How to Draw a Hippo: Easy Step-by-Step

Round body, giant yawn, teeny-tiny ears — the hippo is basically a drawing tutorial that designed itself. Everything about learning how to draw a hippo comes down to big, soft, friendly shapes: an oval here, a rounded rectangle there, and suddenly you’ve got two tons of adorable on your page. 🦛

Hippos share that lovable chunky-round energy with our cute elephant drawing — same gentle giant vibes, no trunk required. If you can draw a potato, you’re already qualified.

Roll up your sleeves and let’s wade into the river — the water’s warm and the hippo is friendly.

What You’ll Need

• Paper
• A pencil
• An eraser
• Optional: gray, purple, or pink colors

Step 1: Draw the Big Body

Start with a great big oval, wider than it is tall — like a giant river stone or a very content bread loaf. Fill a good chunk of your page; hippos are not small, and neither is their charm. Sketch lightly so you can tweak as you go, and don’t fuss over a perfect oval — a slightly lumpy one already looks more like a hippo.

Step 2: Add the Head Circle

At the front of the body, draw a circle overlapping the oval — the head sits low and close, because hippos barely have necks. Smooth the connection between head and body with one gentle curve, then erase the overlapping lines. Cozy and compact is the goal.

Step 3: Attach the Enormous Muzzle

Here’s the hippo’s superstar feature. On the lower front of the head, attach a huge rounded rectangle — the muzzle should be nearly as big as the head itself, drooping down like a big friendly mailbox. Draw a wide curved line across it for the mouth. The bigger the muzzle, the better the hippo.

Step 4: Give It Stubby Legs

Under the body, draw four short, thick legs — more like sturdy table legs than graceful limbs, since they carry a lot of hippo. Add two or three little bumps at the bottom of each for toes. Two legs in front, two behind, and don’t worry about making them long; hippos skipped leg day.

Step 5: Add the Tiny Ears and Eyes

On top of the head, draw two comically small rounded ears — think teacup handles on a bathtub. Then place two round eyes high on the head, close to the ears, each with a white shine dot. Real hippos keep their eyes and ears up high so they can peek out of the water, and that high placement is exactly what makes the face so cute.

Step 6: Nostrils, Teeth, and Tail

On top of the muzzle, add two oval nostrils sitting like little buttons. Inside the mouth line, draw two square teeth poking up from the bottom — the hippo’s famous goofy grin. Around back, attach a short tail with a tiny tuft, like a paintbrush that gave up.

Step 7: Splash In the River

Hippos spend their days soaking, so draw a wavy waterline across the lower body — legs hidden below, everything cute above. Add a few ripple rings around it, a lily pad with a flower, and some tall reeds along the edge. Instant spa day.

Step 8: Color Your Hippo

Classic hippo colors are soft blue-gray or lavender-gray, with a pink muzzle, inner ears, and toes. Keep the water a cheerful blue and leave a white shine curve on the hippo’s back — wet and glossy. Fun fact for the art table: real hippos ooze a natural reddish “sunscreen,” so a pink hippo is scientifically respectable. 🎨

Tips to Make Your Hippo Drawing Even Cuter

• Mid-yawn pose: open the mouth wide into a huge happy wedge with both teeth showing.
• Add a tiny yellow bird standing on the hippo’s back — they’re famous companions.
• Rosy cheek circles under the eyes soften everything.
• Draw a baby hippo copying the exact same pose beside it.
• A daisy tucked behind one tiny ear is pure charm.

FAQ

Is a hippo hard to draw?

It’s one of the easiest big animals — every part is round and forgiving. If your shapes come out lumpy, congratulations: hippos are supposed to be lumpy.

How long does a hippo drawing take?

Around 15 minutes for the hippo, plus a few more for the river scene. The muzzle is the only part worth slowing down for.

What color should I make my hippo?

Blue-gray is realistic, but purple, lavender, and pink hippos are beloved cartoon classics. Pick whatever makes you smile — the hippo won’t mind.

One happy hippo, soaking and smiling — beautifully done. Draw the whole pod next: yawning hippos, sleepy hippos, hippos wearing flowers. For animal tutorials you can follow along in real time, splash over to our YouTube channel, and if you loved this gentle giant, our easy gorilla drawing is waiting for you next.