Street
guvnor
What does guvnor mean?
A boss or person in charge; also a friendly or respectful way of addressing a man. A variant of 'governor'.
"Leave it with me, guvnor, I'll sort it."
Origin
Cockney variant pronunciation of 'governor', dropping the middle syllable.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'guvnor' mean?
It means the boss or person in charge, and is also a friendly, respectful way to address a man.
Where does 'guvnor' come from?
It's a Cockney variant pronunciation of 'governor', with the middle syllable dropped.
Is 'guvnor' rude?
No — it's respectful or friendly, often used to address a man politely, and 'guv' for short.
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