The interesting origin of the word “hippopotamus”. The large and powerful animal is like a horse that likes to stay in the river.
Just think about and we realize one of the meanings of “hiccup”: belowinferior to, or scarcity of something, inferior position.
In the case of hypotension, as is easy to see, it is the designation of someone who has lower than normal blood pressure.
“Hypo” comes from the Greek hypo. Other examples: hypothermia (temperature below normal), hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) or hyposufficiency (not enough).
This prefix, or radical, could also be associated with “hippo”.
This is because “potamus”, also of Greek origin potamosexpresses the idea of “rio” or “fluvial”, as explained by .
In other words, as it is an animal that is, and likes to be, in the water of the river, its name could be associated with: under + river. Hippo + Potamus.
But “hypo” is also a prefix applied in the sense of “horse”, clarifies. Yes, a hippodrome, which is a horse track, for example. Or the sport itself called equestrianism. Comes from Greek hipposwhich means horse.
And here is the origin of “hippopotamus”: it is a “river horse”. Obviously it has its origins in ancient Greek, hippopotamos.
Nuno Teixeira da Silva, ZAP //
