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hippopotamus

Fauna
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A hippopotamus is a large, semi-aquatic mammal with a massive head and barrel-shaped body, symbolizing the hidden ferocity beneath placid surfaces and the fecundity of river life.

Detailed Definition
The hippo spends its days submerged, emerging at night to graze, making it a poetic figure for the submerged passions and the double life of creatures that thrive in water and on land. Its enormous jaws and seemingly lethargic posture create a powerful contrast between stillness and explosive violence. Poets use the hippopotamus to evoke the muddy, primeval rivers of Africa, the untamed heart of the continent, and the deceptive calm that masks a terrible capacity for destruction, often with a touch of comic absurdity.
Example
Example in poetry:
T.S. Eliot's "The Hippopotamus" opens: "The broad-backed hippopotamus Rests on his belly in the mud".; A poet might write, "I am like the hippopotamus, clothed with the weight of my convictions".; The hippo can symbolize hidden ferocity.; Its bulk represents stability.; The animal's amphibious nature is noted.
Additional Notes
The hippopotamus, with its enormous size and seemingly lethargic posture, represents the hidden ferocity beneath placid surfaces and the untamed heart of African rivers. Its amphibious nature—spending the day submerged and emerging at night to graze—makes it a symbol for the submerged passions, the double life, and the deceptive calm that masks a terrible capacity for destruction. T.S. Eliot's "The Hippopotamus" uses the animal for satire, contrasting its bulky, earthy existence with the ethereal claims of the Church. Poets often use the hippo's enormous jaws and its associations with the Nile to evoke the primeval, the comic, and the grotesque. When writing, consider the hippo's combination of bulk, power, and apparent laziness.
Also Known As
Hippo 'potamus
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