The Charva (also spelt Charver) youth subculture is one of the largest in the United Kingdom and unlike most of the others it stretches up from children through to young adults. It is often used in a derogatory sense by non-charvas however amongst each other charva is a compliment meaning that they are tough. Charva is now mostly restricted to the Tyneside area while Chav has become more common across the UK as a whole.

The word charva is derived from the Northumbrian Gaelic word ‘chava’ meaning ‘unruly youth’.

Stereotypical characteristics

Many associate charvas with trying to copy the black ghetto culture seen in American rap music. These characteristics include the wearing of ostentacious jewelry (though of a limited actual value) and ownership of lesser specification road cars such as the Vauxhall Corsa that have been cheaply modified.

Charvas most often come from poor council estate backgrounds and have large families, there is quite a gangster element to charva groups, indeed most British people convicted of involvement with organised crime in the UK are charvas.

Charvas stand out through their dress sense which includes their constant wearing of tracksuit bottoms whether they regularly take part in sport or not, burberry caps, Fred Perry stripey sweatshirts, the most expensive air trainers they can get hold of and chunky gold rings. Charva girls also have a familiar hair cut which involves having a large fringe suspended in a curve and a tie in the back of their hair which is so tight it tightens their face.

Media appearances

In the last decade charvas have become increasingly common in the media, the first major charvas were in the comic The Viz where characters such as the kappa slappa (kappa jackets having been at the height of charva fashion in the mid 90s) were common. On television Ali G was a skit of a charva in his claims of representing today’s youth as were more recently Vicky Pollard on the TV series Little Britain and the Welsh spoof rap band Goldie Lookin Chain.

See also: Chav