How do you say "hippo" in Japanese?

カバ

kaba

Noun Katakana

In Japanese, "hippo" is カバ (kaba).

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Pronunciation

カバ is written using katakana. Romanised as kaba, it sounds roughly like "kah-bah" to an English ear.

Writing and usage

Kaba is katakana for hippopotamus. This brief loanword captures the animal's name in Japanese, adapted from English or scientific terminology.

Example sentence

動物園でカバを見ました。

Doubutsuen de Kaba wo mimashita.

I saw a hippo at the zoo.

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How to remember カバ

Short katakana 'kaba' is easier to say than the full 'hippopotamus'.

Related words

Browse all Japanese words in the glossary.

See more zoo words.

Questions about カバ

How do you pronounce カバ?

カバ is romanised as kaba. Say it roughly like "kah-bah" in English. Each Japanese syllable has even weight, so keep the rhythm steady.

Is カバ formal or casual?

カバ is a neutral, everyday word that works in both casual and polite speech. The level of formality comes from the sentence structure around it, not from the word itself.

How is カバ written in Japanese?

カバ is written using katakana. Kaba is katakana for hippopotamus.

Where can I practice Japanese words for free?

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"Hippo" in other languages

Curated by Callan Ratcliffe

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