Word | Meaning | Notes |
Abiav (also abijav, bijav, amnjav, ebav) | Marriage, wedding; also festivity or party |
|
Ale |
But |
Fr. Slavic |
Amaro |
our |
Cf. Skr. Asmaka (ours), Hindi hamara |
Amriya |
Curse |
|
Ando foro |
Into town |
|
Armaya |
Curse |
|
Ataman |
Chieftain |
Russia (fr. Russian) |
Bal |
Hair |
Cf Skr vala, Hindi bal |
Balame |
Gadje |
Greek Romani fr. Balamo=non-Romani |
Bar |
Brother |
Domari, cf. Phal, pral, plal |
Barearav |
To honour, respect, obey |
Verb from baro (big) |
Bari lavuta |
Viola |
|
Baro |
Big |
Cf Skr. Vadra, Hindi bara |
Bater | May it be so |
Said in response to a challenge via an armaya |
Bauri |
Snails |
Fr. Romanian |
Bavo |
Kris complaint |
|
Baxt |
Luck |
Fr. Persian; poss. Fr. Persian (6.40) |
Baxtalo |
Lucky |
|
Bayo (pl. bayura) |
Kris precedents |
|
Beng |
Devil |
Originally 'frog' (Syrian Romani) (6.56) |
Bengalo |
Devilish |
|
Berk |
Breast |
Fr. Arabic (6.40); Whence berk?; cf. chuchi |
Besh! |
Sit! |
Imperative |
Bhen/phen |
Sister |
Asiatic vs Armenian/European Romani |
Bi-lacho |
No good |
Albania |
Binak |
Twin |
|
Bino |
Sin |
Fr. Hungarian bun |
Boba |
Bean |
Fr. Slavic |
Bogacha |
Baked flour bread |
|
Bokh |
Hunger |
Cf. Hindi bhukh (12) |
Bokoli |
Thick pancakes stuffed with small pieces of meat |
Lovara |
Bol |
Type of mouth music |
|
Bolta |
Shop |
Fr. Romanian bolta |
Bori |
Daughter-in-law |
Pl. boria |
Bov |
Oven |
Fr. Armenian |
Brashki |
Frogs |
|
Brigaki djilia |
"Sorrow songs" |
Songs telling of hardship |
Budjo |
A swindle translated as 'switch the bag' |
|
Buino |
Proud |
Fr. Slavic |
Bulibasha |
Traditional local leader |
Transylvania |
Bushalo |
Sour |
|
But guli |
Very sweet |
|
Chachimos |
Truth |
|
Chakano |
Star |
European/Welsh Romani, fr. Persian |
Chao |
Tea |
|
Cheeb |
Tongue |
Cf Skr jeep, Hindi cheep |
Cheiz |
Girl's dowry, and its display in her parent's house for a couple of days before the wedding |
|
Chere |
Stars |
Kalderash |
Chey |
Girl/daughter |
|
Chiavala |
Lad |
Russia pl. chiavalei |
Chile mole |
Hot barbecue sauce |
|
Chin |
"cut/carve", ie write |
|
Chindilan? |
Are you fed up, weary? |
|
Chokesarav |
To forge (metal) |
|
Chor- |
To steal |
Greek Romani |
Chorav |
To steal |
Whence chorey |
Chordane |
Intelligence service |
|
Choribe |
Theft |
Greek Romani |
Chote |
Vinegar |
|
Chovexani |
Witch |
Fr. Armenian |
Chuchi |
Breast |
Indic; cf. Berk |
Churi |
Knife |
Whence Churara |
Dad, dat |
Father |
Cf Skr tata, Hindi tat |
Dand |
Tooth |
|
Darane svatura |
Magical, superstitious and supernatural stories |
|
Dariav |
Sea |
European/Welsh Romani, fr. Persian |
Darro |
Dowry, bride-price |
|
Dav opre |
"I give upwards" ie read aloud |
|
Day |
Mother |
|
Desrobireja |
Emancipation from slavery |
(Romani, from Romanian) |
Detlene |
Spirits of dead children? |
Lovara |
Devel |
God |
|
Dikh- |
To see |
Also dik- (Greek Romani); Cf. Hindi dekh- |
Diklo |
Neckerchief |
|
Dila |
