Hippo dream meaning | Dreaming of a hippopotamus
The hippo dream meaning can actually be something quite different from what you think. A few nights ago I had a dream of hippopotamuses. It occurred to me that I had dreamed of them a few times before, so I wanted to try to work out what the symbology meant for me.
Dreaming of a hippopotamus is not one of the more common dreams, but it is common enough that many people see this animal in their nocturnal travels. The strange thing is – most of us do not live in countries where hippos are native or common – but they are such an interesting, unique animal that they have a firm place in many of our imaginations since childhood. Does the hippo dream meaning indicate something latent from childhood?
Dreaming of a hippopotamus might indicate aggressiveness
Why are hippos and aggression intertwined? It could be because of their unique characteristics. I loved this commentary on the hippo’s personality from Wikipedia: The hippopotamus is among the most dangerous animals in the world as it is highly aggressive and unpredictable.
Despite this, they are mostly herbivorous, and survive by eating plants. They are semi aquatic, which means they live partly on land, partly in water. The hippo is a warm blooded mammal, native to sub-Saharan Africa.
“Despite its stocky shape and short legs, it is capable of running 30 km/h over short distances.”
So, with those few facts we can see that the hippopotamus is an unpredictable animal. It does not look or behave how you would imagine it too; and even though it probably doesn’t want to eat you, it might attack you, because it feels threatened.
Sound familiar?
If you have been dreaming of a hippopotamus, then it might indicate that you feel under threat. One of my favourite dream guides Dream Stop says, the hippo can also mean, “…you are being territorial. You feel threatened. Someone or something is pushing you into a corner.” Is this true for you?
What are the hippos doing in your dream?
I often dream of crocodiles and sharks beneath the water in my dreams – I have come to realise that these indicate my addictions; which also lurk right beneath the surface, and have some ‘bite’ in my life.
When I dreamed of hippos, they too were just beneath the water. I could feel them swimming around in the dark, murky water beneath me and I was afraid. Someone in my dream told me not to be scared, and reminded me that they were plant-eaters.
“I don’t care that they’re only plant eaters,” I thought in my dream. “These things are freaking me out and I want to get out of the water!”
Hippos are both gentle and strong – tune into your latent strength
Hippos have powers on land and in the water, so they are adaptable and surprising. If you see a hippo in your dream, you may have some latent powers within you that you need to call upon to achieve your goals. Lurking just below the surface, you are ready, you are poised – you are waiting – even if no one else can see you. The hippo dream meaning might be something you didn’t expect.
According to Dream Stop, “A hippo might also mean that your life has been emotionally turbulent for a while and it is a time where this is cleared.” For me, this seems to be true. In my dream, I found myself suddenly in the water, I was surprised, and not happy to be there. When I felt and saw these dark, moving creatures, I felt even more afraid. Yes, for me, there had been lots going on under the surface for a while.
Your hippo dream meaning is worth investigating
“Common hippos are recognisable by their barrel-shaped torsos, wide-opening mouths revealing large canine tusks, nearly hairless bodies, columnar legs and large size; adults average 1500 kg,” according to Wikipedia.
Do you feel under threat? A hippo dream may indicate that you feel that someone is stalking you, and means to do you harm. Hippopotamuses are threatened by habitat loss and poaching for their meat and ivory canine teeth.
While hippopotamuses rest near each other in the water, grazing is a solitary activity and hippos are not territorial on land. This means that the hippo can symbolise the aggressive characteristics in you. However, it is also a reminder to tap into your hidden strengths.
The hippos in my dream were also murky and dark. They were mysterious. In real life, hippos emerge at dusk to graze on grasses. They come out when they feel the moment is safe; perhaps you also need to exercise caution about when you “come out” about a project or issue. Wait for the right time, and make sure your predators are not around.
Can you really tell me the meaning of my dreams?
No. Only you can work out what the meanings of your dreams are. For more information on how to remember your dreams, check out my post on How to remember your dreams: in 7 foolproof steps. You might also enjoy What is Astral Projection and Lucid Dreaming? Tips from Erin Pavlina.
I also have a book available for less than $2 – head to Amazon to buy How to Understand and Interpret Your Dreams: The Symbols That Can Reveal Your Hidden Messages. A hippo dream symbol is more common than you think.
Tell me your hippo dreams below in the comments – what do hippopotamuses do in your dreams?
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Last night i had a dream i was in the sea with my son and we were both holding on to a white mattress all of a sudden a hippo cum up from water and took me in its mouth it wasnt hurting me i just tried fighting to get out as i was thinking om not ready to die yet saw my sons face ahain then woke up
I had a dream I was going down some rapids with my family, we knew there would be hippos as we’d heard about it from other people.
As we’re traveling down I spot a hippo muma in the calm water with two babies, they come down the rabips with us and one of the babies comes right up to me, I really wanted to pet it, they looked cute and calm,
As we proceeded down the rapids I went ahead of my family meeting them at the bottom while I got a towel.
(Not a nice detail but I was on my period both in the dream and the waking world)
If anyone can help me work this one out that would be awesome! 🙂
Hi Hippie,
Sounds like a nice dream. Perhaps you are making peace with your “inner hippo!” Also, to see a raging, turbulent or an overflowing river (or rapids) in your dream signifies that your life is feeling out of control.
Love, Alyce
I had a dream where my mom was taking care of a hippo and her baby in my house. The mom hippo was fit she wasn’t fat or skinny. And the baby in my dream changed from looking like a hippo to a baby rhino at times. So I took care of the baby and played with it. I lost him in the back yard and i thought a dog ate him. So i went back inside to find the baby hippo sleeping in the living with my family and the mom too. When I came into the room I was too loud and woke up the baby so the mom came over to me and pushed me out of the room. From then on the always kept a close eye on me and she bothered me everytime I went into a room her baby was. Then some friends that I have not seen a long time, came over to my house for a Birthday. They saw the baby hippo and they were playing with him. I didn’t go cause I was scared of the mom, but then then they made the baby squeal and the mom went over to them. But my brother and one of my friends tried to get out of the way of the mom but they were too stupid to do it and scared her away. I started to smile at that. After this I woke up
Thanks for sharing your dream with us, De Jesus.
Love, Alyce
I just had a dream so clear that my bother & ange and Rebecca (child hood friehd) were swallows eaten by hippos in Africa while surfing or paddling out to go surfing grey water murky they didn’t see them coming no blood they all just vanished whole completely gone with out a trace I saw the hippos submerged then up then eat my bother & friends then gone all gone … then I had to tell my family about the disappearance so bizarre ..
Thanks for sharing your dream with us, Naomi.
–Alyce
I was in dream last night and I went into the Bush to farm for my mother, inside the bush I began to see abandoned bush meets killed by hunters and I began to imagine what could have been their reasons to abandone the their hunts but suddenly a hippopotamus came out from the bush and started coming towards me so I stroke it with a machete in my hand. It stood up and started coming towards me again and I stroke it again and it fell down and before it could rise again there were some other passerbys that and the hippocampus started attaching them while I climbed a palm tree around and held onto it until I woke up
Dreamt coming face to face with a thin hippo. But when we were at arm distance, I said something I can’t remember to the hippo, he retracted and I woke up.
I don’t know what this implies!