Aresajpe. The first arrival of the Roma into Europe in the 14th century (Romanes).
Argintari.Silversmiths (Romanian).
Athinganoi. From Greek meaning "do
not touch." Byzantine heretic religious sect which practiced
isolationism. Name erroneously applied
in various forms to Roma.
Aurari. Goldwashers. Also called Zlatari (Romanian).
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Balame. Greek Romanes for gadje, from the Romanes balamó meaning non-Roma.
Balkan. As applied to dialects of
Romani, includes those which developed south of Moldavia and
Wallachia. They are spoken today
mainly in Greece and Bulgaria.
Balkans. An area of southeastern
Europe which includes continental Turkey, Bulgaria, Greece,
Albania, Yugoslavia, Romania and
sometimes Hungary.
Baxt. Good luck (Romanes).
Baxtaló (or Bahktaló). Lucky or happy (Romanes).
Beng. Devil (Romanes).
Beticos. Castilian-speaking Analusian
Roma who have permanently settled in house-caves or
town houses in such areas as Granada
city and Guadix.
Bibaxt. Bad luck (Romanes).
Bori. Daughter-in-law (Romanes).
Boša. Roma in Armenia who call themselves
Lom; speakers of Central Romani dialects
(Armenian).
Boyash (also Bayash, Beyash). A Vlax
Romani population, wide spread throughout Europe
and the Americas, who descend from
the Rudari and who have a Rumanian dialect as their native
language instead of Romanes.
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Calderari (or Kalderash, Kalderasha,
Keldarash). Traditionally makers of copper vessels.
Today they are known for making
and fixing copper drainage pipes. Also known as "Coppersmiths"
(Romanian).
Calé (or Kalé). Spanish Roma.
Calé (or Kalé, Caló,
Cali).Iberian Romanes dialect, meaning "black", a hybrid of Romani lexicon
and Castilian phonology, morphology
and syntax.
Castellanos. Castilian-speaking Roma
in the general area of Castile, Spain, many of whom are
still nomadic.
Chivute (Spoitoresele). Whitewashers (Romanian).
Churára. From churi, meaning
knife. Known for making strainers and other cooking utensils out
of aluminum and wood (Romanes).
Costorari. Tinners (Romanian).
Cutitari. Known for sharpening cutlery,
scissors, knives, and anything with a metal blade
(Romanian).
Cyganie. Polish for Gypsy, from Athinganoi.
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Danubian. A branch of European or Western Rromanes: also called Vlax.
Darro (or dáro). Dowry, or bride-price; gift (Romanes).
Del (also Devel). God (Romanes).
Desrobireja. Emancipation from slavery (Romanes, from Romanian).
Dikló. Head-scarf, kerchief, shawl (Romanes).
Diváno. Meeting or discussion (Romanes).
Dom. Speakers of Eastern Romani dialects.
Dom. A menial class in India whose
occupations include musicians, slaughterers and janitors, and
members of the Sudra caste. Believed
by some to be the ancestors of the Roma.
Domari. The language of the Dom;
speakers of the dialects of Eastern Romanes, inhabiting Syria
and other parts of the Middle East
(Domari).
Domba. Hypothesized ancestors of all three branches of Roma.
Dombari. The Proto-Romanes language.
Drab. Herbs (Romanes).
Drom. Road (Romanes).
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Ferari (or Herari). Workers in iron.
Traditionally known as blacksmiths and repairers of
carriages. Today many work repairing
metal containers (Romanian).
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Gabori. Traditionally known for making
and repairing furnaces and hot water bottles. Today
many buy and sell clothing and jewelry
at markets and fairs (Romanian).
Gadjikano. Masculine singular adjective meaning "non-Roma" (Romanes).
Gadjo (or Gazhó, Gajó).
Male non-Roma, plural Gadje. The feminine form is Gadji, plural Gadja
(Romanes).
Galbi. Gold coins, often worn around
the neck on a chain, in a woman's hair, or on the clothing as
jewelry or buttons (Romanes).
Gitane. Dialect of Romanes spoken
by Gitans in the south of France heavily influenced by Spanish
and French.
