Ars (slang)

Ars ( _ar. عرص, _he. ערס), or Arsim (plural) is a mildly tongue-in-cheek, derogatory/self-deprecating Hebrew slang term describing the Israeli stereotype of a person of bad manners, flashy jewelry, and overall rudeness, associated with "low class" Sephardi or Mizrahi Jews, usually of Moroccan background. A female "Ars" is usually "Arsit", also known as a "Freha" (פרחה), or sometimes "Fakatsa" (פקצה), today an abbreviation including the word "Freha" as well. The Tel Aviv District's lower-income cities of Bat Yam and Holon are often associated with "Arsim." [http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node=arsim] "Arsim" are the butt of many jokes by Israeli stand-up comedians, such as Naor Zion, Shalom Asayag, Yaakov Cohen and others who themselves hail from small towns with significant "Ars" influence.

In the Arabic language "ars" denotes a "young shepherd," but in Cairo and other Arab cities is generally used to denote a pimp. A long form used sometimes is arsawwat. [ [http://www.roadjunky.com/israel/israelislang.shtml Israeli Hebrew Slang Guide ] ]

Characteristics

Some stereotypical "Ars" characteristics are: pants worn very low ("tayba"), "bling" jewellery, an absence of respect for women, poor Hebrew language usage, excessive use of slang (see "chav" for a close analogy), and employment of Hebrew phrases such as "lama mi met"?" ("why, who died?") whenever criticized for rude behavior (especially on the road). It is also associated with spitting on the road, smoking, and computer illiteracy or a very occasional computer usage. It is considered by some to denote violence.

"Arsim" in Israel usually listen to Hiphop music or Mizrahi music (eastern music or Arabic music). In the US, "Arsim" tend to listen to a late-1990s variety of Tel Aviv Techno, with some of them even becoming promoters and DJs of this type of music in NYC and other large American cities. [http://www.shimonm.com/fla/home.html]

imilar stereotypes outside of Israel

*Ah Beng (Singapore)
*Bogan (Australia and NZ)
*Chav, (England)
*Dres (Poland)
*Essex Girl (England)
* (East Coast, United States)
*Gopnik (Russia)
*Gino (Central Canada)
*Tamarro (Italy)
*Naco (Mexico)
*Ned (Scotland)
*Redneck (United States)
*Pimp daddy (United States)
* (Dublin,Ireland)
*Spide (Belfast, Northern Ireland)
*White Trash (United States)
*Yanki (Japan)

References