hippopotamus

Etymology

From Latin and New Latin hippopotamus, from Ancient Greek ἱπποπόταμος (hippopótamos), from ἵππος (híppos, “horse”) (English hippo-) + ποταμός (potamós, “river”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˌhɪp.əˈpɒt.ə.məs/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Hyphenation: hip‧po‧po‧ta‧mus

Noun

hippopotamus (plural hippopotamuses or hippopotami or hippopotamus)

1. A large, semi-aquatic, herbivorous (plant-eating) African mammal (Hippopotamus amphibius)

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ἱπποπόταμος (hippopótamos), from ἵππος (híppos, “horse”) + ποταμός (potamós, “river”).

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /hip.poˈpo.ta.mus/, [hɪp.pɔˈpɔ.ta.mʊs]

Noun

hippopotamus m (genitive hippopotamī); second declension

1. a hippopotamus

References

• hippopotamus in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• hippopotamus in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire Illustré Latin-Français, Hachette