Gitanos. Iberian Roma who no longer speak pure Romanes, but Kalé (Spanish).
Gitans. Located in southwestern France, descended from the Gitanos of Spain (French).
Gorgio. Romanichal term for Gadje and Gadjo.
Gypsy (or Gipsy). Corruption of "Egyptian."
Popular, yet pejorative, term for the Roma, or Romani
people; originating from the mistaken
belief that the Roma were from Egypt.
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Hungaros (also Zingaros). Kalderash
Roma in Spain, who entered Spain from Central Europe
in recent times.
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Jekhipe (or Yekhipe). Unity, literally "oneness" (Romanes).
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Kak (also kako). Uncle; respectful
form of address for an older male person, usually the chief of a
tribe (Romanes).
Kalderash (or Kalderasha, Calderari ).Traditionally makers of copper vessels (Romanian).
Kalé (or Calé, Caló,
Cali).Iberian Romanes dialect, meaning "black", a hybrid of Romani lexicon
and Castilian phonology, morphology
and syntax.
Kirpachi. Basketmakers (Romanian).
Kovachi. Blacksmiths (Romanian).
Kris. Court, trial, justice or fate (Romanes).
Kris-Romani. Council of Roma elders (Romanes).
Kumpania. Romanes word meaning a
group of Roma travelling or living together in a territory in an
economic and residential association.
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Lautari. Musicians; strictly, fiddlers (Romanian, from Turkish/Arabic).
Lavúta. Violin; bari lavúta: viola (Romanes).
Lil (plural lila). Book (Romanes)
Lingurari. Makers of wooden spoons, rolling pins, and cutlery (Romanian).
Lomavren. The language of the BoŠa (Lomavren).
Lowára (or Lowrara, Lovara).Traditionally horse traders.
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Machwáya.Supposedly from the Serbian province of Matsva.
Manouches. French Roma, from the Romanes word "manúŠ", meaning "person".
Marimé (also mahrimé, mahrimo). Impure or defiled (Romanes).
Márturo. Martyr or prophet (Romanes).
Mensch. Sinti term for Roma, from the German meaning "People".
Mestere-Lacatuchi. Makers of keys, locks and burglar-bars (Romanian).
Muló. Dead or death (Romanes).
Mulaní (also mulanó, muló). Ghost (Romanes).
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Nátsia (plural natsiyí). A nation or tribe of Roma (Romanes).
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Patrin (or pateran, pyaytrin, or
sikaimasko). Marker used by traveling Roma to tell others of
directions, also used for passing
on news using prearranged signals. Also, a leaf or page (Romanes).
Payo. Kalé term for gadjo.
Pliashka (or plotchka). Engagement feast (Romanes).
Pomana. Wake (Romanes).
Porrajmos (or Porajmos, O Porraimos).
Literally the Devouring. The Holocaust, 1933-1945.
Coined by Ian Hancock (Romanes).
Potcovari.Ironworkers and shoers of horses (Romanian).
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Rajputs. A predominantly military
northwestern Indian people, who claim to be descended from the
Kshatriyas. Believed by some scholars
to have been the ancestors of the Roma.
Raklí. Non-Roma girl (Romanes).
Romanichal (also Romnichal, Romnichel).
Designation for those Roma populations from
northern Europe, especially the
British Isles.
Romanestan (also Rromanestan). The
proposed Roma state, once an active pursuit of many
Roma activists as a national homeland.Te
trayil Romanestan (May Romanestan yet live.) The
slogan of the Phralipé, international
nationalist Roma brotherhood.
Romungro. Hungarian Roma generally
known as musicians. Most speak Hungarian as their
native language instead of Romanes.
Rom. In all varieties of Western
Romanes this word is found meaning "husband" or "Roma man" (as
opposed to Gadjo or non-Roma man);
for Vlax-speaking Roma, it is further used to define
themselves as opposed to other,
non-Vlax speaking Roma groups. The feminine is Romni
(Romanes).
Romanes. Adverbial form meaning "in
the Roma manner"; also used to mean the Romani language,
called Romani chib.
