The phrase “What do hippos eat? Hippopopcorn!” is a joke that plays on the word “hippopotamus” and “popcorn” by blending them into a fun, punny word — “hippopopcorn.”
Here’s the breakdown:
- Hippopotamus: A large, mostly herbivorous animal native to sub-Saharan Africa.
- Popcorn: A popular snack made from corn kernels that “pop” when heated.
The joke works because it combines the name of the animal, hippopotamus, with a familiar snack, popcorn, into a whimsical, made-up word — hippopopcorn. It’s funny because it imagines hippos eating something as light and silly as popcorn, which is obviously not their real diet. In reality, hippos mainly eat grass, not popcorn!
It’s a silly pun that mixes the animal world with something unexpected (popcorn), creating a playful twist. You could think of it as a lighthearted way of imagining hippos in a human-like scenario, munching on popcorn like people do while watching a movie!