Chti

Chti, also spelled Ch'ti or Chtimi, is a regional demonym for people from the Nord-Pas-de-Calais area in northern France, especially around Lille, Douai, Valenciennes, and Dunkirk. The term is used to describe both residents and, more broadly, aspects associated with the region’s culture, identity, and everyday life.

It is closely tied to a regional language variety commonly known as Ch'ti or Ch'timi, a dialect in the Picard group within the Langue d'oïl family. This dialect features influences from Picard and Flemish and coexists with standard French. Use of the dialect has varied, with ongoing efforts to preserve regional linguistic heritage.

Popular culture has reinforced the term for a wide audience, notably through the 2008 film Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis, which portrayed life in the region and brought broader attention to the Ch'ti people and their speech. The term is now widely recognized in France and occasionally used in tourism and cultural discussions, though it can be encountered with stereotypes.

See also: Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Picard language, Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis.