What does chav mean?
"Chav" is a British slang term, strongly derogatory in tone, used to describe a person—usually young and working-class—who is stereotyped as loud, badly behaved, poorly educated, and dressed in conspicuous or unfashionable clothing. The word entered mainstream British usage in the early 2000s, when it became ubiquitous in tabloids, television comedy, and political debate, spawning phrases such as "chav culture" and the ironic fashion label "chav chic." Its etymology is disputed, though a commonly cited origin is the Romani word "chavi," meaning child or boy; other suggested sources exist but are unproven. Because it is widely regarded as a classist slur that stigmatises poverty, the term is best avoided in neutral writing, and many commentators treat its casual use as a marker of snobbery rather than description.
nounA derogatory British slang term for a person, typically young and working-class, stereotyped as brash, poorly educated, and associated with flashy or unfashionable clothing and anti-social behaviour.
- A young working-class person stereotyped as vulgar, brash, or anti-social (derogatory).
- More broadly, any person perceived as uncultured or tasteless, regardless of class.
"He mocked the teenagers at the bus stop as chavs, though he'd never spoken to them."
"Tabloid coverage in the 2000s turned the chav into a national caricature."
"Calling someone a chav says more about the speaker's snobbery than about the person being described."
Regular plural; used almost always in negative or judgemental contexts.
"The pub had a sign banning so-called chavs, prompting complaints."
The word 'chav' was voted one of Britain's most hated words — yet it spawned an entire media era of 'chav chic' and even a Collins Dictionary word-of-the-year shortlisting.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of chav
The origin of "chav" is uncertain, though the most widely cited theory derives it from the Romani word "chavi" or "chavo," meaning child or boy, reflecting long-standing contact between Romani communities and British English. It circulated regionally, particularly in southern England, before exploding into nationwide popularity in the early 2000s through tabloid newspapers and television. Related terms include "chavvy" (adjective) and "chavette" (a female chav), both products of the same period.
Related word forms
How chav is actually used
Highly derogatory and widely criticised as classist; avoid in formal writing and polite conversation. The term is almost exclusively British, peaking in usage during the 2000s, and its use has been linked to stigmatisation of the white working class.
Easily confused with chav
"Char" means to scorch something or, in British informal usage, a tea-maker/cleaner, whereas "chav" is a pejorative term for a stereotyped working-class person.