What is a Chav?

[andy mac]

[url]www.chavscum.co.uk[/url]

[srebbe64]

I keep hearing the term "Chav", both on the web and the other day on Radio 5 Live. I'm still no clearer on what / who a Chav is. Could someone explain it to me in simple terms please?

[pesty]

see following link from chacscum on how to spot a chav.

www.chavscum.co.uk/howto.php

[timbob]

Just out of interest, how is "chav" pronounced...?

With a silent h, i.e. "cav", or do you pronounce the "ch" (as in church for example) at the beginning?

[deeen]

timbob said:

Just out of interest, how is "chav" pronounced...? With a silent h, i.e. "cav", or do you pronounce the "ch" (as in church for example) at the beginning?

Not sure associating "chav" with "church" is particularly helpful, unless they fancy Charlotte of course.

[rico]

i pronounce 'chav' as a rhyming word with 'have'

[lonman]

"Council house adult vermin"....That's what I heard on the radio anyway.

[towman]

Chav - short for Cant HAVe so steal.

Scum

steve

[nevpugh308]

towman said:

Chav - short for Cant HAVe so steal.

Is that really where the word comes from ?!?

[towman]

In a word - No! But it is bloody apt.

steve

[nevpugh308]

So where does it come from ?

[DennisTheMenace]

[poptosis]

I think travelers call their kids chavvies - possible explanation ????

[lightningghost]

I pronounce it 'shav'. is that way off the mark.



And also, is it Sagaris or Sagaris?

[RickApple]

also short for Council Housed And Violent....i've taken to callin them 'untermensch' though for now!

[Murcielago]

lightningghost said:

Sagaris or Sagaris?

Either of them?

[JoolzB]

Often wonderered about where it comes from

www.oup.com/elt/global/products/oald/wotm/wotm_archive/chav/

???

[peterpeter]

the actual term originated from the description of people from Chatham in Kent.

They were Chavvies years ago, and the disease seemed to spread from there.

[sparkythecat]

Unusually, I was watching breakfast TV this morning. They were interviewing Suzie Dent from dictionary corner on Countdown. I used to harbour secret sexual fantasies about her, but seeing her close up in the morning I think she's gone a bit 'trouty'. Still I digress. I gather she's written a book about modern English. In her interview she gave gave the new dictionary definition of chav as "Working Class Chic"

We PH'ers have apperently got it all wrong.
Chav is now something to aspire to!!!!

[towman]

sparkythecat said:

"Working Class Chic"

I think you miss-heard - thats "Working Class Cheek"

Steve