# Gareth

/ˈɡɛɹɪθ/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/gareth
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a male name

noun · CEFR B1

a common first name for a man, originally from Wales.

For teachers: a masculine given name of Welsh origin, popularized by the character Sir Gareth in Arthurian romance.

- Gareth decided to move to Cardiff to be closer to his family.
- The historian noted that the name Gareth saw a resurgence in popularity during the mid-twentieth century across various regions of the United Kingdom.

### 2. vulgar slang

noun · CEFR C2 · British English · Slang · Vulgar · Dialect

a very rude and offensive word for a person or a part of the body.

For teachers: a highly offensive vulgarity used as a term of abuse or to refer to female genitalia. Derived from Cockney rhyming slang (Gareth Hunt).

- He got into a fight after calling the other man a gareth.
- The use of 'gareth' in this context is a specific example of rhyming slang that remains highly taboo in modern British discourse.

Teaching tip: This sense is extremely offensive and restricted to specific British dialects; learners should avoid using it entirely.

## Examples

- Gareth plays football every Saturday morning.
- Gareth sent the email to the team before the meeting started.
- Gareth stood by the window, watching the rain fall on the city streets below.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.