noun
hippopotamus
hihp-uh-POT-uh-muhs
noun
1
A large, thick-skinned African mammal that spends much of its time in rivers and lakes.
"A hippopotamus can weigh over a tonne despite its short legs."
"Tourists watched a hippopotamus wade slowly into the river."
How to Use Hippopotamus
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA big, semi-aquatic African animal, often just called a "hippo" for short.
Memory tip
The informal short form "hippo" is far more common in everyday speech.
Trace the full origin ↓Word Forms
hippopotami plural, hippopotamuses plural, hippopotamus plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “hippopotamus”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
A _____ can weigh over a tonne despite its short legs.
Etymology
From Greek hippopótamos, literally "river horse" (híppos "horse" + potamós "river").