Floor |
Czechia |
Dili |
Retarded; crazy (9.77) |
Whence dill? |
Divano |
Meeting or discussion |
Romani |
Djan- |
To know |
Whence gen? |
Djezbeh |
Narrow high brass container with a long protruding handle (coffeepot) |
(Turkish?) |
Djolano |
Mule |
European/Welsh Romani, fr. Armenian |
Domari |
Asiatic dialect of Romani |
Fr. Dom - man; Cf. Lomavren, European |
Doshman |
Enemy |
Fr. Persian doshman |
Dosta |
Enough |
Fr. Slavic |
Drab |
Herbs |
Romani |
Draba |
Spell/charm |
|
Drabarav |
I read |
Macedonia; orig. in the sense of palm reading |
Drabarno/i |
Male/female reader/fortune-teller |
|
Drarnego |
Special healing herb |
|
Drom |
Way |
Fr. Greek δρομοσ dromos |
Dudum |
Gourd; also melon (6.41) |
Fr. Armenian |
Dunha |
Eiderdown |
Whence (downy?) |
Dya |
Mother |
Britain |
European |
European dialect of Romani |
Cf. Domari, Lomavren |
Familia |
Extended family including married sons and their wives, children and grandchildren |
Fr. Romanian |
Foros |
Town |
Fr. Greek |
Fusui |
Bean soup |
|
Fusui eski zumi |
Butter-bean soup |
|
Gadjikane |
Non-gypsy |
Adjective |
Gadjo |
Non-Gypsy man |
|
Galbi |
Gold coins, often worn as decoration |
Romani |
Gelo |
Gone |
Past participle of za "go" cf. Bengali jawa, gaelo |
Gilabav |
I read |
Albania; primarily to sing |
Gilabno |
Male singer/reader |
|
Gin |
Count ie read |
|
Glas |
Voice |
Fr. Slavic |
Glasso |
Varieties of melodies in gypsy music |
Fr. Slavic Glas "voice" |
Gorgio |
Gadjo |
Romnichal |
Grast |
Horse |
Fr. Armenian; also Kalderash gras (6.19) |
Grob |
Tomb |
Fr. Slavic |
Gunoi |
Faeces |
Fr. Slavic? Cf. Slovene gnoj (dung) |
Gusha |
Adam's apple |
|
Hamishagos |
To meddle or disturb |
|
Johai |
Ghost's vomit |
|
kafa |
Coffee |
|
Kaj |
Where |
|
Kak (kako) |
Uncle |
Respectful form of address for older male |
Kan |
Ear |
Cf. Skr khan, Hindi khan |
Kana |
When |
|
Kar |
Penis |
|
Karbaro |
Erection (i.e. big penis) |
Lovara |
Kasht |
Wood (i.e. forest) |
|
Katrinsa |
Apron |
|
Kazan |
Small domestic stills, copper |
Made by Kalderash |
Kesali |
Forest spirit |
Russia |
Kham |
Sun |
Cf Skr gharma, Hindi gham; also kam (Greek Romani)(6.16) |
Khan, kan |
Fart |
|
Khania |
Hens |
|
Khantino |
Smelly |
|
Khul |
Shit |
|
Kidemos |
Collections made among a kumpania, usually on ritual occasions |
|
Kirchima |
Inn |
Fr. Slavic; cf. Slovene krchma |
Kirvi |
Groom |
|
Kis |
Purse |
Fr. Arabic; also kisi (6.40) |
Kish |
Silk |
European/Welsh Romani, fr. Persian |
Kishti |
Belt |
European/Welsh Romani, fr. Persian |
Kocho |
Button |
European/Welsh Romani, fr. Armenian |
Komi |
More |
Fr. Greek |
Kon? |
Who? |
|
Koro |
Blind |
European/Welsh Romani, fr. Persian; also Domari |
Koshter |
Stick |
Anglo-Romani; whence cosh |
Kotor |
Piece |
European/Welsh Romani, fr. Armenian |
Kralis |
King |
Fr. Greek, orig. Fr. Slavic |
Kris |
"tribunal" |
Fr. Greek "krisis" = judgement (6.56) |
Krisatora |
Kris judges |
|
Kumpania |
