capot
/ka.po/masculine
The French word for bonnet is capot.
capot refers to the cover over the engine of a motor car.
Meaning: cover over the engine of a motor car (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
capot is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ka.po/ and has 2 syllables.
Did you know?
- The word capot is a masculine noun, but its close relative capote is feminine and now most commonly refers to a condom in modern French slang.
- In the world of gambling and card games, a capot is a specific term for a decisive win where a player takes all the tricks in a single hand.
- The word capot shares an ancestral root with the English word 'cape'. It originally described a type of hooded cloak worn by people in the past.
Examples in context
- Comment est-ce que j'ouvre le capot ?How do I open the bonnet?This sentence is useful for asking how to open the capot.Tatoeba #1317203 by sacredceltic, translation #389453 by Scott
- C'est tellement chaud qu'on pourrait cuire un œuf sur le capot.It's so hot, you could fry an egg on the car bonnet.This sentence describes the heat of a car bonnet using capot.Tatoeba #1084812 by manuk7, translation #10982507 by sundown
- Cette voiture a le coffre sous le capot. Le moteur est à l’arrière.This car has the boot under the bonnet. The engine is in the back.This sentence describes a car with the engine located under the capot.Tatoeba #2445207 by gillux, translation #2444125 by Olisoul
- Les femmes du XVIIIe siècle portaient généralement une capeline en paille pour se protéger du soleil.Women in the 18th century typically wore a straw bonnet to protect themselves from the sun.
- Il avait mis un béret en laine pour se protéger du froid, qui ressemblait étrangement à un bonnet.He wore a wool beret to protect himself from the cold, which strangely looked like a bonnet.
- J'ai offert une capeline à ma femme.I gave a bonnet to my wife.
Example conversation
Gabriel and Manon are standing next to a broken-down car.
- GabrielManon, regarde, le capot est un peu abîmé.Manon, look, the bonnet is a bit damaged.
- ManonC'est vrai, Gabriel. Il faut l'ouvrir.It's true, Gabriel. We need to open it.
- GabrielJe vais vérifier si le moteur est encore chaud.I'm going to check if the engine is still hot.
- ManonFais attention en touchant le capot.Be careful when touching the bonnet.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bonnet” translations and entries capot, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries capot, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
