[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/hippo/)

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# hippo

noun (a hippo, hippos)

«hippo» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A hippo, short for hippopotamus, is a huge, heavy African animal with a wide mouth, short legs and thick skin, which spends most of the day in rivers and lakes. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/hippo/#m1)
2. Hippos eat grass, coming out of the water at night to graze. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/hippo/#m2)

### In the lessons

In science lessons hippos come up in adaptations: eyes, ears and nostrils are on top of the head so they can stay under water; their skin makes a reddish liquid that protects against the sun. In safety and geography lessons pupils learn that hippos are among the most dangerous large animals in Africa because they are very territorial. The name means «river horse» in Greek.

### Examples

- The hippo yawned and showed its huge teeth. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/hippo/#x1)
- Hippos spend the day in the water to keep cool. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/hippo/#x2)
- A hippo can stay under water for several minutes. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/hippo/#x3)
- Hippos come out at night to eat grass. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/hippo/#x4)
- The name «hippopotamus» means «river horse». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/hippo/#x5)
- Hippos may look slow, but they are very dangerous. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/hippo/#x6)
- A baby hippo is called a calf. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/hippo/#x7)

### Note

Plural «hippos». Short for «hippopotamus» (plural «hippopotamuses» or «hippopotami»). Myth: hippos do not sweat blood; the red liquid is a natural sunscreen. Hippos cannot really swim; they walk or bounce along the bottom.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «hippo» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/hippo/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«hippo» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/hippo.html) on Mova free.