5 syllables: Hip, po, pot, a, mus. Stress on pot.
hip-uh-PAH-tuh-muhs
/ˌhɪpəˈpɑtəməs/
Hippopotamus is pronounced hip-uh-PAH-tuh-muhs (/ˌhɪpəˈpɑtəməs/). It has five syllables (Hip-po-pot-a-mus), with the stress on "pot". Hippopotamus is a large, herbivorous mammal native to sub-Saharan Africa. The word also refers to its species as a group. In everyday speech, it’s a compound of hippo- and -potamus, used chiefly in zoological contexts and often in playful or educational language.
nounHippopotamus is a large, herbivorous mammal native to sub-Saharan Africa. The word also refers to its species as a group. In everyday speech, it’s a compound of hippo- and -potamus, used chiefly in zoological contexts and often in playful or educational language.
"The hippo at the zoo lounged in the shade near the water."
"Scientists discovered a fossil hippo from the river valley site."
"We studied the word hippo-potamus in our anatomy zoology class."
Pronounce as /ˌhɪpəˈpɒtəmə(s)/ in US/UK; the primary stress is on POT, with a secondary primary feel on the first syllable. Break it into hip-po- pot-a-mus. Start with a quick /h/ breath, then /ɪ/ as in sit, /pə/ as unstressed, then /ˈpɒ/ (US /ˈpɑː/ in some accents) with an aspirated /t/ followed by /ə/ and /məs/. Audio reference: look for pronunciation on Forvo or YouGlish by searching “hippopotamus.”
Common errors: 1) Misplacing stress on the first syllable (HIP-po- pot-amus). 2) Merging the two 'p' sounds too lightly, producing hip_po-tamus instead of hip-PO-ta-mus. 3) Over-lengthening the middle /ə/ or mispronouncing the final /əs/ as /əs/ vs /əməs/. Correction: practice HIP-po- POT- a- mus with a clearly stressed POT; keep the final /əˌməs/ as a light, unstressed ending. Use minimal pairs like hippo- vs hippo- to feel the split.
US: /ˌhɪpəˈpɒtəˌməs/ with non-rhoticity minimal; UK: /ˌhɪpəˈpɒtəməs/ rhoticity varies; AU: /ˌhɪpəˈpɒtəˌməs/ tends to non-rhotically align with UK but with Australian vowel flatness. Vowel quality in POT and mus endings differ: US tends to /ɑ/ in POT in some coastal varieties, UK/AU lean toward /ɒ/ or broader /ɒ/. The final -mus often reduces to /məs/ or /məs/ with weaker /ə/ in rapid speech. Record yourself, compare with native speakers, and adjust accordingly.
Key challenges: the long multi-syllable structure and two adjacent /p/ plosives can clip if you’re not releasing the stop clearly. The central /ə/ in the middle syllables often reduces, making POT ambiguous. Maintaining the stress on POT while keeping the surrounding syllables quick requires controlled breath and precise tongue position. Also, the final /əs/ can be uncertain in American speed talk. Slow practice with IPA guidance helps; then pace it in natural speech.
Does the 'pot' cluster in hippo- pota- mus influence your mouth shape on the /t/ release? It’s common to add a light aspirated release on /t/ followed by a quick schwa; check your lips for rounding on the /ɒ/ to avoid an overly open vowel. This cluster boundary helps signal the primary stress on POT and keeps the rhythm accurate.
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Hippopotamus originates from ancient Greek hippopotamós (ὡιπποπ? - actually ἱπποπ?άματος), composed of hippos (ἵππος) meaning horse and potamos (ποταμός) meaning river. The term was adopted into Latin and then English to describe the large river-living African mammals of the family Hippopotamidae. In classical texts, hippopotamus referred more generally to river horses; by the 18th–19th centuries, naturalists standardized Hippopotamus amphibius as the scientific name for the common hippo. The word entered English through scientific and travel literature as exploration of Africa expanded; its spelling and pronunciation aligned with Latinized forms, while popular usage preserved the modern pronunciation hip-poh-POT-uh-muss. First known use in English traces to the 16th–17th centuries in catalogs and natural histories, with broader popular usage emerging in the 19th century due to zoological works and educational media.
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Words that rhyme with "Hippopotamus"
-ox) sounds
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