When I were young they were called townies and scallies. I think "roadman" is more prevelant now though.
this post was submitted on 15 Aug 2024
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From the 90s (in a small patch of Yorkshire), I remember Townies, Scallies, Kevs (seemingly a lot of them were called Kev where I lived), Carlings (a drink of choice, perhaps?), and Scrotes (i.e. ballbags). Neds was sometimes used as an alternative, but wasn't common.
I don't think I heard "Chavs" until the early 2000s. Never quite sure if they were actually the same thing - as the "Chav" thing seemed to have a class/wealth element, that "Chavs were poor/working class", whereas the Townies/Scallies/Kevs of my teen years were certainly all from richer families than me and my friends, they just liked to rob people, smash up bus shelters and shops and attack people (especially those who were "gay looking" or "foreign looking").
Isn't "roadman" more specific to London, and more of a voluntary lifestyle choice than a chav?
It probably originated there but I think it's just spread everywhere now. See loads of teens dressed all in black listening to drill music, some even with their faces covered as if they're off to rob a bank.
This is just one man’s take, but, Neds and Chavs aren’t quite the same (I grew up in Glasgow but have also lived south of the border for most of the last 18 years). Neds are criminals, Chavs are anti-social. The equivalent to Chavs in Scots would be Jakey, Bam, or Gadgie.
Jakey, Bam, or Gadgie
Are thos English words or Scottish words?
Scots
From working in a youth centre, it seems like sterotypes arent as big a thing as they used to be and have all kind of blended together. The only term I ever hear along those kind of lines is road man which the kids use as a general term for anyone who breaks the law or is in a gang (im in london, the definitions could probably alter slightly outside of the city). Nowadays they seem to find identity and categorisation in their sexual orientation, skin colour or cultural heritage, and nuerodivergence instead of stereotypes.
Well there certainly aren't any stereotypes involved in any of those
Twats
In Northern Ireland we call them "Spides" or "Smicks"
Apparently 'chav' stands for Council house and violence, i didnt know this until recently.
Definitely a backronym. The wiki page covers all the possible etymologies and also has a load of alternatives for OP!
It used to be 'chelmsford average' when I was a kid
In the northwest, esp Liverpool, they were always called "scallies". Don't know about today though.
First came across the term "chav" in the midlands.
In London "roadman" doesn't seem to be exactly the same thing. Seems to be more of an act by kids trying to fit in or look hard. "Scallies" were less about their front and more about the skinheads and tracksuits which was as much an income thing as anything else.
"Chavs" just seems to imply tastlessness. The fake tan orange girls w attitude problems, belligerent guys in a labelled shirt getting into boozy fights etc. There's a lot of cross over, but I don't think they're identical.
Ned is a Scottish term for non educated delinquent