Romanes / English Dictionary

Abbey of the Holy Trinity Haggerston

The key to God's eternal home is through Jesus Christ as the eternal cornerstone of QUSHTA, the truth alone, under God's blue dome.
In the Name of the Father, the Son and of the Holy Spirit, in the Name of the Holy Trinity may you live and speak the truth and dwell in its heavenly peace also on earth, wherever you are, at your kitchen hearth.

Kangeri o Develeskero Ceadda/Abbey of St Chad
The key to God's eternal home is through Jesus Christ as the eternal cornerstone of QUSHTA, the truth alone, under God's blue dome.
In the Name of the Father, the Son and of the Holy Spirit, in the Name of the Holy Trinity may you live and speak the truth and dwell in its heavenly peace also on earth, wherever you are, at your kitchen hearth.

Romany / English Dictonary

compiled by: Angela Ba'Tal Libal and Will Strain, last updated on 1-11-97

a ' in a word is an accent, and one next to a space is a glottal stop. a . next to a letter is

the little dot that goes under some "r"s and "s"s. I am doing by letter, rom and english (rom words beginning with "a", the english words beginning with "a", etc.) bc it is sometimes easier to learn from one language to the other and sometimes other way around. (Rom words are in italics)

A

aleluyas--Pentecostals (spanish)

amaro'-our (kalderash and greek rom), also ama-ro-("-" as drawn out

vowel)(welsh rom), from hama-ra-(hindi), asma-'ka(sanskrit)

albergo--inn

awenydd;awenyddion--"inspired one" seer/shaman(welsh)

are/is--se

agreement/resignation (expression)--vai' datha ("many paths")

B

bar, bur (cal'e)--mountain

barban--wind

baro'--big(kalderash and greek rom), also ba-ro-(welsh rom), from

bar.a-(hindi), vad.ra(sanskrit)

bidonville--shantytown

bal, bala--hair, from ba-l(hindi), bhagini-(sanskrit)

--ben--suffix to form abstract nouns

bar--brother(domari)

baxt--fate, karma, one's nature, fortune, ie, way things are, meant to be,

possibly from bakht--fortune iranian)

baksheesh--good fortune, exclamation(iranian)

bestipen--wealth, riches

berk--breast(arabic)

bo-v--oven(armenian)

beng--devil(european rom), frog(syrian rom and indic)

boba--bean(slavic)

bu-ino---proud(slavic)

bauri---snails(welsh rom, rumanian)

bravi'os--nomadic,"wild"

bul--buttocks

bitcheno pawdel--to be deported, "sent across," also bitchady pawdel

bitcherin' mush--magistrate, "transporter" (anglorom)

boreens--side-roads (gammon)

b' o-r--non-Rom womon

bog--get, be paid

b' e-g--take

bob--money

brother--pral(greek rom and kalderash), also prala (euro-rom), plal(greek rom), phal(welsh rom), phral/pal (anglo rom), from bha-i-(hindi), bhra-tr.(sanskrit)

breast--c'uc'i(indic)

boy--chavvie(anglo rom)

beast of burden--grast(armenian)

birth (circumstances of)--jati(indic)

belt--kis'ti(welsh rom, persian)

blind--koro(welsh rom, persian)

button--koc'o(armenian)

blood-bound (by blood vow, avenging someone, has swearing-to-deity connotations)--kal' enedral

book/tale/story--lil

beer--lovi'na(slavic)

by the gods--li' ha' eer, exclamation

by the highest gods--li' sa' eer

berry--mu-ra(welsh rom, rumanian)

bad--nes, also g' ami(gammon)

blood sister(by oath, chosen family)--she' enedra

brotherhood, solidarity--shena

body--tru-pos(slavic)

beloved--ves' tacha

breadcrumbs--xume'l(arabic)

bride--shebari, boria (albanian rom, also means step-daughter)

boss--glox(non-rom, ie, The Man)(gammon)

beg--g' e-g(gammon)

