Ars (slang)

Ars ( , ), or Arsim (the plural in Hebrew) is a derogatory Hebrew slang term for the Israeli stereotype of a low-class young man. The stereotype may also refer to attributes such as flashy jewelry clothing. A woman fitting this stereotype is an Arsit (though this usually implies a certain manishness in the woman), the word formed by adding the Hebrew feminine ending "it" to the Arabic word "Ars". Other terms used for women are Freha (פרחה) or Fakatsa (פקצה).

In Arabic the word ars has several meanings:

• A pimp in general
• A cuckold, a man whose wife is unfaithful to him
• A man who pimps his wife
• A wicked or contemptible person, a "bad guy"
• A bastard, an illegitimate child
• A man of valour

A long form used sometimes is arsawwat., although the Arabic plural of "Ars" is "Arsat".

Stereotype

A stereotypical ars wears tight, gaudy clothing and excessive gold jewellery, speaks "street" Hebrew with an excessive reliance on slang and swear words, is disrespectful to women and behaves rudely in public. The ars typically listens to Muzika Mizrahit (Hebrew: מוזיקה מזרחית), a genre in Israeli music originating from Arab music, and easily drawn to using violence - verbal and/or physical.

References

Similar stereotypes outside of the Middle...
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