"chav" meaning in English

See chav in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Noun

IPA: /t͡ʃæv/ [General-American, Received-Pronunciation] Audio: en-uk-chav.ogg Forms: chavs [plural]
Rhymes: -æv 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. A derivation from "council-housed and violent" is widely regarded as a backronym and folk etymology. Etymology templates: {{unc|en|nocap=1}} uncertain, {{der|en|rme|-}} Angloromani, {{cog|rom|chavi|t=male child}} Romani chavi (“male child”), {{cog|sv|tjej}} Swedish tjej, {{cog|pt|chavalo}} Portuguese chavalo, {{cog|es|chaval}} Spanish chaval, {{cog|de|Chabo}} German Chabo, {{cog|ru|чувак}} Russian чувак (čuvak), {{cog|hu|csávó}} Hungarian csávó, {{glossary|backronym}} backronym, {{glossary|folk etymology}} folk etymology Head templates: {{en-noun}} chav (plural chavs)
  1. (UK, MLE, Ireland, derogatory, offensive) A working-class youth, especially one associated with aggression, poor education, and a perceived "common" taste in clothing and lifestyle. Tags: Ireland, Multicultural-London-English, UK, derogatory, offensive Categories (topical): People Hypernyms: pauper, teenager, troublemaker, villain Related terms: mush Translations (relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education): 阿明 (a-bêng) [Hokkien, Singapore] (Chinese), MK (em¹ kei¹) (Chinese Cantonese), MK仔 (em¹ kei¹ zai²) (Chinese Cantonese), 殺馬特 (Chinese Mandarin), 杀马特 (shāmǎtè) (english: Mainland) (Chinese Mandarin), 八加九 (bājiājiǔ) [Taiwan] (Chinese Mandarin), marĝenulo [common-gender, masculine] (Esperanto), misgustulo [common-gender, masculine] (Esperanto), rakkari (Finnish), racaille [feminine] (French), cacou [masculine] (French), Asi [masculine] (German), Proll [masculine] (German), κάγκουρας (kágkouras) [masculine] (Greek), עַרְס ('ars) [masculine] (Hebrew), tamarro [masculine] (Italian), zingaro [masculine] (Italian), coatto [masculine] (Italian), scugnizzo [masculine] (Italian), ヤンキー (yankii) (Japanese), チンピラ (chinpira) (Japanese), dresiarz [masculine] (Polish), dres [masculine] (Polish), dresiara [feminine] (Polish), maloqueiro [Brazil, masculine] (Portuguese), trombadinha [Brazil] (Portuguese), bombardier [neuter] (Romanian), cocalar [neuter] (Romanian), го́пник (gópnik) [masculine] (Russian), dizelaš [masculine] (Serbo-Croatian), flaite [Chile, masculine, slang] (Spanish), cani [masculine] (Spanish), choni [Spain, feminine] (Spanish), poligonero [masculine] (Spanish), poligonera [Spain, feminine] (Spanish)
    Sense id: en-chav-en-noun-vleErtj~ Categories (other): British English, English entries with incorrect language header, Entries with translation boxes, Irish English, Multicultural London English, Pages with 1 entry, Pages with entries, Terms with Cantonese translations, Terms with Esperanto translations, Terms with Finnish translations, Terms with French translations, Terms with German translations, Terms with Greek translations, Terms with Hebrew translations, Terms with Hokkien translations, Terms with Italian translations, Terms with Japanese translations, Terms with Mandarin translations, Terms with Polish translations, Terms with Portuguese translations, Terms with Romanian translations, Terms with Russian translations, Terms with Serbo-Croatian translations, Terms with Spanish translations Synonyms: charva, ned, pikey, chav, adlay [Australia, New-Zealand], bam, Barry boy, bazza, benny, bogan [Australia, New-Zealand], bopper, brush, charva, charver [Tyneside], chav, dobber, dresser, dumbo, eshay [Australia, New-Zealand], gazza, gippo, herbert, hood rat, kev [Midlands], knacker [Ireland, UK], mev [SW-England], ned [Scotland], nob, ocker [Australia, New-Zealand], pikey [UK], pleb, poor white trash [US], prole, puffy, radgie, redneck [US], rudeboy, rudie, scally, scanger, schemie, scobe, scoundrel [US], scratter, scrote, scrub, scrubber, scuffer, scumbag, scunner, scutter, sham, skanger, skeet [Newfoundland], smackhead, smick, snoopy, spide, steek, stig, sweeper, thug, thugette, townie, trailer trash [US], trev, vic, Westie [Australia, New-Zealand], white trash [US], wigger [US], yarco, yob, yobbo [slang] Derived forms: antichav, chavdom, chavelling, chavish, chavism, chavness, chavster, chavtastic, chavvery, chavving, chavvy

Inflected forms

{
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        "nocap": "1"
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        "2": "rme",
        "3": "-"
      },
