hooter: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Informal, Slang
Quick answer
What does “hooter” mean?
A thing that makes a loud warning sound, especially a vehicle horn or siren.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A thing that makes a loud warning sound, especially a vehicle horn or siren.
An informal or humorous term for a person's nose, sometimes used to refer to an owl or other things that 'hoot'. Also used as a slang term for a woman's breast.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'hooter' as a slang term for 'nose' is common and relatively mild. In American English, this meaning is rare. The slang term for 'breast' is used in both varieties but is considered vulgar. The 'horn/siren' meaning is understood in both but is not a primary term.
Connotations
UK: For 'nose', it's informal and often humorous/affectionate. US: Largely unfamiliar for 'nose'; the body part slang is more likely to be interpreted as vulgar.
Frequency
The word is far more frequent and recognised in British English than in American English.
Grammar
How to Use “hooter” in a Sentence
[Subject] blew/sounded the hooter.The [noun] hooter went off.He has a big hooter.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hooter” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The lorry hootered loudly as it rounded the corner.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; possibly in manufacturing ('the factory hooter signalled the end of the shift').
Academic
Virtually never used.
Everyday
Common in UK informal speech for 'nose' ('He punched me right on the hooter!'). The 'horn' meaning is dated.
Technical
Used in some contexts for specific types of audible warning devices.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hooter”
- Using 'hooter' in formal or international contexts without realising its primary slang meanings.
- Assuming American listeners will understand the humorous 'nose' meaning.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is informal. When referring to a nose in British English, it is humorous but not rude. When referring to a breast, it is considered vulgar slang in both UK and US English.
You would be understood by context, but it is not the standard term (horn is). Americans may first think of the slang meaning for breast.
Using it in an inappropriate register (e.g., formal writing) or causing offence by unintentionally using the vulgar meaning when you intend the innocent 'horn' or 'nose' meaning.
Yes, etymologically. A 'hooter' is something that 'hoots', whether an owl, a horn, or, by metaphorical extension, a nose (as something you might 'honk').
A thing that makes a loud warning sound, especially a vehicle horn or siren.
Hooter is usually informal, slang in register.
Hooter: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhuːtə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhuːtər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “On the hooter (slang, rare, meaning exactly on time)”
- “Blow your own hooter (rare pun on 'blow your own trumpet')”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
An OWL (which says 'HOOT') has a big beak/nose -> HOOTer.
Conceptual Metaphor
BODY IS MACHINERY (nose as a sounding device).
Practice
Quiz
In which variety of English is 'hooter' most commonly used as a mild, humorous term for 'nose'?