i have a general idea what a "chav is"...but can you please clarify?

Question

the way it was pretty much described to me is: a young male dirtbag.

but in some ways i think it goes beyond that.

for instance...can a female be a chav?
and...is it a title that is exclusive only to the young? or is it mutli-generational?

thank you for your help!

devilish...LOL

Answer 1

A chav is much more complex than that. There are different types of chav. You can also have female chavs who are referred to in Scotland as "sengas"
Chavs wear cheap sports clothing and will be covered in cheap gold. They are famous for the clown pendant, initial rings and lots of cheap gold bangles (for the sengas). Most are unemployed and live on benefits as a lifestyle choice, choosing to have many children so they get more money from the government. They stab, beat up and rob anyone who looks vulnerable as they mostly travel in packs. They have bad teeth, eat fast food and ready meals and drink lots of cheap alcohol.
There is also the working chav. Thet work to fund their ridiculously souped up car with all the latest gadgets. They like to go abroad with other working chavs to really tacky holiday resorts to get drunk for a fortnight. They are usually season ticket holders for their chosen football team and will indulge in a nice little spot of football violence.
Sengas are the worst though. They love nothing more than to start fights among their males by sleeping with the whole pack. She will threaten anyone who crosses her by promising her boyfriend or father or brother will stab them. Most have long/false nails that they love to use in battle. If the senga's boyfriend is involved in a fight, watch her cheat by clawing the opponents face. Mostly seen with a cigarette in her mouth, bottle blonde hair and pushing a silver cross pram.
You can get older chavs too. Most chavs actually come from chav parents. They usually look like tramps because they spend so much money on their children's clothing, playstations and tv's.
Chavs mostly listen to rap, happy hardcore but most like Oasis too. Eminem is like god to them and their walls will usually be covered in Eminem posters and posters of cannabis leaves.

Answer 2

My understanding is that it relates to the younger generation who dress in a particular way, have an attitude, and can't really spell or talk English, and yes it can relate to girls also. They need a white cap (worn off center), tracksuit with the waist hanging down too low, hoop earings or lots of (fake) gold jewellery, and always found standing next to a suped up Ford Escort!

That's my opinion anyway, but here's a website for you...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chav or: http://www.chavworld.co.uk/

Definition found there:
'chav' (slang) - a young person, often without a high level of education, who follows a particular fashion; Chavs usually wear designer labels including the chav favourite 'Burberry', and if they’re girls, very short skirts, large hoop earrings and stilettos.

Answer 3

The accepted etymology for "chav" is that it derives from the Romani word "chavi", meaning a child.[3] Related words derived from the same source include "charva" (used in northern England in a similar sense) and perhaps the obsolescent "young shaver" (meaning a boy). In modern Spanish "chaval" means "lad".[4]

There are a large number of synonyms and regional variations of "chav", including "scally", "townie", "ned", kev, yarco, Mallie,[5] Meader[6] and in some areas Pikey.

Many folk etymologies have sprung up around the word. These include backronyms such as "Council Housed And Violent"[7] and "Council House Associated Vermin" and "Cheap And Vulgar". It has also been suggested that pupils at Cheltenham Ladies College and Cheltenham College used the word to describe the younger men of the town ("Cheltenham Average")..[8]

From its origins as a slang term, use of the word spread so rapidly that by 2004 it had become a hugely popular word in national newspapers and common parlance in the UK. Susie Dent's Larpers and Shroomers: The Language Report, published by the Oxford University Press, designated it as the "word of the year"[9] in 2004.[10] A survey in 2005 found that in December 2004 alone 114 British newspaper articles used the word. The popularity of the word has led to the creation of sites devoted to cataloguing and mocking the "chav" lifestyle.[11][12]

Some chav language (translated): "Innit!" (Isn't it) "Mint mate!" (Really good) "Safe!" (A greeting) "Izzit?" (Is it?) "Homies/ Crew/ Bruvs" (Friends) "Holla" (Call)

Answer 4

Chav is a mainly derogatory slang term in some parts of England for a subcultural stereotype fixated on fashions such as gold jewellery and designer clothing. The term appeared in mainstream dictionaries in 2005.[1][2] The defining features of the stereotype include clothing in the Burberry pattern (notably a now-discontinued baseball cap) and from a variety of other casual and sportswear brands. Tracksuits, hoodies, sweatpants and baseball caps are particularly associated with this stereotype. Musically, chavs tend to like trance, house, and electronic dance music. Response to the term has ranged from amusement to criticism that it is a new manifestation of classism. The term has also been associated with delinquency, the "ASBO Generation", and "yob culture".

Answer 5

Chav's can be either male or female. They are generally seen hanging around shops and causing a nuisance. The like to wear trackie bottoms tucked in socks , jewelerey from Elizabeth Duke ( the tackier , the better ) and they favour labels such as burberry and Tommy Hilfiger. Does this help?

Answer 6

A chav is generally someone low class.. ( i didnt say neccesarily low wage)
Someone who wears a lot of (fake) gold jewellry
starts fights with people so they look "hard"
Erm... likes clubbin' and gettin "pissed up"
Really greasy hair pulled back tightly
Big Hoop earings
Bad clothes
Swear a lot
Not that smart
Girls think they are glamour models
Guys think they are super cool with their 1995 "fixed up" boy racers / astras
End up with 3 kids by the time they are 25, no job, living off of the government

Just general "trash" really

Answer 7

i live in the middle of chav town, its horrendous but check this link out it tells you all you ever need to know!

Answer 8

chav i believe stands for 'council house and violent'

they are people that lives in tracksuits, wear tacky fake jewllery, swear, drink and have no respect for others.

Answer 9

<--- is an American chav.