When you place a cell in a hypotonic solution, it swells up like a hippo.

Hypo- means low and -tonic means tension. Hypotonic solution refers to the low amount of solute outside a cell.

Always remember, water flows wherever there is more solute, like when someone puts salt on a snail. That would be a hypertonic state. The solute is the salt and the water flows out of the snail toward the salt.