hippopotamus
Sayhip-uh-POT-uh-muhs/ˌhɪp.əˈpɑ.tə.məs/UK/ˌhɪp.əˈpɒt.ə.məs/
Pluralhippopotami, hippopotamuses, hippopotamus
- 1A very large, heavy African animal with a huge mouth that spends most of the day in rivers and lakes.
A hippopotamus can weigh as much as a small truck.
From the boat we watched a hippopotamus rest in the river with only its eyes and ears above the water.
UsageThe plural is usually hippopotamuses. People often just say hippo.
Similarhippo
Note
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Origin
From Greek words meaning 'horse' and 'river', so 'river horse'.