Band of families |
Polish |
L vakandoka |
The moles |
|
Lampo |
Lamp |
|
Lashav |
Shame |
|
Lav |
Word |
Poss. Fr. Arabic lafz |
Lavuta |
Violin |
|
Lil (pl. lila) |
Book |
|
Lolo |
Red |
|
Lomavren |
Armenian dialect of Romani |
Fr. Lom - man; Cf. Domari, European |
Lon |
Salt |
|
Love |
Money |
|
Lovina |
Beer |
Fr. Slavic |
Lovoro |
Ceremony to divide money earned |
|
Lungo drom |
Long Road |
|
Machka |
Cat |
Fr. Slavic |
Magherdo |
Unclean |
Polish |
Mahala |
Quarter (of a town) |
Bulgaria |
Mai + adj. |
Comparative |
Vlach Romani |
Mamioro |
Spirit who brings illness |
|
Manch |
Cheer up |
Fr. Romanian |
Manush |
People |
Cf Skr/Hindi manusha |
Mariki |
Sweet, layered, pizza-shaped pastry from flour, powdered milk, sugar and lard |
Albania |
Marime |
Unclean |
Non-Polish; Fr. Greek "to dirty" (6.55); c.f. Skr mraks = smear (6.244) |
Martiya |
Spirit of the night |
|
Marturo |
Martyr, prophet |
|
Mas |
Meat |
|
Mashakar |
Waist, centre |
|
Ma-sha-llah |
As god wills |
Muslim? (Allah) |
Me |
I |
Cf Skr. Maya, Hindi main |
-me, -men |
Suffix for passive participles |
Fr. Greek |
Melalo |
Dirt |
|
Meska |
Bear |
|
Midjloli |
Erection |
Lovara |
Mindj |
Female genitals |
Whence minge (6.193), and minging? |
Mish |
Vagina |
Kalderash |
Mizhak |
Wicked |
Fr. Slavic |
Mode |
Varieties of melodies in gypsy music |
|
Mom |
Wax |
Fr. Persian |
Monchimo |
System of servitude to pay off debts and credits |
|
Mora |
Friend |
Russia |
Mortsi |
Leather, hide |
=skin, European/Welsh Romani, fr. Armenian (6.41) |
-mos |
Abstract noun marker |
Fr. Greek |
Moxado |
Unclean |
England/Wales |
Much |
Friend |
Russia |
Muj |
Face, mouth |
|
Mulengi djilia |
Dirges |
Lit. spirit songs |
Mulengi dori |
"dead man's string" |
Magic ribbon tied or united to call on dead spirits to protect you |
Mulo |
Spirit of the dead |
Pl. mule |
Mura |
Berry |
Fr. Romanian |
Nak |
Nose |
Cf Skr nak, Hindi nak, whence "nark" - stool pigeon (1.16); also nakh (Welsh, Greek Romani) (6.16) |
Nano |
Uncle |
|
Naswalemos |
Illness |
|
Natsia (pl. natsiyi) |
Nation or tribe of Rom |
Kalderash (6.238) |
Nav |
Name |
Cf. Skr. Naman, Hindi nam |
Niamo |
Relatives |
|
Nivasi |
Water spirit/mermaid |
Russia |
O d'ives |
Day |
Czechia |
O zhuvindo |
"the live one" |
|
Ofisa |
Fortune-telling booth |
|
Opre! |
Arise! |
|
-os |
Masculine ending for loan words |
|
Pachiv |
Ceremonial celebrations to honour special guests |
Also pakiv (9.90) |
Pachivaki djili |
Pachiv song |
|
Paguba |
"raiding party" i.e. sent out for supplies |
Churara |
Pakiv, dav pakiv |
To obey, respect, honour, esteem |
|
Palecido |
"set apart" i.e. marime |
Sinti |
Pani |
Water |
Cf Skr paniya, Hindi pani; also Kalderash pai (6.16) |
Pani nevi |
Fresh water |
|
Papin |
Goose |
|
Paramicha |
Gypsy fairy tales, told for the skill of the storyteller |
|
Paramishus |
Tale |
Fr. Greek |
Patragi |
Easter |
|
Patrin |
Leaf/road sign/marking |
Non-Polish |
