HeyRuaHow to say “hippopotamus” in Irish
- Irish:
- dobhareach
- English:
- hippopotamus
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine, first declension
- Pronunciation:
- “DOW-ar-akh” /ˈd̪ˠəuɾˠaxˠ/
- Plural:
- dobhareacha (hippopotamuses)
- Genitive singular:
- dobhareich, an dobhareich (e.g. béal an dobhareich, the hippopotamus's mouth)
- Genitive plural:
- dobhareach, na ndobhareach (e.g. tréad dobhareach, a herd of hippopotamuses)
What does “dobhareach” mean?
- hippopotamus
- A very large, heavy African animal with thick skin that lives in and near rivers.Also: hippo, river horse.
“Dobhareach” with the article
The plural of hippopotamus in Irish is dobhareacha. Here is dobhareach after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Dobhareach” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using dobhareach, the Irish word for hippopotamus.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Hippopotamus in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for hippopotamus?
The Irish for hippopotamus is dobhareach (pronounced “DOW-ar-akh”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is dobhareacha.
How do you pronounce dobhareach in Irish?
Dobhareach is said like “DOW-ar-akh” (IPA /ˈd̪ˠəuɾˠaxˠ/).
What is the plural of hippopotamus in Irish?
The plural of dobhareach is dobhareacha; with the article, na dobhareacha means “the hippopotamuses”. The genitive plural is dobhareach, as in tréad dobhareach (a herd of hippopotamuses).
Why does dobhareach change to dhobhareach or ndobhareach?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) dobhareach becomes mo dhobhareach (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár ndobhareach (eclipsis).
Where does the word dobhareach come from?
It is built from dobhar, an old word for water, and each, horse, so dobhareach means 'water horse', like the Greek origin of hippopotamus.