C

cam--sun

cha'risma--religious state-of-grace

cante jondo--"deep song", traditional, one of bases of flamenco movement

c'or--to steal(greek rom)

c'oribe'--theft

choro--thief

corthu--one being, joined

city--Forjus (hungarian rom), foros (cal`e)

ciocoi--overseer(vlach rom)

clachans--settled family groups(gammon)

clank--to hide(gammon)

cokalos--bone (hungarian rom)

crush--get out

comfort(as in, "i'm sorry" during a tragedy)--du' dera

caravan group--kumpa'nia(basic unit, can incl. more than 1 tribe, clan,

extended, and chosen family)

cat--mac'ka(slavic)

cheer up--manc'(welsh rom, rumanian)

cunt--ming(anglo rom), entered british slang as minge

cream--smente'na(slavic)

clan--shena, also vitsa/vitsi, varnas(indic)

child/ren--sedre/sedrin

coming--toreen, 'tori(gammon)

car--lork

chovihani--witch

D

dant--tooth

diva'no--discussion (to settle disputes)

--der--suffix "--er"

drom--road(anglo rom)

dat--father(greek rom), also dad(greek rom and kalderash), from ta-t(hindi),

ta-ta(sanskrit)

dik--to see(greek rom), dr.ks.ati(sees)(sanskrit), also dikh(welsh rom and

kalderash), de-kh(hindi)

dari-av--sea(welsh rom, persian)

dudu'm--melon, gourd(armenian)

dz'olana--mule(armenian)

dosta--enough(slavic)

Dya, dai, daj (albanian rom)--mother

dester' edre--bird (general)

dhon--very much

dest--wind

dead person, associated with uncleanness, vampirism--mulo

death feasts--poma'na

dishonored/unclean status--prastlo(sinti)

drink(to)--pi-(greek and welsh rom), pitarer-(hungarian rom) pe-(kalderash), pi'bati(drinks)

dough--xume'r(arabic)

darling--pisliskurja(bohemian rom)

death--moarte

drabengro--medicine man (healer)

drink(a)--lus', lus(gammon)

E

e---the(welsh rom)

--em--first person singular for preterite (kalderash)

--e'sko--possessive case ending(kalderash)

edre--sibling

edra--sister

--er, suffix--mai, affix (rumanian)

explain--get' ke

enemy--jostumal,"wishes you harm"

ever--vare, prefix(welsh rom, rumanian)

F

familia--extended family

foros--town(greek)

file/filidh--"vision poet," seer/shaman(irish gaelic)

for' shava--very, very good

feen--man(gammon)

forever--sutho

casual friend, acquaintance--kestra

find(go)--kulath

friend of...(insulting)--ran, suffix

spirit/heart-friend--te' sorthene

forest--ves'

forgetful(to be of)--var' athanda

foreign--themenge

field--sa-rk(gammon)

G

grai--horse(anglo rom, possibly from armenian "grast"), also gras(kalderash)

gha-m--heat(hindi), from gharma'(sanskrit)

gestena--thank you

garda--police(gammon)

gropa--shop(gammon)

g' ami--bad(gammon)

glox--man, non-Traveller(gammon)

glo-kots--police(gammon)

g' e-g--beg(gammon)

gored, grushi--money(gammon)

gullible person--so' trekoth, "gape-mouthed hatchling"

go gently--kathal

go onward--kele

gold--sonkai

great trick--o xonxano' baro'(cale'), hokano baro (hungarian rom)

gun--pus'ka(slavic)

girl(pre-puberty)--shey(austrian rom), also tehara(basque)

godmother--kirvi(austrian rom)

greeting--sastipe

girl/young womon(of marriageable age)--shebari

H

hi/hin/hum--is/was/will be

ha--has(cal`e)

ha-th--hand(hindi), from h`asta(sanskrit)

hai--yes

hai shala--do you understand?

hai'she'li--yes, i swear!

her'y--truth?

huts--kleti(bulgarian)

hide/skin--mortsi-(armenian)

horseshoe--petalo(greek)

head--`ser`o(greek rom and kalderash), also ser`o(greek rom), `se-ro-(welsh

rom), from sir(hindi), `s`iras(sanskrit)

homosexual--she'chorne

horseshit--sheka

household/tent--ts`erha(in lovara may also mean clan)

hot--tatt`o(greek rom), also tato-(welsh rom), tat`o(kalderash), from tatta-

(hindi), tapta(sanskrit)

hawk--tale

honor for road travel--yuthi'so'coro

house--k'ena(gammon), ker (hungarian rom)

I

i---the(welsh rom)

isda--see!, exclamation

inox--item(gammon)

inn--kir`c`ima(slavic)

is/are--si/is`i

it is--nos

I--me-, from maivi(hindi), m`aya-(sanskrit)

intermediary with gaje/leader--Rom bar`o, "big man"

