Post AcqFRQLSpSyaRbpwNk by grammargirl@zirk.us
 (DIR) More posts by grammargirl@zirk.us
 (DIR) Post #AcnsmjiIDIzzqOTJ3Y by grammargirl@zirk.us
       2023-12-14T14:57:05Z
       
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       In my email newsletter today, I wrote about the plural of "hippopotamus" (inspired by the song "I want a hippopotamus for Christmas"). The word comes from Latin where the plural is "hippopotami." But when words come into English, we often eventually treat them like English words and add "-s" or "-es" to make them plural.Scientists still use "hippopotami," but most other people use "hippopotamuses." Of course, "hippos" is an option too! 🦛
       
 (DIR) Post #AcnsrQNnVmVnL67Y0m by xahteiwi@mastodon.social
       2023-12-14T14:58:04Z
       
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       @grammargirl Next do octopus! 🙂
       
 (DIR) Post #AcnstjCOWbMIH8sxai by grammargirl@zirk.us
       2023-12-14T14:58:31Z
       
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       Here's the link to sign up for the newsletter if you're so inclined: https://quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-newsletter
       
 (DIR) Post #Acnt5sVZjr7YcgePWy by BrownKnowser@mstdn.ca
       2023-12-14T15:00:38Z
       
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       @grammargirl "Hippos" rolls off the tongue much more easily than "hippopotami," which is what I would use if trying to sound smarter than I am.However, I say "cactuses" more than I say "cacti."
       
 (DIR) Post #AcntjKLYAcTKFulwUi by ronsboy67@mas.to
       2023-12-14T15:07:50Z
       
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       @grammargirl Can we not cut through the whole tangled mess and just say "river horses?" 😀 I went with "hippos" because for me hippopotami is actually easier to say than hippopotamuses, but  since all my friends who live in hippo country just say hippos, I follow their lead
       
 (DIR) Post #AcnuO5dJmNBSUnWJWa by PamelaBarroway@mstdn.social
       2023-12-14T15:15:10Z
       
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       @grammargirl I can’t believe I am not signed up for your newsletter! I will remedy that oversight posthaste. #grammar #editing
       
 (DIR) Post #AcnuOgERhoH00NATOS by zerology@bayes.club
       2023-12-14T15:15:12Z
       
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       @grammargirl ιπποπόταμοι, it came via Latin, but from Greek.https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%CE%B9%CF%80%CF%80%CE%BF%CF%80%CF%8C%CF%84%CE%B1%CE%BC%CE%BF%CE%B9#Greek
       
 (DIR) Post #AcnuOuR0tse23P9hvU by acdw@tilde.zone
       2023-12-14T15:15:21Z
       
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       @grammargirl hippopotamopodes
       
 (DIR) Post #AcnvfucNZW2fV28wee by grammargirl@zirk.us
       2023-12-14T15:29:39Z
       
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       @PamelaBarroway :)
       
 (DIR) Post #AcoEdEmY2oFsIVL0Oe by eurobubba@mastodonczech.cz
       2023-12-14T19:01:59Z
       
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       @grammargirl Hippopotameese.
       
 (DIR) Post #AcoSQQqlGOMzJr63GK by talexb@fosstodon.org
       2023-12-14T21:36:36Z
       
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       @grammargirl I chose hippopotami, based on the Flanders and Swann song Mud, Mud, Glorious Mud.I will not be taking questions at this time. :)
       
 (DIR) Post #AcoaDQathd4MOVzE5A by ArthurCopeland4@mastodon.social
       2023-12-14T23:03:52Z
       
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       @grammargirl I can’t be the only one to immediately think of this poem:The Hippopotamusby Ogden NashBehold the hippopotamus!We laugh at how he looks to us,And yet in moments dank and grim,I wonder how we look to him.Peace, peace, thou hippopotamus!We really look all right to us,As you no doubt delight the eyeOf other hippopotami.
       
 (DIR) Post #Acp4VzSVoQOMMYpcjw by Ronnie@mastodon.social
       2023-12-15T04:43:25Z
       
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       @grammargirl @nik And all these years I thought it was Greek and hippopotamuses.
       
 (DIR) Post #AcqFRQLSpSyaRbpwNk by grammargirl@zirk.us
       2023-12-15T18:20:25Z
       
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       @Ronnie @nik It actually is originally from Greek. It just came into English through Latin.
       
 (DIR) Post #AcqHCntHCoAt28oC1Y by Ronnie@mastodon.social
       2023-12-15T18:40:17Z
       
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       @grammargirl @nik That makes sense.
       
 (DIR) Post #AcrtLJT1gAeshQyUVc by tw@writing.exchange
       2023-12-16T13:22:20Z
       
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       @grammargirl Goodness, both hippopotami and hippopotamuses are such great and ridiculous words that I wish both to retain equal footing indefinitely. :)