Question

Hippophobia is the fear of......

• A. dogs
• B. horses
• C. oxen
• D. snakes

Hint:

The Greek root 'hippos' means horse, the same root seen in hippopotamus and hippodrome.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Many phobia names come from Greek or Latin roots, and knowing the root usually gives away the meaning directly. This question asks about "hippophobia," so breaking the word down is the fastest way to the answer.

1. dogs: The fear of dogs is called cynophobia, using the Greek root "kynos" for dog, not "hippo."
2. horses: The Greek word "hippos" means horse, which is why a hippopotamus is literally a "river horse." Hippophobia is built from this root and means an intense fear of horses.
3. oxen: There is no common phobia term built on "hippo" for oxen.
4. snakes: The fear of snakes is called ophidiophobia, from "ophis," the Greek word for snake, which is a different root altogether.

Since "hippo" means horse in Greek and "phobia" means an irrational fear, hippophobia can only mean fear of horses, matching option (b).

Let's summarize:

• The Greek root "hippos" means horse, seen also in words like hippodrome and hippopotamus.
• Cynophobia is fear of dogs and ophidiophobia is fear of snakes, both different roots from hippophobia.

The correct answer is horses.