What's it mean?
2006-08-31 02:58:07 · 6 answers · asked by Goddess of Grammar 7 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
The word 'chav' is actually a romany gypsy word meaning 'child', according to the lady in 'Dictionary Corner' on the UK channel 4 show 'Countdown'.
In recent years though it has been applied to the sub-culture of people with a weakness for all things Burberry or sports brand name related with a tendency to dress badly and behave even worse. Stereotypically living in council housing and infamous for teenage pregnancy and under-age drinking.
The word chav has been claimed to have sprung from any assortment of acronyms, but unforrtunately it remains an ugly bastardisation of a wonferful culture's history and language.
2006-08-31 03:58:38 · answer #1 · answered by xandert_86 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The term "chav" refers to a subcultural stereotype of people fixated on fashions such as flashy "bling" jewelery (Generally fake gold) , and genuine (rarely seen on chavs) or knock-off (more likely to be seen) fake designer clothing with the beige Burberry pattern (most famously the baseball cap which has since been discontinued by the company), and such brands as lonsdale, Berghaus, Burberry, Von Dutch, Louis Vuitton, Stone Island,Kappa,Adidas, Nike, and best-known Sergio Tacchini. Musically chavs also tend to have a different taste mainly involving Garage, dance music and an unusual type of music known as New Monkey. Response to the term has ranged from amusement to criticism that it is a new manifestation of classism.
2006-08-31 10:05:01 · answer #2 · answered by Bluealt 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's used a lot in the UK, I have no idea if it is at all known outside the UK!
It is usually said to stand for Council Housed And Violent. It refers to low-intelligence and low-class people who are reliant upon government aid and houses for generations.
It's a term of derision. You wouldn't want to be called a chav, even if you were one. (It's a bit like being called "fat" - I know I am, but it's a rude thing to say!)
However, the term has been claimed now by the "chav culture" and they proudly use it to describe themselves. Not a nice social group.
2006-08-31 10:08:12 · answer #3 · answered by marzipanthecat 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
chavs — the modern British equivalent of urban white trash
2006-08-31 10:05:07 · answer #4 · answered by afterflakes 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He put the answer in:
It means people of the lower class.
Ignorant people, usually with no fashion sense, so they spend all there money on fake Burbury and Lacoste clothes.
Even if they have money, they still have no class
2006-08-31 10:04:48 · answer #5 · answered by Jeannie 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Childish and anti-sociably vandalizing .
Where I live.
2006-08-31 10:08:27 · answer #6 · answered by Crazy Diamond 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