      "expansion": "Angloromani",
      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "rom",
        "2": "chavi",
        "t": "male child"
      },
      "expansion": "Romani chavi (“male child”)",
      "name": "cog"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "sv",
        "2": "tjej"
      },
      "expansion": "Swedish tjej",
      "name": "cog"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "pt",
        "2": "chavalo"
      },
      "expansion": "Portuguese chavalo",
      "name": "cog"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "es",
        "2": "chaval"
      },
      "expansion": "Spanish chaval",
      "name": "cog"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "de",
        "2": "Chabo"
      },
      "expansion": "German Chabo",
      "name": "cog"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "ru",
        "2": "чувак"
      },
      "expansion": "Russian чувак (čuvak)",
      "name": "cog"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "hu",
        "2": "csávó"
      },
      "expansion": "Hungarian csávó",
      "name": "cog"
    },
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      "args": {
        "1": "backronym"
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  "etymology_text": "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.\nA derivation from \"council-housed and violent\" is widely regarded as a backronym and folk etymology.",
  "forms": [
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      "form": "chavs",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
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      "args": {},
      "expansion": "chav (plural chavs)",
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  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
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      "categories": [
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          "kind": "other",
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        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Greek translations",
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          "name": "Terms with Polish translations",
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            "Fundamental"
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      ],
      "derived": [
        {
          "word": "antichav"
        },
        {
          "word": "chavdom"
        },
        {
          "word": "chavelling"
        },
        {
          "word": "chavish"
        },
        {
          "word": "chavism"
        },
        {
          "word": "chavness"
        },
        {
          "word": "chavster"
        },
        {
          "word": "chavtastic"
        },
        {
          "word": "chavvery"
        },
        {
          "word": "chavving"
        },
        {
          "word": "chavvy"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "a. 2009, Dizzee Rascal (lyrics and music), “Creeper (Freestyle)”:",
          "text": "Lyrical staff / Never could they ever take me for a chav / Scholar in the English, scholar in the Math / Dizzee ain't no riff raff",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2011 June 18, “Giving the poor a good kicking”, in The Economist:",
          "text": "His book concerns ‘chavs’, a supposed underclass of ill-educated, fast-breeding, violent and amoral poor people currently plaguing Britain.",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A working-class youth, especially one associated with aggression, poor education, and a perceived \"common\" taste in clothing and lifestyle."
      ],
      "hypernyms": [
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "word": "pauper"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "word": "teenager"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "word": "troublemaker"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "word": "villain"
        }
      ],
      "id": "en-chav-en-noun-vleErtj~",
      "links": [
        [
          "derogatory",
          "derogatory"
        ],
        [
          "working-class",
          "working-class"
        ],
        [
          "common",
          "common"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(UK, MLE, Ireland, derogatory, offensive) A working-class youth, especially one associated with aggression, poor education, and a perceived \"common\" taste in clothing and lifestyle."