J

jude--judge, tax-collector(vlach rom)

jel'enedra--little sister

jel'sutho'edrin--companion animals

jekhipe--Oneness

judgment--kr`isis(greek)

K

kris romani--trial to settle disputes

kris--formal tribunal/trial(greek)

kerdem--i made(kalderash), also ked`om(welsh rom)

kam--sun(greek rom), also kham(welsh rom and kalderash)

kon--who

ki`s--silk(welsh rom, persian)

kis`i--purse(arabic)

koto-r--piece(armenian)

kom`i--more(greek)

kralis--king(greek,slavic)

kascht--wood

kadessa--mouse

krethes--speculation

kori--penis, coulter

L

le--the(kalderash)

lalleri--non-Rom speaking(also tribal grouping from bohemia)

lalo--red

lon--salt

lav--word, possibly from lafz(arabic)

liri--law(cal`e)

leshya'e--helpful spirit, not mulo

liha'irden--deer-footed

living-waggon--vardo

left(side)--zeravo-

long-distance travellers--storvandre

M

mageripen--purity code(polish rom)

marim`e--unclean status(south east european rom, greek)

moxado--stained, unclean status(anglo and welsh rom)

magerd`o--stained, unclean status(polish rom)

mrak`s--smear, unclean status(sanskrit)

macho, maczo--fish

man`u`s--rom man, from ma-nus.ya(hindi), m`a-nus.a(sanskrit)

mai--affix --er(rumanian, vlach rom)

--mos--suffix for abstact nouns(greek)

--men--suffix to form passive participles(greek)

--m`e--suffix to form passive participles(greek)

mi`zak--wicked(slavic)

mui--mouth

manishie--womon, wife(Scot and anglo rom)

misli--travel(gammon)

milk--tud, chuti

man--(of rom)rom, dom, lom(also person in general, i think, "man" may be

english translation artifact), feen(gammon)

migratory farm workers--spalpeens(gammon)

N

natsia--nation, tribe(rumanian, kalderash)

nak--nose(greek rom), also nakh(welsh rom and kalderash)from na-k(hindi),

nakka(sanskrit)

nav--name, from na-m(hindi), n`a-man(sanskrit)

nicobado--taken away(cal`e)

non-Rom--gage, gorgio, pale`cido, etc. (you know these already, I gather.)

nonsense--shesti

O

-os--masculine ending(greek)

o--the(cal`e)

overseer--vatave

old--puro

P

pale`cido--unclean status, dishonored, set apart(sinti)

pan`i--water (greek rom), also pa-ni-(welsh rom), pai(kalderash), from pa-ni-

(hindi), and pan`i-y`a(sanskrit)

pen, penne--sister(greek rom), also phen(welsh rom), phei(kalderash)

pir--foot

po`s`um--wool(welsh rom, persian)

parami`sus--tale(greek)

pretera--wildcat

poteen--whiskey(esp. bootleg)(gammon)

R

r`asa--race, tribe(lovara, rumanian)

romipen--gypsyness, the state of being gypsy (can be lost through pollution)

road--tober(gammon)

running--vetha

raven--curaco

S

slavi--saints' day festivals(catholic and orthodox christian)

sov--to sleep, sv`apati(sleeps)(sanskrit), also from so-na-(hindi)

`ser`o--head(greek rom, kalderash), also ser`o(greek rom), `se-ro-(welsh rom),

from sir(hindi), `s`iras(sanskrit)

skorni--top-boots(slavic)

stanya--stable(noun)(slavic)

sadullos--safe

staven--water

shala--understand

she--swear

shaia--sister(basque)

smavandre--short-distance travellers

shadogs--cops/pigs/etc., also shades, `si-drugs(gammon)

sing--gilyabar (cal`e)

suni--saw(gammon)

salk--take(gammon)

seer,shaman--taibhsear, "vision--seer"(scots gaelic)

star--aster(celtic)

T

tern`o--young(vlach rom)

tarned`er--younger(welsh rom)

tu--you(singular)(greek rom and kalderash), also tu-(welsh rom), from

tu-(hindi), tuv`am(sanskrit)

ta`co--true(welsh rom)

ta`ciben--truth(welsh rom)

te'sorthene--friend bonded by heart,spirit

tehara--young girl(basque)

tigins--small/one-room houses, especially refers to government

settlements(irish)

tips--dumps(gammon)

truth--her'y

two--yai

U

--uri,--uria--plural noun suffix(vlach rom, rumanian)

V

vord`on--waggon(ossetic--north of armenia)

vardo--living wagon

varek`ai--wherever(welsh rom, rumanian)

vyusher--wolf

Misc...

