nijlpaard

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Dutch

Etymology

From Nijl (Nile) +‎ paard (horse), a loose calque of Latin hippopotamus, from Ancient Greek ἱπποπόταμος (hippopótamos). The same in German Nilpferd.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈnɛi̯lˌpaːrt/
  • Audio:(file)
  • Hyphenation: nijl‧paard

Noun

nijlpaard n (plural nijlpaarden, diminutive nijlpaardje n)

  1. common hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius)
    • 2016, Anke Kranendonk, Een nijlpaard voor de juf, Zwijsen Uitgeverij, →ISBN:
      ‘Hemeltjelief,’ zegt juf Lieke. ‘Een nijlpaard op jullie dak? Wat een afschuwelijke gebeurtenis lijkt me dat. En vertel eens, is er iemand geblesseerd geraakt, of zo plat als een dubbeltje?’
      "Heavens to Betsy," says Ms Lieke (teacher). "A hippo on your (pl.) roof? That sounds like a horrible thing to happen to you. Tell me, did somebody get injured or get as flat as a pancake?"
  2. hippopotamus, any of the Hippopotamidae
    Synonym: rivierpaard

Derived terms

Descendants

  • Indonesian: kuda nil (calque)