Romani (also Romni). Feminine singular
adjective meaning "Roma." Often applied to the language,
and used also as a noun (older spelling
Romany or Rommany, plural Romanies).
Romania (or Romaniya). Roma customs
and traditions. (Note: Romania, Rom, Roma, Romani,
etc. should not connected or confused
with the country of Romania, or Rome the city. These names
have separate, distinct etymological
origins and are not related.)
Rudari (also Rudars, Ludari, Blidari,
Lingurari). Makers of wooden spoons, troughs, plates
and spindles. The name Rudari was
also applied to those engaged in goldwashing.
Ruv. Wolf (Romanes).
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Salahori. House-builders (Romanian).
Sárma (plural sármi). Stuffed cabbage (Romanes).
Sastimos (or Sastipé). Meaning
"to your health" or healthy, generally used as a greeting
(Romanes).
Schav (or schavó, chav). Roma youth or boy (Romanes).
Schej (or chej). Roma girl (Romanes).
Sfirnari. Traditionally known as
animal dealers and trainers (mostly horses). Today many own
small businesses (Romanian).
Sintajka. Sinti woman.
Sinti (or Senti, Cinti). German Roma.
Sinto. Sinti man.
Sitari. Known today for making strainers, rolling pins, and other cooking utensils (Romanian).
Slobuzenja. Freedom; Abolition of Romani Slavery in 1856 (Romanes, from Slavic).
Spoitoresele (or Kivoutse, Chivutsele). Whitewashers (Romanian).
Sudra. Lowest of the four Hindu castes,
believed by some to have been the ancestors of the Roma
(Sanskrit). See Rajputs.
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Tartar (or Tattare). Swedish for
Gypsy, from the belief that they were from the nomadic people of
Central Asia.
Tavringar (or Vandriar, Dinglare,
Romanisæl, Resande).Norwegian and Swedish Roma, also
known as "Tatere" (Norwegian) and
"Tattare" (Swedish). Still have much in common with both Sinti
and Romanichals, from whom they
are descended.
Travelers (or Travellers). Itinerant
peoples speaking a variety of argots, frequently confused by
gadje as Roma.
Tsigan (plural Tsigani). Romanian for Gypsy, from Athinganoi.
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Ursari. Traditionally bear trainers
and entertainers. Today many operate small businesses
(Romanian).
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Vichy. Collaborationist government
of France from 1941-1944 led by Marshal Philippe Pétain, with
Vichy as the capitol of the French
collaborationist regime. Nazi Germany occupied most of northern
France, while Vichy administered
the south.
Vitsa (plural vitsi). A clan or social
division within Vlax Romani society. Literally "vine" or "tendril"
(Romanian, from Slavic).
Vlax (also Vlach, Wallachian or Danubian).
A branch of European Romanes consisting of those
dialects which developed in the
Balkans during slavery time. They are characterized by massive
lexical and structural influence
from Romanian.
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Wandriar. Norwegian Roma, also known as "Tatere." (Norwegian).
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Xoraxai. Middle eastern Roma. (Turkish/Arabic).
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Yansers. Name applied to Gypsies in 19th century New York.
Yekhipe (or Jekhipe). Unity, literally "oneness" (Romanes).
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Zhamutro. Bridegroom or son-in-law (Romanes).
Zigeuner. Gypsies (German).
Zigeunernacht. Literally, Night of
the Gypsies. On August 1st, 1944, four thousand Roma were
gassed and cremated in a single
action at Auschwitz-Birkenau (German).
Zlatari (also called Aurari). Traditionally
Goldwashers. Today they make drainage pipes and
metal containers from zinc (Slavic).
Sources:
Boretzky, Norbert and Igla, Birgit.
Worterbuch Romani Deutsch Englisch (Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz Verlag,
1994)
Hancock, Ian. A Handbook of Vlax Romani (Columbus: Slavica Inc., 1995)
Hancock, Ian. The Pariah Syndrome: An Account of Gypsy Slavery and Persecution (Ann Arbor: Karoma, 1987)
Sutherland, Anne. Gypsies: The Hidden Americans (Reprinted Prospect Heights: Waveland, 1986)
Mashkar le gajende leski shib si le Romenski zor- Surrounded by the gaje, the Rom's tongue is his only defense
May mishto ley o thud katar i gurmni kai tordjol-It is easier to milk a cow that stands still.
