Ah Beng is a pejorative term applied to describe an anti-social lower-class youth in Malaysia and Singapore who displays common characteristics such as having dyed hair, wearing loud fashion, playing loud music in public and being less educated. The female equivalent of an Ah Beng is an Ah Lian. A stereotypical Ah Beng would be someone who is not highly educated, is loud and unsophisticated, and operates within secret societies and street gangs. Ah Lians, on the other hand, are regarded as bimbos, and are stereotyped as anti-intellectual, superficial, materialistic, and shallow. The equivalent of an Ah Beng in other English-speaking countries is often said to be Australia's bogans, the United States' rednecks and Britain's chavs.

Etymology

Ah Beng comes from the romanisation of the Hokkien pronunciation of. The character "明" is commonly used in the names of ethnic Chinese males in the region; the term "Ah Beng" alludes to their commonness. Among Cantonese speakers, Ah Beng is also known as lala zai. "Lala" has no actual meaning in itself, although it may have originated from the Singlish word "la"/"lah", while "zai" means "boy." "Lala zai" refers to individuals who speak in "pure" Singlish and who possess a strong preference for gaudy fashions or hairstyles.

In popular culture

Ah Bengs have been featured in several Singaporean films, including: The stereotypical Ah Beng was the title character Phua Chu Kang in the popular Singaporean local sitcom Phua Chu Kang Pte Ltd, portrayed by Gurmit Singh. In the show, Chu Kang's brother, Phua Chu Beng, is nicknamed Ah Beng, despite being an articulate, educated architect, the complete antithesis of an Ah Beng.

In other countries

• Alay (Indonesia) • Ars (slang) (Israel) • Bogan (Australia/NZ) • Bōsōzoku (Japan) • Cañí (Spain), a slur against Romani people • Chav (United Kingdom) • Cholo (Mexico) • Dizelaši (Serbia) • Dresiarz (Poland) • Eshay (Australia) • Flaite (Chile) • Gabber / tokkie (Netherlands) • Gopnik (Soviet Union/Russia) • Hoser (Canada) • Jejemon (Philippines) • Kazan phenomenon • Malandro (Brazil) • Mat Rempit (Malaysia) • Ned (Scottish) • Racaille (pejorative) (France) • Raggare (Sweden/Norway) • Redneck (United States) • Skanger (Ireland) • Skeet (Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada) • Tapori / Mawali (India) • Trẻ trâu (Vietnam) • Yankī (Japan) • Yob (slang) (United Kingdom and others) • Zef (South Africa)