Proll
/pʁɔl/masculine
The German term for chav is Proll. Wiktionary also lists Asi.
Meaning: relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Proll | /pʁɔl/ | masculine |
| Asi | /ˈazi/ | masculine |
Both terms are used to describe a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education.
Which one should you use?
Proll focuses on a lack of class or refinement, while Asi carries a stronger connotation of being socially deviant or antisocial.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Proll is an informal term used to describe someone perceived as lacking manners or social status. Asi is a highly derogatory slang term used to insult someone's character or social behavior.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural of Proll is Prolls. The plural of Asi is Asis.
How do you pronounce it?
/pʁɔl/
Did you know?
- While Asi is a harsh insult, some people in Germany have ironically adopted the term Asi-Style to describe a deliberate aesthetic of tacky or low-brow fashion.
- While Proll describes someone lacking refinement, it is rooted in the historical term Proletarier, referring to the industrial working class.
- The term Proll is used as a root for the verb prollen, which means to boast or brag loudly about one's perceived status or possessions.
Examples in context
- Tom ist ein Proll.Tom is a chav.This sentence is useful for identifying someone as a Proll.Tatoeba #9813513 by wolfgangth, translation #8033403 by deniko
- Thomas sieht immer aus wie ein Chav.Thomas always looks like a chav.
- Frank ist ein richtiger Assi geworden.Frank has turned into a real chav.
- Er verhält sich wie ein richtiger Proll.He behaves like a real chav.
- Die Leute dort sind oft nur Prolls.The people there are often just chavs.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julian and Julia are talking about a noisy neighbor.
- JulianHast du den Nachbarn gehört?Did you hear the neighbor?
- JuliaJa, er ist ein totaler Proll.Yes, he is a total chav.
- JulianEr schreit immer so laut.He is always shouting so loudly.
- JuliaDas ist typisch für ihn.That is typical of him.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “chav” translations and entries Proll, Asi, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Asi, Proll, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
