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Hippopotamus: meaning, definitions and examples

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hippopotamus

 

[ ˌhɪpəˈpɒtəməs ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

animal species

The hippopotamus is a large, mostly herbivorous mammal native to sub-Saharan Africa, known for its massive size, barrel-shaped body, and large mouth. They are semi-aquatic and spend much of their time in water to keep their bodies cool. Hippopotamuses are highly social animals, often found in groups called pods or bloats.

Synonyms

hippo, river horse

Examples of usage

  • The hippopotamus spends hours submerged in the river.
  • Did you know that the hippopotamus's skin secretes a natural sunscreen?
  • The zoo has a new baby hippopotamus on display.
  • Hippopotamuses can be very aggressive if they feel threatened.

Translations

Translations of the word "hippopotamus" in other languages:

🇵🇹 hipopótamo

🇮🇳 दरियाई घोड़ा

🇩🇪 Nilpferd

🇮🇩 hipopotamus

🇺🇦 гіпопотам

🇵🇱 hipopotam

🇯🇵 カバ

🇫🇷 hippopotame

🇪🇸 hipopótamo

🇹🇷 hipopotam

🇰🇷 하마

🇸🇦 فرس النهر

🇨🇿 hroch

🇸🇰 hroch

🇨🇳 河马

🇸🇮 hipopotam

🇮🇸 flóðhestur

🇰🇿 гипопотам

🇬🇪 ჰიპოპოტამუსი

🇦🇿 hipopotam

🇲🇽 hipopótamo

Etymology

The word 'hippopotamus' comes from the Ancient Greek 'hippopotamos', which means 'river horse'. This term is a combination of 'hippos' (ἵππος), meaning 'horse', and 'potamos' (ποταμός), meaning 'river'. The Greeks initially named the animal this way due to its large size and its habitat near rivers. The hippopotamus has been depicted in various forms throughout ancient history, often symbolizing strength and power. In ancient Egypt, hippos were revered and commonly featured in art, as they were both dangerous and magnificent creatures. Over time, this fascination with the hippopotamus continued, leading to further studies and artistic representations throughout various cultures.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #27,194, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.