Nilpferd

German

Etymology

From Nil (“Nile”) +‎ Pferd (“horse”), a loose calque of Latin hippopotamus, from Ancient Greek ἱπποπόταμος (hippopótamos). Akin to Dutch nijlpaard.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈniːlˌp͡feːɐ̯t/
  • Audio:(file)
  • Audio (Berlin):(file)
  • Hyphenation: Nil‧pferd

Noun

Nilpferd n (strong, genitive Nilpferdes or Nilpferds, plural Nilpferde)

  1. hippopotamus
    Synonym: Flusspferd n
    • 2012, Ursel Scheffler, “Kommissar Kugelblitz. Das rosa Nilpferd”, in Kommissar Kugelblitz, volume 8, Quinto, →ISBN:
      Endlich hält er das rosa Nilpferd in den Armen.
      At last he holds the pink hippo in his arms.

Declension

Declension of Nilpferd [neuter, strong]
singular plural
indef. def. noun def. noun
nominative ein das Nilpferd die Nilpferde
genitive eines des Nilpferdes, Nilpferds der Nilpferde
dative einem dem Nilpferd, Nilpferde1 den Nilpferden
accusative ein das Nilpferd die Nilpferde

1Now rare, see notes.

Further reading

  • “Nilpferd” in Duden online
  • “Nilpferd” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
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