What’s The Plural of Hippopotamus? Is It Hippopotamuses?

The topic is “Whats the Plural of Hippopotamus Is it Hippopotamuses” focuses on understanding how this particular word transforms when we talk about more than one. The question highlights the two acceptable plurals—hippopotamuses and hippopotami—which reflect different linguistic roots. It’s a perfect example of how English evolves and merges with classical languages to form a rich, flexible vocabulary.

Discovering the answer to “Whats the plural of hippopotamus Is it hippopotamuses” isn’t just about adding an “s” at the end of a word. It’s a wonderful journey into the history of a giant mammal’s name and a charming quirk of the English language. Whether you prefer the classical-sounding “hippopotami” or the more casual “hippopotamuses,” this linguistic twist adds character and curiosity to your conversations.

Exploring “Whats the Plural of Hippopotamus Is it Hippopotamuses” lets you appreciate how words evolve and adapt over time. It highlights the rich blend of Latin, Greek, and English influences in forming plurals. So, when you talk about a group of these majestic creatures, you can choose the form that feels most natural—adding depth, color, and a bit of linguistic fun to your expression.

What’s the plural of hippopotamus?

The short answer is: both “hippopotamuses” and “hippopotami” are correct plurals of hippopotamus.
Your choice depends on the context and your style.

✅ Hippopotamuses:
This is the most frequently used and accepted form in modern English. It simply adds -es, following the English suffix rule for plurals.

✅ Hippopotami:
This form traces back to Latin. The word “hippopotamus” comes from the Ancient Greek “hippos” (horse) and “potamos” (river). Later, Latin plurals influenced many English words. So we sometimes use “hippopotami” as a classical or humorous alternative.

Why Are There Two Plurals?

Excellent—this highlights a key piece of NLP knowledge. The two plurals reflect English’s linguistic blend of roots and suffixes.

The word “hippopotamus” is Greek in origin.
When borrowed into English, it kept its original form, but English plurals typically add -es.
Some people, however, revert back to the classical Latin or Greek form—hippopotami—to reflect its roots.

This phenomenon isn’t unique. It’s a part of a larger pattern in English, where words of classical origin sometimes retain their original plurals alongside the anglicized form.
For comparison:

	English Plural	Latin/Greek Plural
Cactus	Cacti or Cactuses	Cacti
Octopus	Octopuses or Octopi	Octopi
Syllabus	Syllabuses or Syllabi	Syllabi
Stimulus	Stimuli	Stimuli
Radius	Radiuses or Radii	Radii

What Is a Hippopotamus Anyway?

Before we dig further into plurals, it’s helpful to know a bit more about the creature we’re talking about.

The hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) is a large, heavy mammal that spends much of its time in water—rivers, lakes, and swamps—in sub-Saharan Africa. It’s a herbivore, which means it mainly feeds on grasses and other vegetation.

Here are a few key facts:

• Weight: Males can weigh up to 4,000 lbs (1,814 kg); females typically weigh a bit less.
• Length: Between 10–17 feet (3–5 m).
• Lifespan: Around 40–50 years in the wild.
• Diet: Mainly grasses—up to 80 lbs. in a single night.
• Habitat: Rivers, lakes, and swampy areas.
• Activity: Mostly nocturnal, resting in water during the day and foraging on land at night.
• Physical traits: large head, short legs, thick skin—designed for a semiaquatic lifestyle.

Hippopotamus vs. Hippo—What’s the Difference?

The word “hippo” is simply a casual, short form of hippopotamus.
So when you say, “I saw a huge hippo at the zoo today!”, everyone knows you’re referring to a hippopotamus.

➥ Hippopotamus: more formal, scientific, or proper.
➥ Hippo: a nickname, a friendly or casual term—often used in conversations, children’s books, and popular culture.

What’s the plural of hippo?

The plural of “hippo” is simply “hippos.”
So you’d say:
✅ “The zoo has a pool with two hippos.”

Examples—How to Use Hippopotamus, Hippopotamuses, Hippopotami, and Hippos in Sentences

Here are clear, real-world examples to show you how these words appear in context.

Singular Examples:

➥ Hippopotamus (formal)—“A hippopotamus crossed the river safely.”
➥ Hippo (casual) “The kids were excited to see a giant hippo at the zoo today!”

Plural Examples:

➥ Hippopotamuses (common)—“The herd comprises about 20 hippopotamuses.”
➥ Hippopotami (Classical or humorous)—“A group of hippopotami cooled off in the water.”
➥ Hippos (casual)—“Three “hippos were resting by the lakeshore.”

Why Is “Hippopotamuses” More Common Than “Hippopotami” Today?

Excellent—this highlights a key observation about semantic trends in English.
Today, “hippopotamuses” is more frequently used and understood by a broader range of people.
This makes sense when you consider

• English prefers to add -es to form plurals.
• Classical plurals like “hippopotami” often appear more in specialized or humorous contexts.
• General communication favors simplicity and clarity.

