chevy

IPA/ʃˈɛvi/
KK[ʃˈɛvˌi]IPA/ʃˈɛvˌiː/

chevy — noun

1. an informal short name for the American car and truck brand Chevrolet, or for a

1.nounB1
Definition

an informal short name for the American car and truck brand Chevrolet, or for a vehicle made by this brand.

Example

My neighbour still drives an old Chevy pick-up truck he bought in the 1990s.

Chevy + noun (as modifier)

The Watanabe family have owned their blue Chevy for nearly twenty years.

possession: own + Chevy

Common collocations
  • old Chevy
  • classic Chevy
  • blue Chevy
  • Chevy truck
  • Chevy engine
Synonyms
  • Chevrolet

    the full, more formal brand name

  • motor

    British informal term for any car, but not brand-specific

Grammar Patterns

Chevy + noun (as modifier: Chevy truck)

a/the + Chevy

Usage Note

In American English this is the usual informal form of Chevrolet. In British English it is less common but still understood, especially for classic American cars.

Common Mistakes

I bought a Chevy car.
I bought a Chevy.
Chevy already names the brand; adding 'car' is redundant but acceptable in casual speech.

chevy — verb

Word family

  • Chevrolet
    nounB1
  • chivvy
    verbC1
  • chevied
    verbC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Chevy is an informal, affectionate shortening of Chevrolet, much like 'Benz' for Mercedes-Benz. Chevrolet is the full official brand name — suitable for formal writing, advertisements, and technical contexts. Chevy belongs to casual conversation, advertising slogans, and car-culture talk. 'Car' is a generic term that covers any motor vehicle; you lose the brand identity entirely. 'Pick-up' specifies the body style (a truck with an open cargo bed), but a Chevy can be any model — sedan, SUV, or van. Use Chevy when the brand matters and the tone is relaxed: 'He pulled up in a red Chevy' sounds friendly; 'He pulled up in a red Chevrolet' sounds more factual.

ChevroletChevy ↗car ↗pick-up

Common collocations

Nouns

  • Chevy truck
  • Chevy engine
  • Chevy dealer
  • Chevy owner

Phrases

  • old Chevy
  • classic Chevy
  • vintage Chevy
  • blue Chevy

Prepositions

  • of a Chevy
  • in a Chevy
  • with a Chevy

Etymology

Swiss French (Chevrolet surname)American English (brand name)English dialect (verb form)

Chevy as a brand name is a shortened, affectionate form of Chevrolet, named after Louis Chevrolet (1878–1941), a Swiss-born American racing driver and engineer who co-founded the Chevrolet Motor Company in Detroit in 1911. The verb chevy is a 19th-century variant spelling of chivvy, which may come from the English noun 'chevy' — a hunting cry or a chase — possibly linked to the Cheviot Hills on the Scottish border, where border ballads tell of a famous hunt.