Etymology of the English word hippopotamus
the English word
hippopotamusderived from the Latin word
hippopotamusderived from the Greek word
hippopotamos, ἱπποπόταμος
derived from the Greek word
hippos, ἵππος (horse; a horse)
derived from the Proto-Indo-European root
*ekwo-derived from the Greek word
potamos, ποταμός (a current, brook or freshet (as drinkable); running water)
derived from the Proto-Indo-European root
*pet-Date
The earliest known usage of hippopotamus in English dates from the 16th century.
Cognates
Spanish
hipopótamoUsage
Word found in Modern English
