Pronunciation: [hˈɪpə͡ʊ] (IPA) 
The word "hippo" is spelled with the letter "h" followed by "i", then a double "p", and finally "o". In IPA phonetic transcription, it is written as /ˈhɪpəʊ/. The "h" is pronounced as an aspirated "h" sound, similar to the "h" in "hello". The "i" is pronounced as the short "ih" sound. The "p"s are pronounced as a brief, sharp burst of air - this is what makes it a double "p". The final "o" is pronounced as the long "oh" sound.
A hippo, short for hippopotamus, is an enormous mammal native to sub-Saharan Africa. It belongs to the family Hippopotamidae and is characterized by its stocky, barrel-shaped body, mossy brown or grayish skin, and massive mouth lined with large, sharp teeth. Hippos are highly adapted to life in aquatic environments, spending the majority of their days submerged in rivers, lakes, or swamps.
They possess several unique features that distinguish them from other animals. Their size alone is remarkable, with adult males reaching up to 15 feet in length and weighing over 3,000 kilograms. Despite their bulk, hippos can move surprisingly fast, especially in water, where they rely on their muscular legs and webbed feet for propulsion.
Hippos are herbivorous, primarily feeding on grasses and aquatic plants. They possess a broad mouth and powerful jaws, capable of opening up to 150 degrees, which enables them to graze on vast amounts of vegetation. Despite their mostly docile temperament, hippos are considered one of the most dangerous animals in Africa, responsible for more human deaths than any other large mammal due to their aggressive behavior, territorial nature, and formidable size.
In conclusion, a hippo is an enormous amphibious mammal renowned for its massive size, barrel-shaped body, and prominent mouth. Adapted to aquatic life, it spends much of its time submerged in water. Despite being herbivorous, this colossal creature should be approached with caution due to its aggressive behavior.
1. A Spanish name of ipecac. 2. An African arrow-poison, probably some species of Strychnos.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "hippo" comes from the Ancient Greek word "hippos" (ἵππος), which means "horse". This is because ancient observers thought that hippos looked somewhat similar to horses, particularly in terms of their body shape and the way they moved in the water. Despite the similarity in name, hippos are not closely related to horses.
