Nilpferd
/ˈniːlˌp͡feːɐ̯t/neuter
The German word for hippopotamus is either Flusspferd or Nilpferd.
Meaning: African mammal (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Nilpferd | /ˈniːlˌp͡feːɐ̯t/ | neuter |
| Flusspferd | /ˈflʊsˌp͡feːɐ̯t/ | neuter |
Both words refer to the African mammal. Nilpferd is the more common term used in general conversation, while Flusspferd is frequently used in biological or descriptive contexts.
What does it mean word for word?
Flusspferd is a compound of Fluss (river) and Pferd (horse). Nilpferd is a compound of Nil (Nile) and Pferd (horse).
Which one should you use?
Nilpferd (Nile horse) is preferred for everyday speech, whereas Flusspferd (river horse) is more common in scientific or descriptive settings.
How does it change in a sentence?
Both Flusspferd and Nilpferd are neuter nouns. The plural form of Nilpferd is Die Nilpferde.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈniːlˌpfeːɐ̯t/
Did you know?
- The term Nilpferd specifically ties the animal to the Nile river, reflecting an older European perspective that these animals only existed in that one region.
- The German words Flusspferd and Nilpferd are both literal translations of the Ancient Greek word hippopótamos, which means 'river horse'.
- While English uses the Greek-derived 'hippopotamus', German simplifies the animal's identity by using the common word Pferd, meaning 'horse'.
Examples in context
- Ich sah ein Nilpferd im Zoo.I saw a hippopotamus at the zoo.This sentence is useful for seeing the use of Nilpferd in a zoo context.Tatoeba #4724714 by bonny37, translation #4986473 by Airvian
- Die Ratssklaven schlugen ihn mit ihren Peitschen aus Flusspferdleder.The Council slaves whipped him with their hippopotamus hide whips.This sentence shows Flusspferd used in a descriptive context involving hide.Tatoeba #4879908 by Zaghawa, translation #2970575 by Scott
- Tom sagte Maria, er glaube, dass ein Nilpferd eine Laufgeschwindigkeit von 30 km/h erreichen könne.Tom told Mary that he thought a hippopotamus could run at a speed of about 30 kilometers per hour.This sentence demonstrates how to use Nilpferd when discussing animal speeds.Tatoeba #5746466 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #1261802 by CK
- Die meisten Menschen wissen, dass das Nilpferd zu den gefährlichsten Tieren in Afrika gehört.Most people know that the hippopotamus is one of the most dangerous animals in Africa.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lukas and Julia are watching a nature documentary together.
- LukasSchau mal, dort im Wasser ist ein Nilpferd.Look, there is a hippopotamus in the water over there.
- JuliaEs sieht wirklich riesig aus.It looks really huge.
- LukasJa, das Nilpferd ist sehr beeindruckend.Yes, the hippopotamus is very impressive.
- JuliaIch finde das Tier faszinierend.I find the animal fascinating.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hippopotamus” translations and entries Nilpferd, Flusspferd, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Flusspferd, Nilpferd, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
