The plural of hippopotamus is “hippos” or the Latin form, but “hippos” is often seen as informal and may remind people of a Christmas song. In formal contexts, “hippo” should be used. A hippo gathering is called a “bulge.”
The plural of hippopotamus is “hippos”, although the Latin plural form of “hippos” may also be used in many contexts. While both plural forms are relatively acceptable, especially when used in informal contexts, many dictionaries list “hippos” as the first entry for the plural of hippopotamus. Despite this, however, many people find “hippos” sound silly, both visually and when said aloud, and it often reminds people of the overpronunciation of the word in the song I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas. This causes many people to use the other form of “hippos” instead, although the increase in the use of “hippos” has also led to the use of “hippos” in many cases.
Since there are essentially two correct words that can be used as a plural, there can be a lot of confusion about which word someone should use. If someone is trying to pluralize the word “hippo” in a formal context, such as a school assignment or for a work report, then the word “hippo” should typically be used. This is considered the correct plural in English and avoids problems that might arise from using the Latin form. Despite the fact that it may seem long or a bit silly on the surface, it is correct English and should be accepted by any teacher or employer.
However, the word “hippos” is also correct as a plural of hippopotamus. Because it uses the Latin plural form, it may be considered somewhat informal or inappropriate in some contexts where the English plural may be preferred. However, this depends very much on the individual preferences of those who might be reading or hearing the words, so people looking to use the plural of hippopotamus in a school paper or report should consult their teacher to ensure correct use for that setting.
Since the word hippopotamus has been shortened to “hippo” in many contexts, using the plural word “hippo” can also avoid the whole question of the plural of hippopotamus. However, this abbreviation is often seen as a very informal word, so it should usually be avoided in contexts where formality is needed, such as academic or business writing. When spoken aloud, however, the word “hippos” can become fiddly to pronounce, and so “hippos” is often acceptable in that context. Like many animals, a hippo gathering has a peculiar name, and such a group is referred to as a hippo “bulge.”
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