# hippopotamus

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˌhɪp.əˈpɒt.ə.məs/ · frequency rank #49,394

## Definitions
1. A semi-aquatic, herbivorous, African hoofed mammal of the family Hippopotamidae.
2. The common hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius)

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

## Common misspellings (16)
`hhippopotamus`, `hipopotamus`, `hipoppotamus`, `hippooptamus`, `hippopoatmus`, `hippopotammus`, `hippopotamsu`, `hippopotamuss`, `hippopotaums`, `hippopotmaus`, `hippopottamus`, `hippoppotamus`, `hippoptoamus`, `hipppootamus`, `hpipopotamus`, `ihppopotamus`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/hippopotamus