ganef

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

A thief; a rascal or scoundrel.

Register: derogatory, slang

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

Right to the end of the street he dragged her, pursued by a hooting crowd. Then he stopped, worn out. "Will you give me that sixpence, you Ganef!"

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “ganef” mean?

A thief; a rascal or scoundrel.

Is “ganef” formal or informal?

ganef is generally derogatory, slang.