"kon mangel te kerel tumendar r.oburen `ci `soxa phenela tumen o `ca`cimos

pa tumare perintonde"--"he who wants to enslave you will never tell you the

truth about your forefathers"


Natsias

Vlach Rom: Kalderash and Gelderari "coppersmiths," Lowari, Lovara, `Curara,

Lalleri(austro-hungary, bohemia, moravia, slovakia--do not speak romani),

Ursari "bear-leaders," L~aie`si "horde," Ludar, Rudari "miners," Aurari

"gold-washers," Netotsi "sinister"(escapees from slavery into Carpathians),

V~atra`si "domestics," Lingurari "spoon-makers," Ma`cvaya; occupational

names given by what were forced to perform under wallachian/rumanian slavery

until 1857 in general, for some even longer

Xoraxan`e Rom`a: turkey, third wave, mostly muslim, language Arliya

Ba`sald`e:"musicians", Hungarian-Slovak, settled in US

Romnichels and Romanichals: brit rom settling in US in 1850s

Sinti: germany

Piemontesi and Lombardi: sinti in northern italy

Lom, Bo`sa, Lomari: armenia, turkey, persia, souther caucasus, language Lomavren

Manouches: france

Cal`e: spain and south america, language cal`o

Ciganos: portugal and south america, language Cal`o

Gitans: southern france and south america, language Cal`o

Dom, Domari: Syria and Persia

D.o-mba, Dom, Dum: India

`Curara, Rudari, Kaldera`sa: Danubian

Bijeli: Serbian muslim Rom

"Tinkers": gaje name for Irish and Scottish Travellers, originally

indigenous, now mixed with Rom

Jenische: Rhineland, language mixture of Rom, Yiddish, Rotwelsch, German

Y`eniches: France and Belgium from germany

Reizigers: "woonwagenbewooners", Netherlands, originally indigenous, now

mixed with Rom

Omstreifere: "tattare", descendants of Rom, germans, and native norwegians,

language Rodi=1/3Rom, 1/10german

Resande: Sweden, descendants of Rom and swedes

Quinquis, Quinquilleros: Spain and portugal, descended from Castillian

peasants and isolated branch of Rom

Nawar, Nuri: palestine and syria

Kurbat: northern syria

Kara`ci: asia minor, transcaucasia, persia

Romungre: old-established hungarian Rom

Banjara: India, language Banjari, Lamani

Luri, Luli, Zott: syria, palestine, egypt

Helebi: egypt, middle east

Lowbey: Senegambia, descendants of deportees from basque area, spain,

portugal, and france

Atchefalaya: mixed Afro-Rom community of Louisianna, descendants of

deportees from spain c. 1750

Redlegs: so-called "poor white" community of Barbados, non-interactive and

physically distinct from local black, native american, and white

populations, possibly of Romany slave origin

Here are a few phrases I collected, these are primarily in Anglo-Rom.

Chces li tajnou vec aneb pravdu vyzvédéti

Blazen, dité opily clovéc o tom umeji povodeti.

"Wouldst thou know a truth or mystery,

A drunkard, fool, or child may tell it thee."

Ne rakesa tu Romanes?--Can you not speak Romany?

Can tute rakker Romanes, miri dye? -- Can you speak Romany, my mother?

Mishto hom me dikava tute.--I am glad to see you.

Adro miro tem penena mande o baro rai.--In my country the gypsies call me the great gentleman.

Dovo's a huckaben.--That's untrue.

Pral, mor rakker sä drován --Don't talk so loud, brother.

Mong your shünaben, rye.--Beg your pardon, sir.

Kushti ratti!--Good night!

Miri kushti pen, Miro prala.--my dear sister, my brother

Pen the rani ta wusser mandy a tri-grushi.--Tell the lady to throw me a shilling.

jek (yeck), dui, trin, schtar, panj (pansch), tschov (job), efta, otor, enija, deque, bis