      ],
      "related": [
        {
          "word": "mush"
        }
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "charva"
        },
        {
          "word": "ned"
        },
        {
          "word": "pikey"
        },
        {
          "word": "chav"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "tags": [
            "Australia",
            "New-Zealand"
          ],
          "word": "adlay"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "word": "bam"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "word": "Barry boy"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "word": "bazza"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "word": "benny"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "tags": [
            "Australia",
            "New-Zealand"
          ],
          "word": "bogan"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "word": "bopper"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "word": "brush"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "word": "charva"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "tags": [
            "Tyneside"
          ],
          "word": "charver"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "word": "chav"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "word": "dobber"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "word": "dresser"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "word": "dumbo"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "tags": [
            "Australia",
            "New-Zealand"
          ],
          "word": "eshay"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "word": "gazza"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "word": "gippo"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "word": "herbert"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "word": "hood rat"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "tags": [
            "Midlands"
          ],
          "word": "kev"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "tags": [
            "Ireland",
            "UK"
          ],
          "word": "knacker"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "tags": [
            "SW-England"
          ],
          "word": "mev"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "tags": [
            "Scotland"
          ],
          "word": "ned"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "word": "nob"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "tags": [
            "Australia",
            "New-Zealand"
          ],
          "word": "ocker"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "tags": [
            "UK"
          ],
          "word": "pikey"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "word": "pleb"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "tags": [
            "US"
          ],
          "word": "poor white trash"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "word": "prole"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "word": "puffy"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "word": "radgie"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "tags": [
            "US"
          ],
          "word": "redneck"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "word": "rudeboy"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "word": "rudie"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "word": "scally"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "word": "scanger"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "word": "schemie"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "word": "scobe"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "tags": [
            "US"
          ],
          "word": "scoundrel"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "word": "scratter"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "word": "scrote"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "word": "scrub"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "word": "scrubber"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "word": "scuffer"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "word": "scumbag"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "word": "scunner"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "word": "scutter"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "word": "sham"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "word": "skanger"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "tags": [
            "Newfoundland"
          ],
          "word": "skeet"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "word": "smackhead"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "word": "smick"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "word": "snoopy"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "word": "spide"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "word": "steek"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "word": "stig"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "word": "sweeper"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "word": "thug"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "word": "thugette"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "word": "townie"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "tags": [
            "US"
          ],
          "word": "trailer trash"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "word": "trev"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "word": "vic"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "tags": [
            "Australia",
            "New-Zealand"
          ],
          "word": "Westie"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "tags": [
            "US"
          ],
          "word": "white trash"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "tags": [
            "US"
          ],
          "word": "wigger"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "word": "yarco"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "word": "yob"
        },
        {
          "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
          "tags": [
            "slang"
          ],
          "word": "yobbo"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "Ireland",
        "Multicultural-London-English",
        "UK",
        "derogatory",
        "offensive"
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "code": "yue",
          "lang": "Chinese Cantonese",
          "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
          "word": "MK (em¹ kei¹)"
        },
        {
          "code": "yue",
          "lang": "Chinese Cantonese",
          "roman": "em¹ kei¹ zai²",
          "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
          "word": "MK仔"
        },
        {
          "code": "nan-hbl",
          "lang": "Chinese",
          "roman": "a-bêng",
          "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
          "tags": [
            "Hokkien",
            "Singapore"
          ],
          "word": "阿明"
        },
        {
          "code": "cmn",
          "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
          "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
          "word": "殺馬特"
        },
        {
          "code": "cmn",
          "english": "Mainland",
          "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
          "roman": "shāmǎtè",
          "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