Te na khutshos perdal tsho ushalin- Try not to jump over your own shadow
Lowe k-o vast, bori k-o grast-Money in hand, Bride on horse
Sar laci and'ekh vadra-Like crabs in a bucket
Prohasar man opre pirend - sa muro djiben semas opre chengende- Bury me standing. I've been on my knees all my life.
Me mangav te jav ando granit za tumensa- I want to go to the border with you
A-ko isi pomo shinava tumen- Maybe I can help you.
Te aves yertime mander tai te yertil tut o Del- I forgive you, and may God forgive you as I do.
Rode tshia bora le kanensa tai te na le yakensa- With the ears, and not with the eyes.(often said when looking for a wife)
Shuk tski khalpe le royasa- Beauty cannot be eaten with a spoon
Das dab ka i roata le neve vurdoneski-To give a push to the wheel of the new wagon (when giving money to the new couple)
Mandat tsera tai kater o Del mai but te avenge tumenga-From me a little money, but may God give you plenty
Kon del tut o nai shai dela tut wi o vast-He who willingly gives you a finger will also give you the whole hand
Stanki nashti tshi arakenpe manusheb shai-Mountains do not meet but people do
Romale tai shavale akarel tume o ____- By your leave, Gypsy men and youths, this is ____ calling you
Ashlen Devlese, Romale- May you remain with God
O low tai o beng nashti beshen patshasa- Neither money nor the devil can remain in peace
Na daran Romale wi ame sam Rom Tshatsh- Do not fear, you Gypsy men, for we are Gypsies too
Devlesa avilan- It is God who brought you
Devlesa araklam tume- It is with God that we found you
Ka jav te xenav tut!- I am going to sh*t on you!
Te den, xa, te maren, de-nash!- When you are give, eat, when you are beaten, run away!
Saka peskero charo dikhel- Everybody sees only his own dish
Isi ili daba-Here there are also whacks (or smacks.. not quite sure)
Jek dilo kerel but dile hai but dile keren dilimata-One madman makes many madmen and many madmen makes madness
So keres?- What are you doing?
Chindilan?- Are you fed up, weary?
I phuv kheldias- The earth danced (earthquake)
O manusha khelaven tut- The people make you dance
Te bisterdon tumare anava!- May your names be forgotten!
Ma-sh-llah!- As God wills!
Ove yilo isi?- Is it Okay? (lit. is there heart out there?)
Te xav to biav- May I eat at your wedding
May kali i muri may gugli avela- The darker the berry the sweeter it is
Bi kashtesko merel i yag- Without wood the fire would die
Feri ando payi sitsholpe te nayuas-It was in the water that one learned to swim
Si khohaimo may patshivalo sar o tshatshimo- There are lies more beleivable then the truth
Patshiv tumenge Romale- This song was offered as a gift to worthy men
Te khalin tai te shinggerdjon tshe gada, hai tu te trai sastimasa tai
voyasa- May your clothes rip and wear out,but may you
live on in good health and fulfillment
Droboy tume Romale- Trad. morning greeting
Nais Tuke- Thank you
Bolde tut, kako- Please turn away
Ando gav bi juklesko jal o pavori bi desteko In the village without dogs the farmers walk without sticks
Te merav ____- May I die if ____
Te merel muro dad, muri dei ____- May my father, mother or brothers die if ____
Te merel amaro kuro o lasho ____- May our favorite stallion die if ____
Te shordjol muro rat- May my blood spill
Te pabaren mage memelia- May you burn candles for me
Te prakhon man pasha o ____ May I be buried next to ____ if
May sigo sar te may khav- Before I even have my next meal
May angle sar te merel kadi yag- Before this fire burns out
Te potshinen penge lajav- Pay for their shame
Me piav pani- I drink water
Te phirav pa-o gav- To go about the village (beg)