Food
Herbivore
Hippos eat grass.
Plant eater
HomeAnimals A–ZLetter HHippopotamus
Hippopotamus Facts for Kids: H Is for Hippopotamus
Hippos spend most of the day in rivers and lakes to stay cool. They can hold their breath underwater for about five minutes. Here are easy hippopotamus facts for kids: what hippos eat, how big they grow, what a baby hippopotamus is called and where hippos live. Read them out loud, try the quiz, then color the letter H.
Mammaltype
Herbivorediet
Calfbaby name
Fun facts
Fun Facts About Hippos
Two more true facts about the hippopotamus that kids love. Tap the button to hear the name, then read each fact together.
Hh
Say “Hippopotamus”
Hippopotamus starts with the letter H. Clap once for each part of the word as you say it.
1
Did you know?
Hippos make their own sunscreen that looks red.
2
One more fact
They cannot swim; they walk or bounce along the bottom.
Act it outMove like a hippopotamus for ten seconds.
Spot the letterFind the letter H in “Hippopotamus”.
Ask a questionWhat would a hippopotamus eat for breakfast?
Quick facts
Hippopotamus Facts at a Glance
Everything a curious kid wants to know about the hippopotamus, in eight short cards.
Size
How big?
A hippopotamus is about 3.5 to 5 m long.
Body sizeLife
How long?
Hippos live for about 40 to 50 years.
LifespanBaby
Calf
A baby hippopotamus is called a calf.
Baby nameGroup
Bloat
A group of hippos is called a bloat.
Group nameHabitat
Rivers & swamps
Hippos are found in rivers and lakes of Africa.
Where they liveAnimal type
Mammal
Hippos spend most of the day in rivers and lakes to stay cool. They can hold their breath underwater for about five minutes.
Hippopotamus is a mammalLetter
H is for hippopotamus
Hippopotamus has 12 letters and starts with H.
Say: Hippopotamus
Quick quiz
Hippopotamus Quiz for Kids
A tiny game to check what stuck. Read the question out loud and let your little one tap the answer.
Question 1
Score: 0
Free download
Free printable
Hippopotamus Coloring Page: Letter H Worksheet
Done reading about the hippopotamus? Print the free letter H sheet, say “H is for hippopotamus” together and color the big letters. Great for circle time, morning work or a quiet afternoon at home.
1
Download the PDFOne click, no sign-up or email
2
Print at home or schoolFits US Letter and A4 paper
3
Color and traceBig letters and dotted tracing lines
Uppercase HLowercase hTracing practiceFind the H animals
Download Free PDF
3 pages, black & white
Questions
All FAQs
Hippopotamus Questions Kids Ask
Hippos eat grass. That makes the hippopotamus a herbivore, which means it is a plant eater.
A hippopotamus is about 3.5 to 5 m long.
Hippos live for about 40 to 50 years.
A baby hippopotamus is called a calf.
A group of hippos is called a bloat.
Hippos live in rivers and lakes of Africa. Their favorite habitat is: rivers & swamps.
Yes. The hippopotamus is a mammal. Hippos spend most of the day in rivers and lakes to stay cool. They can hold their breath underwater for about five minutes.
Hippopotamus starts with the letter H. Say it slowly and listen for the H sound at the start.
Keep exploring
All H animals
More Animals Like the Hippopotamus
Other H animals and more mammals to read about next.
Mammal
Horses can sleep standing up. A baby horse is called a foal.
Lives in: Farms Read horse factsMammal
Hedgehogs are covered in thousands of sharp spines. When they feel scared, they roll up into a prickly ball.
Lives in: Gardens Read hedgehog factsMammal
These monkeys live in the snowy mountains of Japan and are often called snow monkeys. Some of them warm up by sitting in hot springs.
Lives in: Mountains Read Japanese macaque factsMammal
Bobcats are wild cats named for their short, stubby tail. They are about twice as big as a pet cat.
Lives in: Forests Read bobcat facts