Payo |
Gadje |
Spanish Romani |
-pen |
-ness,-hood |
Also -ben (6.19) |
Pen, ben |
Sister |
Greek Romani |
Perina |
Thick quilts |
|
Pertia |
Jellied pig's feet and ears |
|
Petalo |
Horseshoe |
Fr. Greek (6.55) |
Phal |
Brother |
Welsh Romani; also Lomavren (6.38) cf. Plal, pral, bar |
Phei |
Sister |
Kalderash |
Phen |
Sister |
Welsh Romani |
Phuro (f. phuri) |
Head of a familia |
|
Pi-, pe- |
To drink |
Greek, Welsh romani pi-, Kalderash pe- |
Piko |
Spear |
|
Pipere |
Pepper |
|
Pirogo |
Kind of noodle and cheese pudding |
Cf. Polish pierogy? |
Plal |
Brother |
Also pral; Greek Romani; cf. Phal, pral, bar |
Pliashka |
Bottle of good brandy, wrapped in a kerchief with a string of gold pieces |
Used in the marriage ritual between the couple's parents |
Pliashka (plochka) |
Engagement feast |
|
Pomana |
Funeral feast |
Repeated after nine days, six weeks, six months and a year (3.235) |
Porado |
Erection |
Lovara |
Porraimos |
Lit. the devouring ie the Holocaust |
Coined by Ian Hancock (link esterno, fonte Wikipedia, voci correlate: Romani people, Romani people by country, in inglese), (1.276) |
Poshum |
Wool |
European/Welsh Romani, fr. Persian; also Domari |
Posoti |
Pouch inside a skirt |
Bulgaria |
Postiu |
Abstention from animal products on Friday |
|
Pral |
Brother |
Kalderash, cf. Phal, plal, bar |
Pralipe |
Brotherhood |
Macedonia |
Prastlo |
'dishonoured' i.e. marime |
Sinti |
Prikaza |
Bad omen |
|
Pufe |
Fried flour bread |
|
Puri daj/puro dad |
Grandmother/grandfather |
Lit. old mother/father;Whence dad? |
Pushka |
Gun |
Fr. Slavic |
Puterdea |
Straddle the legs open |
|
Puyo |
Chicken stew |
|
Puyuria |
Gadje gypsy-groupies |
Fr. Romanian "puppies, cubs, chicks" |
Rahat lokum |
Some sort of food |
|
Rakli |
Non-Roma girl |
|
Raklo |
Non-gypsy boy |
|
Rasa |
"race" |
Romanian; used to refer to e.g. Kalderash, Lovara, etc |
Rat |
Blood |
Cf. Prakrit ratta |
Ray baro |
Great lords |
i.e. judges and representatives of gadje power structures |
Raya |
Landowners |
Lovara |
Rebniko |
Pond |
Fr. Slavic cf. Slovene ribnik |
Rikono |
Dog |
|
Risho |
Reed, cane |
|
Rom (fem. Romni) |
Romani man/women |
|
Rom/lom/dom |
Man/husband |
European/Armenian/Persian and Syrian Cf Sanskrit domba, mod. Ind. Dom, dum Skr=man of low caste making living by music and singing, Lahnda=menial, Sindhi=caste of wandering musician, Panjabi=strolling musician, West Pahari=low-caste black-skinned man |
Romanes |
Romani language |
|
Romipen |
Gypsyhood |
|
Romni |
Wife |
|
Romni nashli |
Elopement |
Lit. runaway wife |
Rovliako khelipen |
"stick dance" |
|
Ruv |
Wolf |
|
Sap |
Snake |
British |
Sarma |
Stuffed cabbage |
With pork, onions, peppers, rice and tomatoes (9.63) |
Sastimos (sastipe) |
"to your health" |
Generally used as a greeting |
Sastro |
Father-in-law |
|
Saviako |
Rolled pastry with fruit, cottage cheese and raisins |
|
Sero |
Head |
Also shero (Greek Romani); cf Skr vala, Hindi Bal |
