Learn How to Pronounce hippopotamus
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hippopotamus
Definition:
(nou) massive thick-skinned herbivorous animal living in or around rivers of tropical Africa
Examples:
Nomenclature of the pygmy hippopotamus reflects that of the hippopotamus.
These rivers are the haunts of the hippopotamus and the crocodile.
The riverine areas house the apex predator Nile crocodile and the hippopotamus.
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Common mistakes of hippopotamus pronunciation
- Stress placement: Many learners incorrectly stress the second syllable, saying "hip-pop-ˈotamus". In both US and UK English, the primary stress is on the third syllable: "ˌhɪpəˈpɒtəməs". Tip: Focus on the "ˈpɒ" part to get the stress right.
- Vowel sounds: Some may mispronounce the second syllable as "po" instead of the correct "pə". The accurate pronunciation is "ˌhɪpəˈpɒtəməs" (UK) or "ˌhɪpəˈpɑːtəməs" (US). Tip: Practice the schwa sound "ə" in unstressed syllables.
- Final syllable confusion: Learners sometimes say "hippopotamus" with a clear "mus" at the end, instead of the correct "mətəs". The expected pronunciation is "ˌhɪpəˈpɒtəməs" (UK) or "ˌhɪpəˈpɑːtəməs" (US). Tip: Remember to soften the ending to "mətəs".
- Overemphasis on consonants: Some people pronounce every consonant too strongly, leading to "hip-pop-o-ˈta-mus". Instead, the correct pronunciation has smoother transitions: "ˌhɪpəˈpɒtəməs" (UK) or "ˌhɪpəˈpɑːtəməs" (US). Tip: Practice saying it fluidly to reduce harsh consonant sounds.
- Incorrect syllable count: A common mistake is miscounting the syllables, often saying it has five instead of four. The correct syllable breakdown is "hip-po-pot-a-mus". Tip: Break it down into "ˌhɪp-ə-ˈpɒ- tə-məs" to reinforce the four-syllable structure.