hood: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral to informal. The 'neighbourhood' and 'gang member' meanings are strongly informal/slang.
Quick answer
What does “hood” mean?
A covering for the head and neck, often attached to a garment like a coat.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A covering for the head and neck, often attached to a garment like a coat.
A protective covering or canopy, especially the front cover of a car's engine; also, a neighbourhood, often with connotations of a rough or close-knit urban area; also, a person from one's neighbourhood or gang.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In UK English, the car part is called a 'bonnet'. The spelling is sometimes 'hoodie' for the garment. The informal 'neighbourhood/gang' sense is understood but is an Americanism. In US English, 'hood' is standard for the car part and the dominant term for the informal/slang meanings.
Connotations
In the US, 'the hood' carries strong socio-economic and racial connotations, often implying a lower-income, inner-city, predominantly Black neighbourhood. In the UK, this connotation is imported via media but less embedded locally, where 'estate' might be a closer equivalent.
Frequency
The garment and covering senses are frequent in both. The car part sense is high frequency in US, zero in UK. The slang 'neighbourhood' sense is high frequency in US informal speech, low in UK.
Grammar
How to Use “hood” in a Sentence
N + hood (car hood, jacket hood)the + hood (referring to a neighbourhood)V + hood + up/down (pull/push)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hood” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She hooded the falcon before transporting it.
American English
- The assassin hooded his head to remain anonymous.
adverb
British English
- This usage is not standard.
American English
- This usage is not standard.
adjective
British English
- He wore a hooded anorak for the hike.
American English
- She bought a new hooded sweatshirt from the campus store.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in automotive industry ('hood release', 'hood latch').
Academic
Rare in formal writing. May appear in sociological texts discussing urban studies.
Everyday
Very common for clothing and car parts (US). Slang meaning common in youth culture/media.
Technical
Used in automotive engineering ('hood assembly'), and in computing ('under the hood' for underlying code).
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hood”
- Using 'hood' for a car part in UK English.
- Using the slang 'hood' in formal writing.
- Confusing 'hood' (neighbourhood) with 'good' in the phrase 'all good in the hood'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It has both standard and slang meanings. The clothing/car cover meanings are standard. The meaning 'neighbourhood' or 'gang member' is informal slang originating in African American Vernacular English.
A 'hood' is just the head covering part. A 'hoodie' is a sweatshirt or jacket that has a hood attached to it.
No. Using 'the hood' to refer to a generic or affluent neighbourhood is likely to sound inauthentic or mocking. It specifically connotes a lower-income, often inner-city urban area.
In British English, the front cover of a car's engine is called the 'bonnet'. 'Hood' in the UK refers primarily to the head covering on a garment or, in historical contexts, a monk's cowl.
A covering for the head and neck, often attached to a garment like a coat.
Hood is usually neutral to informal. the 'neighbourhood' and 'gang member' meanings are strongly informal/slang. in register.
Hood: in British English it is pronounced /hʊd/, and in American English it is pronounced /hʊd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Under the hood (examining the technical details)”
- “All good in the hood (everything is fine in the neighbourhood/situation)”
- “Hood rich (appearing wealthy within a poor neighbourhood)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine Little Red Riding Hood's red cloak with a **hood**. The big bad wolf is from the wrong **hood** and might pop your car's **hood** to sabotage the engine.
Conceptual Metaphor
COVERING IS PROTECTION/CONCEALMENT (garment hood). A NEIGHBOURHOOD IS A CONTAINER/COVERING (the hood encloses a social group).
Practice
Quiz
What does 'under the hood' mean in a technical discussion?