Standard Lemma guide

guv

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A form of address to a man, usually a stranger or a superior.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Ireland, London, UK, informal

Examples

  • Spare two quid, guv? I 'aven't eaten since yesterday.
  • Right away, guv... I mean, sarge.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A male prison officer.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: UK, informal

Examples

  • We cover up the window so the guvs can't see us.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

Initialism of germicidal ultraviolet.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: abbreviation, alt-of, initialism, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Alternative phonetic spelling of gov, short for governor.

Across languages

Translations

10 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Czech: šéfe — form of address
  • Czech: šéfíku — form of address
  • French: chef — form of address
  • French: patron — form of address
  • Hungarian: főnök — form of address
  • Polish: kierownik — form of address
  • Polish: kierowniczka — form of address
  • Serbo-Croatian: gazda — form of address
  • Serbo-Croatian: šef — form of address
  • Swedish: grabben — form of address