hippopotamus
What does hippopotamus mean?
The ๐ฆ hippopotamus emoji depicts a full-bodied, greyish-purple hippo standing in profile, typically facing the left. It represents the massive, semi-aquatic African mammal renowned for its love of water, yawning jaws, and unexpected speed. In everyday digital communication, it is primarily used to discuss wildlife, zoo visits, nature documentaries, or going on a safari.
Slang & Modern Usage
In internet slang and Gen Z meme culture, the ๐ฆ emoji has experienced massive surges in popularity thanks to viral internet sensations like Moo Deng, the chaotic baby pygmy hippo from Thailand, and Fiona from the Cincinnati Zoo. Users spam the hippo emoji across TikTok and X (Twitter) to react to cute, unhinged, or overly dramatic animal behavior, often pairing it with sparkles (โจ) or crying faces (๐ญ) to express overwhelming affection. Beyond viral pets, the emoji is frequently used to represent a massive appetite, serving as a playful nod to the classic "Hungry Hungry Hippos" board game or the phrase "hungry as a hippo." On a more relaxed note, it can represent being totally unbothered, lazy, or feeling a bit "chonky," matching the animal's reputation for peacefully lounging in mud all day.
Emoji Combos
Platform Differences
Apple's design features a highly detailed, realistic greyish-purple hippo, whereas Google and Samsung use slightly softer, cuter, and more cartoonish designs.
Technical Information
| Unicode | U+1F99B |
| HTML Entity | 🦛 |
| CSS | \1F99B |
| JavaScript | \u{1F99B} |
| Unicode Version | Unicode 11 |
| Status | Fully-qualified |