English Explanatory Dictionary

chav

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A working-class youth, especially one associated with aggression, poor education, and a perceived "common" taste in clothing and lifestyle.

Pronunciation

/t͡ʃæv/ en-uk-chav.ogg

Word forms

chav chavs

Etymology

Origin uncertain; probably of Angloromani origin. Compare Romani chavi (“male child”) or ćhavo, shavo (“female child”), chal (“boy”), chavvy (“mate, friend”), compare Swedish tjej; possibly cognate with Portuguese chavalo, Spanish chaval, German Chabo, Russian чувак (čuvak), Hungarian csávó. See also charva. Derivations from council-housed and violent, Cheltenham average (and similar) are folk-etymological backronyms.

Synonyms

charva ned pikey adlay bam Barry boy bazza benny bogan bopper brush charver chav dobber dresser dumbo eshay gazza gippo herbert hood rat kev knacker mev nob ocker pleb poor white trash prole puffy radgie redneck roadman rudeboy rudie scally scanger schemie scobe scoundrel scratter scrote scrub scrubber scuffer scumbag scunner scutter sham skanger skeet smackhead smick snoopy spide steek stig sweeper thug thugette

Related words

mush

Derived words

antichav chavdom chavish chavism chavness chavster chavtastic chavvery chavving chavvy
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