What does hydrophobia mean?
Word: Hydrophobia
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Hydrophobia means an extreme fear of water; also an old name for the disease rabies.
Word origin: Comes from two Greek words, one meaning water and one meaning fear.
How do you spell hydrophobia?
Syllables: hy - dro - pho - bi - a
Tricky part: Hydro starts with a Greek y, not an i: students write hidrophobia because they hear high.
Watch out for: hidrophobia, hydraphobia
Memory tip: A y looks like a tap with a drip falling from its stem: put that water-tap y straight after the h.
Hydrophobia in a sentence
Example 1: His hydrophobia was so strong that even a paddling pool made him nervous.
Example 2: In old books, hydrophobia often means rabies.
Example 3: Kabir's cousins helped him get over his hydrophobia, one shallow step at a time.
Fun Fact
Rabies was once called hydrophobia because people who had it found swallowing hard and came to avoid drinking water.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell Probe
Choose the meaning of the misspelt word in the sentence:
Ever since he slipped into the village pond as a toddler, my cousin has had a hydrophobea that keeps him away from swimming lessons.
a) a problem that keeps someone away from water
b) classes in which a skill is taught step by step
c) a small area of still water in a field or garden
d) a young child who is just learning to walk
Show answer
a) a problem that keeps someone away from water. Hydrophobia closes with ia, not ea; the other words in the sentence are spelt correctly.
Spell Spies
Choose the incorrectly spelt word:
a) phantom
b) pharaoh
c) sulphur
d) hydrofobia
Show answer
d) hydrofobia. Phobia is a Greek word, so its f sound is written ph, as in pharaoh, sulphur and phantom.
Word Champ
In which option are the given words arranged in alphabetical order?
1. hydrophobia 2. hydroplane 3. hydrogen 4. hydrant
a) 4132
b) 4312
c) 4321
d) 3412
Show answer
b) 4312. Hydrant comes first at its fifth letter; then hydrogen, and hydrophobia beats hydroplane because h comes before l.
Sound Check
In which word is 'y' pronounced differently?
a) hydrophobia
b) cycle
c) python
d) rhythm
Show answer
d) rhythm. In rhythm the y is a short i, as in sit; in the other three it says eye.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which outing would a person with hydrophobia find hardest?
a) a hike in the hills
b) a boat ride on a lake
c) a trip by train
d) a visit to a museum
Show answer
b) a boat ride on a lake
2. Kabir's doctor says his hydrophobia is getting better. This most likely means Kabir ____.
a) has stopped coughing
b) swims faster than before
c) is less nervous near water
d) drinks less water
Show answer
c) is less nervous near water
