Hood vs. Bonnet
In the automotive engine-cover sense, “hood” and “bonnet” are direct regional counterparts. Both words also have unrelated meanings, so the equivalence should stay limited to cars.
For the metal cover over a car engine, use “hood” in US English and “bonnet” in UK English.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / context | Use | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| car engine cover in US-oriented wording | hood | Use the American term. |
| car engine cover in UK-oriented wording | bonnet | Use the British term. |
| non-automotive sense | do not substitute automatically | Both nouns have other meanings. |
Quick tests
Decision test
Are you naming the metal cover over a car engine?
If yes: Use “hood” for US-oriented wording and “bonnet” for UK-oriented wording.
If no: For hats, clothing, equipment covers, or other senses, choose the word required by that separate meaning.
Caveat: The equivalence is automotive only; it does not make every meaning of “hood” and “bonnet” interchangeable.
Examples
Open the hood before checking the engine.
“Hood” is the US automotive term.
He lifted the bonnet to inspect the engine.
“Bonnet” is the UK automotive term.
The jacket has a detachable hood.
This clothing sense is unrelated to the car term “bonnet.”
Further guidance
Core difference
Use the American term.
Fast Test
Use “hood” for US-oriented wording and “bonnet” for UK-oriented wording. For hats, clothing, equipment covers, or other senses, choose the word required by that separate meaning.
Usage Boundary
The equivalence is automotive only; it does not make every meaning of “hood” and “bonnet” interchangeable.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- hood (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · In the car-engine-cover sense, hood is marked US with UK bonnet as the counterpart.
- bonnet (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · In the car-engine-cover sense, bonnet is marked UK with US hood as the counterpart.