(04-22-2026, 02:43 PM)aku Wrote:(04-22-2026, 09:47 AM)Bob Schroeck Wrote:(04-22-2026, 04:44 AM)Norgarth Wrote:
Can't say as I'm too surprised by the first. That is, after all, what "hippopotamus" literally means.
And bats are called "flying mice" in multiple languages. German comes immediately to mind.
German has several (near-)matches
Flusspferd - Riverhorse - Hippo
Schwertwal/Killerwal - Swordwhale/Killerwhale - Orca
Tintenfisch - Inkfish - Squid/Cuttlefish
Faultier - Lazyanimal - Sloth
-
Schnabeltier - Beakanimal - Platypus
Fledermaus - Flatter? mouse - Bat
Schildkroete - Shieldtoad - Turtle
Waschbaer - Washbear - Racoon
The "Igel" - Hedgehog is a non-match
We could just continue with English, by translating Greek and Latin roots.
porcupine = spine pig
hippopotamus = river horse
platypus = flat foot
sloth = slow
opossum = white dog (via Powhatan)
seahorse
sea lion
mudhen
catfish
clownfish
raccoon dog
prairie dog
Naming things is hard, sometimes you just do something easy.
"Kitto daijoubu da yo." - Sakura Kinomoto


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