chav

yarb Very interesting, I've never heard that theory before. Dec 30, 2010

JackCohen The origins of the word are interesting, chiefly because nobody really knows where it came from. One argument suggests it stemmed from the Northern English term "charver," pronounced in Northern accents very similarly to "chavver" with a long A - this may then have been adopted by the Southern English as "chav," leaving out the R to mimic the Northern pronunciation.

There are several theories suggesting it to be an acronym, one of the most common being that it means Council Housed And Violent. Another is that it was used by pupils at Cheltenham College to mean "Cheltenham Average" - however, all of these seem unlikely and are more likely to be backronyms, acronyms invented later for humourous effect.

One intriguing theory states that it comes from the Romani word "chavi," referring to an urchin or mischievous child and then entered nationwide English use either via "charver" or directly.

However, as a Yiddish speaker I have wondered if it is related to the Yiddish "chavver," meaning "mate" (as in friend). Many Yiddish words have found their way into English slang, perhaps most notably in the East End of London - for example "kosher," which is commonly used to describe legitimacy and correctness, "nosh" and "chutzpah." Chutzpah is often pronounced with a typical English CH, rather than the Yiddish/Hebrew form which is similar to the CH in Bach - this would also be the case with "chav" if chavver is indeed its root. Dec 28, 2010

jdshep1 Chav is a word we use in the UK - it's a young person, probably unemployed or near it, not educated, aggressive, rude and violent for the fun of it. Aug 2, 2009

splaxy they are chavs
she dresses like a chav
slovenly like a chav Jun 10, 2009

bilby "Noun. A person, usually of poorly educated, working class origin, who dresses casually in designer sportswear and vulgar jewellery. Chavs are generally viewed as an ignorant under-class with a propensity for criminal or loutish behaviour. Usually derog. Orig. South-west. Popular from early 2000s"
- peevish.co.uk Sep 12, 2008

yarb Misterpolly's etymology below reeks of spuriosity. The best theory seems to be that it derives from the Romany word chavi, child. Aug 8, 2008

super-logos There is actually a website about chav towns in England. It is exceedingly negative if not hateful. Aug 8, 2008

kewpid Sartorially, they do deserve scorn. Feb 7, 2008

misterpolly A scornful expression coined for the lower classes by the ladies of Cheltenham Ladies' School in England. From CHeltenham AVerage. Feb 7, 2008

sonofgroucho We Scots tend to use the equivalent word "ned". Apr 1, 2007

littletomclapping I am shocked that only you have added this word. this must be an american site. it would be rated no 1 on an british word website (if there were one). Jan 25, 2007