          "word": "杀马特"
        },
        {
          "code": "cmn",
          "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
          "roman": "bājiājiǔ",
          "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
          "tags": [
            "Taiwan"
          ],
          "word": "八加九"
        },
        {
          "code": "eo",
          "lang": "Esperanto",
          "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
          "tags": [
            "common-gender",
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "marĝenulo"
        },
        {
          "code": "eo",
          "lang": "Esperanto",
          "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
          "tags": [
            "common-gender",
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "misgustulo"
        },
        {
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
          "word": "rakkari"
        },
        {
          "code": "fr",
          "lang": "French",
          "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "racaille"
        },
        {
          "code": "fr",
          "lang": "French",
          "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "cacou"
        },
        {
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "Asi"
        },
        {
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "Proll"
        },
        {
          "code": "el",
          "lang": "Greek",
          "roman": "kágkouras",
          "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "κάγκουρας"
        },
        {
          "code": "he",
          "lang": "Hebrew",
          "roman": "'ars",
          "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "עַרְס"
        },
        {
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "tamarro"
        },
        {
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "zingaro"
        },
        {
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "coatto"
        },
        {
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "scugnizzo"
        },
        {
          "code": "ja",
          "lang": "Japanese",
          "roman": "yankii",
          "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
          "word": "ヤンキー"
        },
        {
          "code": "ja",
          "lang": "Japanese",
          "roman": "chinpira",
          "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
          "word": "チンピラ"
        },
        {
          "code": "pl",
          "lang": "Polish",
          "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "dresiarz"
        },
        {
          "code": "pl",
          "lang": "Polish",
          "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "dres"
        },
        {
          "code": "pl",
          "lang": "Polish",
          "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "dresiara"
        },
        {
          "code": "pt",
          "lang": "Portuguese",
          "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
          "tags": [
            "Brazil",
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "maloqueiro"
        },
        {
          "code": "pt",
          "lang": "Portuguese",
          "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
          "tags": [
            "Brazil"
          ],
          "word": "trombadinha"
        },
        {
          "code": "ro",
          "lang": "Romanian",
          "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
          "tags": [
            "neuter"
          ],
          "word": "bombardier"
        },
        {
          "code": "ro",
          "lang": "Romanian",
          "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
          "tags": [
            "neuter"
          ],
          "word": "cocalar"
        },
        {
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "gópnik",
          "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "го́пник"
        },
        {
          "code": "sh",
          "lang": "Serbo-Croatian",
          "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "dizelaš"
        },
        {
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
          "tags": [
            "Chile",
            "masculine",
            "slang"
          ],
          "word": "flaite"
        },
        {
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "cani"
        },
        {
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
          "tags": [
            "Spain",
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "choni"
        },
        {
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "poligonero"
        },
        {
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
          "tags": [
            "Spain",
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "poligonera"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/t͡ʃæv/",
      "tags": [
        "General-American",
        "Received-Pronunciation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "audio": "en-uk-chav.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/2/2a/En-uk-chav.ogg/En-uk-chav.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2a/En-uk-chav.ogg"
    },
    {
      "rhymes": "-æv"
    }
  ],
  "word": "chav"
}
{
  "derived": [
    {
      "word": "antichav"
    },
    {
      "word": "chavdom"
    },
    {
      "word": "chavelling"
    },
    {
      "word": "chavish"
    },
    {
      "word": "chavism"
    },
    {
      "word": "chavness"
    },
    {
      "word": "chavster"
    },
    {
      "word": "chavtastic"
    },
    {
      "word": "chavvery"
    },
    {
      "word": "chavving"
    },
    {
      "word": "chavvy"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "nocap": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "uncertain",
      "name": "unc"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "rme",
        "3": "-"
      },
      "expansion": "Angloromani",
      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "rom",
        "2": "chavi",
        "t": "male child"
      },
      "expansion": "Romani chavi (“male child”)",
      "name": "cog"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "sv",
        "2": "tjej"
      },
      "expansion": "Swedish tjej",
      "name": "cog"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "pt",
        "2": "chavalo"
      },
      "expansion": "Portuguese chavalo",
      "name": "cog"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "es",
        "2": "chaval"
      },
      "expansion": "Spanish chaval",
      "name": "cog"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "de",
        "2": "Chabo"
      },
      "expansion": "German Chabo",
      "name": "cog"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "ru",
        "2": "чувак"
      },
      "expansion": "Russian чувак (čuvak)",
      "name": "cog"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "hu",
        "2": "csávó"
      },
      "expansion": "Hungarian csávó",
      "name": "cog"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "backronym"
      },
      "expansion": "backronym",
      "name": "glossary"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "folk etymology"
      },
      "expansion": "folk etymology",
      "name": "glossary"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "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.\nA derivation from \"council-housed and violent\" is widely regarded as a backronym and folk etymology.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "chavs",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "chav (plural chavs)",
