A hippopotamusA very large semi-aquatic mammal native to Africa. is a very large AfricanRelating to the continent of Africa or its people. animal that lives in and around rivers and spends much of its time in water. In everyday English, people often shortenMake a word, phrase, or amount shorter. the word to hippo.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /hɪpəˈpɑːtəməs/
Easy pronunciation: hip-uh-PAH-tuh-muss (approximate spelling).
Stress: Primary stress on the third syllable: PAH.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Hippopotamus Meaning
a very large African river animal
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a massive, thick-skinned herbivorous animal that lives in or around rivers in tropical Africa
Example: We saw a hippopotamus cooling off in the river.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- hippo — Common short form of hippopotamus in everyday English.
- hippopotamus amphibius — Scientific species name for the common hippopotamus.
- river horse — Traditional descriptive name, but less common than hippo.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Hippopotamus Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- hippo
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Using river horse as the main everyday synonym in modern English; hippo is much more natural.
- Confusing hippopotamus with other large water animals such as walruses or manatees.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does hippopotamus mean?
A hippopotamus is a very large African mammal that lives in or near rivers. People often call it a hippo.
What is a synonym for hippopotamus?
The most common synonym is hippo. River horse is a less common descriptive name.
Is hippo the same as hippopotamus?
Yes. Hippo is the common short form of hippopotamus.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.