What Do We Call a Group of Hippopotamuses or Hippopotami?

A group of hippopotamuses—whether you say “hippopotamuses” or “hippopotami”—is called a “pod” or “bloat.”

✅ Bloat: a particularly charming, vivid collective name.
✅ Pod: more neutral, frequently used for many aquatic mammals.

For example:
➥ “A bloat of hippopotamuses lay basking in the water.”
➥ “The pod made its way downstream together.”

Related Words: Classical Plurals vs. Modern English Plurals

The plural of hippopotamus isn’t the only one that stirs up confusion. Many English words borrowed from Latin and Greek have competing plural forms—one based on their original language, the other following standard English rules.

Here’s a clear comparison of some of the most common:

Singular	Classical Plural	English Plural	Notes
Hippopotamus	Hippopotami	Hippopotamuses	Both accepted, but hippopotamuses is more common today
Octopus	Octopodes (Greek) or Octopi (Latin-style)	Octopuses	Octopuses is the most common modern form
Cactus	Cacti	Cactuses	Both are accepted; cacti sounds more scientific
Stimulus	Stimuli	Stimuluses	Stimuli is correct in formal writing
Syllabus	Syllabi	Syllabuses	Both accepted; syllabuses sounds more natural today
Radius	Radii	Radiuses	Radii used in math and science; radiuses in general contexts
Analysis	Analyses	—	No English plural; only classical plural is used
Oasis	Oases	—	No English plural; only classical plural is used
Thesis	Theses	—	No English plural; only classical plural is used
Criterion	Criteria	Criterions	Criteria is standard; criterions is rare but not incorrect

Why So Many Options?

English loves to borrow from other languages. Sometimes, we kept the original plural (like stimuli). Other times, we adapted the word to match English patterns (adding -es, like “hippopotamuses”hippopotamuses).

Today, modern usage leans toward simpler, clearer English forms because they’re easier to understand. You’re far more likely to hear hippopotamuses than hippopotami on TV or in casual speech.

Case Study: Octopus vs Hippopotamus

Let’s look at octopus, since it raises similar questions.

➡ Octopus comes from Greek — the original plural would be octopodes.
➡ The mistaken Latin-style plural octopi became common because people assumed it followed Latin rules.
➡ But in practice, octopuses is now the standard English plural.

👉 Hippopotamus follows a similar path.
Both hippopotamuses and hippopotami exist, but hippopotamuses is what you’ll see in most modern writing.

Quick Guide to Choosing a Plural

Here’s a simple table to help readers decide when to use which plural:

Situation	Better Choice	Example
Formal writing (academic, science)	Classical plural	The radii of the circles were measured.
Everyday conversation	English plural	We saw two hippopotamuses at the zoo.
Humor, playfulness	Classical plural (often for effect)	A herd of hippopotami blocked the road.
Consistency matters (official reports, publications)	Stick to one form	Avoid mixing hippopotamuses and hippopotami in the same document

Why Do These Plural Forms Matter?

Understanding plural forms:

• Boosts clarity in writing and speech
• Prevents errors when writing for formal or academic audiences
• Adds flavor when you want to sound playful or classical

Plus, it helps you spot and appreciate English’s fascinating mix of influences—from Latin to Greek to pure homegrown English.

Conclusion

“What’s the plural of hippopotamus?” Is it “hippopotamuses?” is a question that shows us English can be fun and a little tricky. There are two correct answers—you can say “hippopotamuses” or “hippopotami.” Both are right, and you can use whatever feels more comfortable to you. It’s a nice example of how English lets us choose different words to say the same thing.

“Whats the plural of hippopotamus Is it hippopotamuses” also teaches us something about the rich history of words. English borrows from Latin and Greek, which is why we sometimes have more than one form for a word. So, whether you use “hippopotamuses” or “hippopotami,” you’re not making a mistake—you’re adding color and character to your writing and speaking!

FAQs

❓ What’s the plural of hippopotamus?

The plural can be “hippopotamuses” (common) or “hippopotami” (more classical or humorous) — both are correct.

❓ Why are there two plurals for hippopotamus?

Because “hippopotamus” comes from Greek, English adopted both the classical form and the modern English suffix.

❓ Which is more frequently used today?

“Hippopotamuses” is more frequently used in everyday English, while “hippopotami” is a less commonly used, classical variant.

❓ Are there other words like hippopotamus?

Yes — octopus, cactus, stimulus, radius, and syllabus all have classical and English plurals, reflecting their Latin or Greek roots.

❓ What’s a group of hippopotamuses called?

A group of hippopotamuses is called a “pod” or a “ bloat.” Both terms accurately describe a gathering of these large mammals.