      "name": "en-noun"
    }
  ],
  "hypernyms": [
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "word": "pauper"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "word": "teenager"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "word": "troublemaker"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "word": "villain"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
  "related": [
    {
      "word": "mush"
    }
  ],
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "British English",
        "English countable nouns",
        "English derogatory terms",
        "English entries with incorrect language header",
        "English lemmas",
        "English nouns",
        "English offensive terms",
        "English terms derived from Angloromani",
        "English terms with quotations",
        "English terms with unknown etymologies",
        "Entries with translation boxes",
        "Irish English",
        "Multicultural London English",
        "Pages with 1 entry",
        "Pages with entries",
        "Rhymes:English/æv",
        "Rhymes:English/æv/1 syllable",
        "Terms with Cantonese translations",
        "Terms with Esperanto translations",
        "Terms with Finnish translations",
        "Terms with French translations",
        "Terms with German translations",
        "Terms with Greek translations",
        "Terms with Hebrew translations",
        "Terms with Hokkien translations",
        "Terms with Italian translations",
        "Terms with Japanese translations",
        "Terms with Mandarin translations",
        "Terms with Polish translations",
        "Terms with Portuguese translations",
        "Terms with Romanian translations",
        "Terms with Russian translations",
        "Terms with Serbo-Croatian translations",
        "Terms with Spanish translations",
        "en:People"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "a. 2009, Dizzee Rascal (lyrics and music), “Creeper (Freestyle)”:",
          "text": "Lyrical staff / Never could they ever take me for a chav / Scholar in the English, scholar in the Math / Dizzee ain't no riff raff",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2011 June 18, “Giving the poor a good kicking”, in The Economist:",
          "text": "His book concerns ‘chavs’, a supposed underclass of ill-educated, fast-breeding, violent and amoral poor people currently plaguing Britain.",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A working-class youth, especially one associated with aggression, poor education, and a perceived \"common\" taste in clothing and lifestyle."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "derogatory",
          "derogatory"
        ],
        [
          "working-class",
          "working-class"
        ],
        [
          "common",
          "common"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(UK, MLE, Ireland, derogatory, offensive) A working-class youth, especially one associated with aggression, poor education, and a perceived \"common\" taste in clothing and lifestyle."
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "charva"
        },
        {
          "word": "ned"
        },
        {
          "word": "pikey"
        },
        {
          "word": "chav"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "Ireland",
        "Multicultural-London-English",
        "UK",
        "derogatory",
        "offensive"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/t͡ʃæv/",
      "tags": [
        "General-American",
        "Received-Pronunciation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "audio": "en-uk-chav.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/2/2a/En-uk-chav.ogg/En-uk-chav.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2a/En-uk-chav.ogg"
    },
    {
      "rhymes": "-æv"
    }
  ],
  "synonyms": [
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "tags": [
        "Australia",
        "New-Zealand"
      ],
      "word": "adlay"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "word": "bam"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "word": "Barry boy"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "word": "bazza"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "word": "benny"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "tags": [
        "Australia",
        "New-Zealand"
      ],
      "word": "bogan"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "word": "bopper"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "word": "brush"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "word": "charva"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "tags": [
        "Tyneside"
      ],
      "word": "charver"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "word": "chav"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "word": "dobber"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "word": "dresser"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "word": "dumbo"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "tags": [
        "Australia",
        "New-Zealand"
      ],
      "word": "eshay"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "word": "gazza"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "word": "gippo"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "word": "herbert"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "word": "hood rat"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "tags": [
        "Midlands"
      ],
      "word": "kev"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "tags": [
        "Ireland",
        "UK"
      ],
      "word": "knacker"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "tags": [
        "SW-England"
      ],
      "word": "mev"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "tags": [
        "Scotland"
      ],
      "word": "ned"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "word": "nob"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "tags": [
        "Australia",
        "New-Zealand"
      ],
      "word": "ocker"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "tags": [
        "UK"
      ],
      "word": "pikey"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "word": "pleb"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "tags": [
        "US"
      ],
      "word": "poor white trash"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "word": "prole"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "word": "puffy"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "word": "radgie"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "tags": [
        "US"
      ],
      "word": "redneck"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "word": "rudeboy"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "word": "rudie"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "word": "scally"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "word": "scanger"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "word": "schemie"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "word": "scobe"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "tags": [
        "US"
      ],
