Words / A1

HIP-oh/ˈhɪpəʊ/

A hippo is a very large grey African animal that lives in rivers — short for hippopotamus. Countable: a hippo, hippos. An elephant is also huge but has a trunk and big ears; a hippo has a wide mouth and stays in water. Remember: a hippo (use a).

Meaning

A very large grey African animal that lives in rivers (short for hippopotamus).

Examples

• “The hippo is in the water.”
• “The hippo opened its huge mouth.”
• “Do not swim near the hippo.”

Good to know

a hippo = hippopotamus. Place: African rivers, zoo. Contrast: elephant (trunk).

Near in meaning

hippopotamus

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