind spots.

Does my element affect compatibility?

Yes. The animal sign gives the broad picture, and the element of each birth year adds detail. Elements that generate each other, such as Wood and Fire, tend to get on more easily than elements that control each other, such as Water and Fire.