      "word": "scoundrel"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "word": "scratter"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "word": "scrote"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "word": "scrub"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "word": "scrubber"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "word": "scuffer"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "word": "scumbag"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "word": "scunner"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "word": "scutter"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "word": "sham"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "word": "skanger"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "tags": [
        "Newfoundland"
      ],
      "word": "skeet"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "word": "smackhead"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "word": "smick"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "word": "snoopy"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "word": "spide"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "word": "steek"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "word": "stig"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "word": "sweeper"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "word": "thug"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "word": "thugette"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "word": "townie"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "tags": [
        "US"
      ],
      "word": "trailer trash"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "word": "trev"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "word": "vic"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "tags": [
        "Australia",
        "New-Zealand"
      ],
      "word": "Westie"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "tags": [
        "US"
      ],
      "word": "white trash"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "tags": [
        "US"
      ],
      "word": "wigger"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "word": "yarco"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "word": "yob"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:chav",
      "tags": [
        "slang"
      ],
      "word": "yobbo"
    }
  ],
  "translations": [
    {
      "code": "yue",
      "lang": "Chinese Cantonese",
      "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
      "word": "MK (em¹ kei¹)"
    },
    {
      "code": "yue",
      "lang": "Chinese Cantonese",
      "roman": "em¹ kei¹ zai²",
      "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
      "word": "MK仔"
    },
    {
      "code": "nan-hbl",
      "lang": "Chinese",
      "roman": "a-bêng",
      "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
      "tags": [
        "Hokkien",
        "Singapore"
      ],
      "word": "阿明"
    },
    {
      "code": "cmn",
      "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
      "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
      "word": "殺馬特"
    },
    {
      "code": "cmn",
      "english": "Mainland",
      "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
      "roman": "shāmǎtè",
      "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
      "word": "杀马特"
    },
    {
      "code": "cmn",
      "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
      "roman": "bājiājiǔ",
      "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
      "tags": [
        "Taiwan"
      ],
      "word": "八加九"
    },
    {
      "code": "eo",
      "lang": "Esperanto",
      "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
      "tags": [
        "common-gender",
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "marĝenulo"
    },
    {
      "code": "eo",
      "lang": "Esperanto",
      "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
      "tags": [
        "common-gender",
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "misgustulo"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
      "word": "rakkari"
    },
    {
      "code": "fr",
      "lang": "French",
      "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "racaille"
    },
    {
      "code": "fr",
      "lang": "French",
      "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "cacou"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "Asi"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "Proll"
    },
    {
      "code": "el",
      "lang": "Greek",
      "roman": "kágkouras",
      "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "κάγκουρας"
    },
    {
      "code": "he",
      "lang": "Hebrew",
      "roman": "'ars",
      "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "עַרְס"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "tamarro"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "zingaro"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "coatto"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "scugnizzo"
    },
    {
      "code": "ja",
      "lang": "Japanese",
      "roman": "yankii",
      "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
      "word": "ヤンキー"
    },
    {
      "code": "ja",
      "lang": "Japanese",
      "roman": "chinpira",
      "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
      "word": "チンピラ"
    },
    {
      "code": "pl",
      "lang": "Polish",
      "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "dresiarz"
    },
    {
      "code": "pl",
      "lang": "Polish",
      "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "dres"
    },
    {
      "code": "pl",
      "lang": "Polish",
      "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "dresiara"
    },
    {
      "code": "pt",
      "lang": "Portuguese",
      "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
      "tags": [
        "Brazil",
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "maloqueiro"
    },
    {
      "code": "pt",
      "lang": "Portuguese",
      "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
      "tags": [
        "Brazil"
      ],
      "word": "trombadinha"
    },
    {
      "code": "ro",
      "lang": "Romanian",
      "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
      "tags": [
        "neuter"
      ],
      "word": "bombardier"
    },
    {
      "code": "ro",
      "lang": "Romanian",
      "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
      "tags": [
        "neuter"
      ],
      "word": "cocalar"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "gópnik",
      "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "го́пник"
    },
    {
      "code": "sh",
      "lang": "Serbo-Croatian",
      "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "dizelaš"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
      "tags": [
        "Chile",
        "masculine",
        "slang"
      ],
      "word": "flaite"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "cani"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
      "tags": [
        "Spain",
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "choni"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "poligonero"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education",
      "tags": [
        "Spain",
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "poligonera"
    }
  ],
  "word": "chav"
}

Download raw JSONL data for chav meaning in English (14.5kB)


This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2024-11-06 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2024-10-02 using wiktextract (fbeafe8 and 7f03c9b). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.