French word

capot

Pronunciation

IPA/kapo/

Meaning

  • masculine nounhood

Example

Le capot de la voiture est endommagé.

The hood of the car is damaged.

Illustration for capot (hood)

More examples

J'ai ouvert le capot pour vérifier le moteur.

I opened the hood to check the engine.

Core concept

A hinged metal lid at the front of a car, raised to expose the machinery beneath.

Common phrases

  • ouvrir le capot

    open the hood

  • fermer le capot

    close the hood

  • sous le capot

    under the hood

Similar words

coffre: A lidded compartment for storing luggage at the back of a car.

Definition in French

Pièce de la carrosserie, située à l'avant d'une voiture, qui recouvre et protège le moteur et s'ouvre pour y accéder.

Word origin

French capot comes from Old French capot, a covering or hood formed from cape with the suffix -ot; the automotive sense developed for a vehicle's engine cover.

Usage tips

  • Capot is masculine, so standard usage is le capot and un capot, including in ouvrir le capot.

Opposites

Related words

  • capotercapsizeverb
  • capotagecapsizingnoun

Word lists with this word