# Allo guvna?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/allo-guvna/116441>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 28, 2002, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/allo-guvna/116441 "2002-06-28T19:31:17Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\
**Post date:** [June 28, 2002, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/allo-guvna/116441/1 "2002-06-28T19:31:17Z")

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I’ve heard people say this, especially when making fun of someone with a British accent. What does it mean? I assumed it meant “Hello governer”, but I’m not sure what it refers to.

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**Author:** ![Rodd\_Hill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3ab097/32.png) [@Rodd\_Hill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodd_Hill)\
**Post date:** [June 28, 2002, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/allo-guvna/116441/2 "2002-06-28T19:49:12Z")

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Yup, “Guv’nor” is governor; it generally means “the boss,” or in a broader sense, someone up the ladder from you (socially or otherwise).

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**Author:** ![JeffB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeffb/32/188_2.png) [@JeffB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JeffB)\
**Post date:** [June 28, 2002, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/allo-guvna/116441/3 "2002-06-28T20:00:09Z")

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It’s based on a Cockney accent, often down with exageration for effect.

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**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\
**Post date:** [June 28, 2002, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/allo-guvna/116441/4 "2002-06-28T21:11:37Z")

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Thanks for the replies. Is it a common expression in England?

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**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\
**Post date:** [June 29, 2002, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/allo-guvna/116441/5 "2002-06-29T00:04:02Z")

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The **OED** cites it first from 1827, and in most instances, it meant one’s father.

Dickens started using it in 1844 to mean “sir; fellow. used in direct address”

This last from LIghter.