Korean Dictionary
How to say "Hippopotamus" in Korean
“Hippopotamus” in Korean is 하마 (pronounced "hama").
하마
hama
Usage & Context
A large semi-aquatic African animal. Hippopotamuses are exotic animals featured in Korean zoos. They are known for their massive size and aquatic lifestyle.
Example Sentence
하마가 물에 잠겨있어요.
The hippopotamus is submerged in water.
How to use 하마 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Hippopotamus” is 하마, romanized as hama.
Usage tip
Learn this word together with a complete Korean sentence. Meaning often depends on particles, politeness level, and word order.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 하마.
Pronunciation Guide
The first syllable, '하' (ha), sounds like 'hah' in 'haha'. The second syllable, '마' (ma), sounds like 'mah' in 'mama'. The stress is fairly even, with a slight natural emphasis on the first syllable.
More Example Sentences
Visiting the zoo with family or friends.
동물원에서 하마 가족을 봤어요.
I saw a hippopotamus family at the zoo.
Learning interesting facts about animals.
하마는 물속에서 잠을 자기도 해요.
Hippos sometimes sleep in the water.
Sharing travel experiences with others.
아프리카 여행에서 야생 하마를 볼 수 있었어요.
I was able to see wild hippos on my trip to Africa.
Cultural Context
하마 (hama) is simply the Korean word for hippopotamus. While not native to Korea, hippos are popular attractions in Korean zoos like Seoul Grand Park. Children often encounter 하마 through picture books and animated shows, where they are sometimes depicted as gentle, large animals, despite their actual aggressive nature in the wild.
Editorial note
We review entries like 하마 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
하마처럼 크다
To be as big as a hippopotamus
하마 이빨
Hippopotamus teeth
하마가 하품한다
The hippopotamus yawns
Related Expressions
코뿔소
koppulso
Rhinoceros
악어
ageo
Crocodile
코끼리
kokkiri
Elephant
초식동물
chosikdongmul
Herbivore
More Animals Words
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