What does chow mean?
Chow is an informal English word for food, particularly plain, hearty, or abundant fare. It is most at home in casual speech and institutional settings: soldiers eat in a chow hall, hikers look forward to hot chow after a long trek, and the colloquial phrase 'to chow down' means to eat eagerly and without ceremony. The word likely entered English through Chinese Pidgin English in the nineteenth century and was popularized by American armed forces, where it remains standard slang for meals. Beyond the dinner table, 'chow' also serves as the common short form of Chow Chow, a sturdy Chinese dog breed famous for its thick mane, curled tail, blue-black tongue, and reserved temperament. Informal in register, the word carries a friendly, unpretentious connotation, making it a vivid choice whenever formality would get in the way of a good meal.
Food, especially informal, plain, or plentiful food.
"The volunteers handed out warm chow to everyone in the shelter."
Casual register; very common in military slang.
A Chow Chow, a stocky Chinese dog breed with a dense coat, curled tail, and distinctive blue-black tongue.
"Her Chow Chow trotted proudly around the show ring."
In the food sense, 'chow' is typically treated as an uncountable mass noun, so a plural is rarely needed; the plural 'chows' normally refers to multiple dogs of the Chow Chow breed.
"The kennel was full of fluffy chows waiting to be adopted."
'Chow' may have traveled from Chinese pidgin to American military mess halls before landing on your dinner plate.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of chow
The food sense of 'chow' emerged in English in the mid-nineteenth century, most likely via Chinese Pidgin English 'chow-chow', a reduplicated word of uncertain ultimate origin that referred to mixed food or provisions. The term spread widely through American military usage, where 'chow' became entrenched slang for meals, giving rise to phrases like 'chow time' and 'chow line'. Separately, 'Chow Chow' as the name of the dog breed derives from the same pidgin term, applied to miscellaneous cargo or curios brought back from China by merchant ships in the late eighteenth century.
Related word forms
How chow is actually used
'Chow' as a noun for food is casual and slightly dated in everyday speech, but it survives strongly in military contexts ('chow time', 'the chow hall') and in the phrase 'chow down'. As a dog name it is usually shortened from 'Chow Chow'. Avoid using it in formal writing about cuisine.
Easily confused with chow
Chow is a general slang term for food, while chowder specifically means a thick seafood or vegetable soup.
Ciao is an Italian greeting meaning hello or goodbye, whereas chow refers to food or a dog breed; they sound similar but share no meaning.