Shanglo |
Police constable |
|
Shav |
Unmarried gypsy male |
|
Shavora |
Companions? |
|
Sheranda |
Goosedown pillows covered in gay, flowered material |
|
Shon |
Moon |
|
Shoshka |
Tent-pole |
Russia (fr. Russian) |
Shpera |
"road sign/marking" |
Polish; = patrin |
Sir |
Garlic |
Fr. Persian |
Skorni |
Top-boot |
Fr. Slavic |
Slobuzenja |
Freedom |
Fr. Slavic |
Smentena |
Cream |
Fr. Slavic |
So |
What |
|
So keres? |
What are you doing? |
|
Socro-bori |
Incest |
|
Solakh |
Kris judgement using armaya, with judgement left to mule |
|
Soske |
Why |
|
Sov- |
To sleep |
Cf. Skr. Svapati, Hindi sona |
Spiuni |
Spy |
Albania |
Stanya |
Stable |
Fr. Slavic |
Streyino |
"strange" |
Used of unknown Vitsa |
Sumadji |
Family heirloom |
|
Sunet biaf |
Circumcision wedding |
Muslim, in Bulgaria |
Svata/svatura |
Gypsy story/ies |
|
Tachiben |
Truth |
See also chachimos |
Tacho |
True |
Welsh Romani; |
Taliga |
Two-wheeled light cart |
|
Tarneder |
Younger |
Welsh Romani |
Tato |
Hot, warm |
Cf Skr. Tapta, Hindi tatta |
Trampa |
Barter |
|
Treshul |
Christian cross |
In India, Shiva's trident |
Trito ursitori |
Three spirits, one good, one evil, one mediator |
|
Trupos |
Body |
Fr. Slavic |
Trushal odji |
Hungry soul |
|
Tsera |
Individual household within a familia |
Lit. tent |
Tserha |
Lit. tent |
Lovara = vitsa |
Tu |
You singular |
Cf. Skr tuvam, Hindi tu |
Tumnimos |
Wedding arrangements |
|
Tutka |
Turkey |
|
Uzho |
|
Related to marhime |
Vadni ratsa |
Wild goose of Romani legend |
|
Vaida |
Gypsy chief |
Russia (Slav. Vodja) |
Vardo |
Horse-drawn living-wagons |
Hungary; also Vurdon, Vordon |
Vare- |
-ever |
Fr. Romanian; e.g. varekai "wherever" |
Varekai |
Wherever |
Fr. Romanian |
Vast |
Hand |
Cf. Skr. Hasta, Hindi hath |
Vesh |
Forest |
European/Welsh Romani, fr. Persian |
Veshengo |
"man of the forest" |
Nickname |
Vitsa |
"clan" |
Lit = vine, tendril, fr. Romanian fr. Slavic |
Vurdon |
Wagon |
Also Vordon, prob. From Ossetic, European/Welsh Romani, (6.41) |
Vurma |
Trail of signs on the road |
Lovara = patrin |
Wortacha |
"partners" |
Refers to group brought together for a specific job |
Wuzho |
Purity |
Vlach |
Xabe |
Beef stew |
|
Xaimoko |
Rabbit stew |
|
Xanamiki |
Co-parent-in-law |
Term used to describe the "family-in-law" relationship following a marriage - used by the two fathers-in-law of each other (3.197) |
Xari |
"one who eats" |
|
Xaritsa |
Fried cornbread |
|
Xin |
Urinating |
|
Xumel, xumer |
Dough, breadcrumbs |
Fr. Arabic |
Yak |
Eye |
Cf Skr aksha, Hindi ak |
Yekhipe |
Unity, oneness |
|
Yungxo |
Young ox |
|
Za |
Go |
|
Zen |
Saddle |
Fr. Persian |
Zeravo |
Left (direction) |
Fr. Greek |
Zhamutro |
Bridegroom or son-in-law |
|
Zheita |
'bringing the bride home' |
Part of the wedding ceremony |
Zor |
Strength |
Fr. Persian |
Zuhno |
Pure |
|
Zurla |
Long, wooden, double-reed conical-bone wind instrument |
May not be Romani word |