Hippopotamus

Podcast 1 · Introduction

Hippopotamus

A documentary-style narration: origin, meaning, and feel.

Part of speech

noun

Pronunciation

hip-oh-POT-uh-mus  /ˌhɪpəˈpɒtəməs/

Definition

A large, mostly herbivorous mammal (Hippopotamus amphibius) native to sub-Saharan Africa, characterised by a massive barrel-shaped body, short legs, an enormous head and mouth, near-hairless skin that secretes a red fluid, and semi-aquatic lifestyle in rivers and lakes. Plural: hippopotamuses or hippopotami.

Plain meaning

The hippopotamus is one of the largest land animals in the world — a massive, barrel-shaped, semi-aquatic mammal found in rivers and lakes of sub-Saharan Africa. Despite looking docile, hippos are one of the most dangerous animals in Africa. Hippo is the common short form.

Register

Neutral. Hippopotamus is the formal and scientific name. Hippo is the informal short form, widely used in everyday speech and in journalism. The word's remarkable length and its familiar creature give it an almost comic quality in casual contexts.