English Gypsy Language
R-Z
R
RAIA, s. Gentleman, lord. See Rye.
Rak, v. n. To beware, take care; rak tute, take care of
yourself. Sans. Raksh (to guard, preserve).
Rakli, s.f. Girl.
Raklo, s. Boy, lad.
Ran, s. Rod: ranior, rods. Sans. Ratha (cane, ratan).
Rarde, s. Night. Sans. Rātri.
Rardiskey, a. Nightly.
Rardiskey kair poggring, s. Housebreaking by night, burglary.
Rashengro, s. Clergyman.
Rashi, s. Clergyman, priest. Sans. Rishi (holy
person).
Rashieskey rokkring tan, s. Pulpit.
Ratcheta, s. A goose, duck. See Retsa.
Ratti, s. Blood. Sans. Rudhira.
Ratniken chiriclo, s. Nightingale.
Rawnie, s. Lady.
Rawniskie dicking gueri, s. Lady-like looking woman.
Rawniskie tatti naflipen, s. The lady's fever, maladie de
France.
Retza, s. Duck. Wal. Rierzoiou. See
Rossar-mescro. Hun. Récze.
Reyna. A female Gypsy name.
Riddo, part. pass. Dressed. Span. Gyp. Vriardao.
Rig / Riggur / Riggurava, v. a. To bear, carry, bring.
Rig in zi. To remember, bear in mind.
Rig to zi. To bring to mind.
Rinkeno, a. Handsome.
Rivipen, s. Dress. Lit. linen clothes, women's dress.
Wal. Ruphe. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ] (a tailor). In
Spanish Gypsy clothes are called Goneles, from the Wallachian Khainele.
Rodra, v. a. To search, seek.
Roi, s. Spoon.
Rokra, v. a. To talk, speak. Rus. Rek (he said).
Lat. Loquor.
Rokrenchericlo, s. Parrot, magpie.
Rokrenguero, s. A lawyer, talker. Gaelic, Racaire
(a chatterer).
Rokrengueriskey gav. Talking fellows' town - Norwich.
Rokunyes, s. Trousers, breeches. Hun. Gyp. Roklia
(gown). Mod. Gr. [Greek: ] (cloth).
Rom, s. A husband. Sans. Rama (a husband), Rama (an
incarnation of Vishnu), Rum (to sport, fondle). Lat. Roma
(City of Rama). Gaelic, Rom (organ of manhood).
Eng. Ram (aries, male sheep). Heb. Ream (monoceros,
unicorn).
Rommado, part. pass. s. Married, husband.
Romm'd, part. pass. Married.
Romano Chal / Romany Chal, A Gypsy fellow, Gypsy lad. See
Chal.
Romani chi. Gypsy lass, female Gypsy.
Romanes / Romany, Gypsy language.
Romaneskoenaes. After the Gypsy fashion. Wal. Roumainesk (Roumainean,
Wallachian.)
Romano Rye / Romany Rye, Gypsy gentleman.
Romipen, s. Marriage.
Rook / Rukh, s. Tree. Sans. Vriksha. Hun.
Gyp. Rukh. Span. Gyp. Erucal (an olive-tree).
Rookeskey cost. Branch of a tree.
Rooko-mengro, s. Squirrel. Lit. tree-fellow.
Roshto, a. Angry. Wal. Resti (to be angry).
Rossar-mescro, s. Gypsy name of the tribe Heron, or Herne.
Lit. duck-fellow.
Roujiou, a. Clean. See Iuziou.
Rove, v. n. To weep. Sans. Rud.
Rup, s. Silver. Sans. Raupya. Hin.
Rupee.
Rupenoe, a. Silver: rupenoe péa-mengri, silver tea-pots.
Ruslipen, s. Strength.
Ruslo, a. Strong. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ] (roborabo).
Rus. Rosluy (great, huge of stature). Hun. Erö
(strength), erös (strong).
Rye, s. A lord, gentleman. Sans. Raj, Rayã.
Ryeskoe, a. Gentlemanly.
Ryeskoe dicking guero. Gentlemanly looking man.
Ryoriskey rokkaring keir, s. The House of Commons. Lit.
the gentlemen's talking house.
S
SACKI. Name of a Gypsy man.
Sainyor, s. Pins. Span. Gyp. Chingabar (a pin).
Sal, v. n. To laugh; properly, he laughs. Span. Gyp.
Asaselarse. Sans. Has.
Salla. She laughs.
Salivaris, s.f. Bridle. See Sollibari.
Sap / Sarp, s. Snake, serpent. Wal. Sharpelé.
Span. Gyp. Chaplesca.
Sappors, s. pl. Snakes.
Sap drey chaw. A snake in the grass: sap drey bor, a snake in the
hedge.
Sapnis, s. Soap. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ] Wal.
Sipoun.
Sar, postpos., prepos. With: mensar, with us; sar amande, with
me.
Sar, conjunct. As.
Sar, ad. How.
Sar shin, How are you? Sar shin, meero rye? Sar shin, meeri
rawnie? How are you, sir? How are you, madam?
Sas. If it were. See Is.
Sas, s. Nest. See Tass.
Sarla, s. Evening: koshti sarla, good evening. See
Tasarla. Wal. Seara. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ].
Saster, s. Iron.
Saster-mengri, s. A piece of iron worn above the knee by the
skewer-makers whilst engaged in whittling.
Saster-mengro, s. Ironmonger.
Sasters, sastris. Nails: chokkiskey sastris, shoe-nails.
Sau, adv. How.
Sau kisi. How much?
Saulohaul / Sovlehaul, v. a. To swear.
Saulohaul bango. To swear falsely.
Sauloholomus, s. Oath. Span. Gyp. Solája (a curse).
Arab. [Arabic: ] Salat (prayer). Lat. Solemnis.
Fr. Serment. Wal. Jourirnint (oath).
Savo, pron. Who, that, which.
Saw, v. n. I laugh. Sawschan tu, you laugh.
Scamp. Name of a small Gypsy tribe. Sans. Kshump (to
go).
Scourdilla, s.f. Platter. Lat. Scutella.
Scunyes / Scunyor, s. pl. Pins, skewers. See
Escunyes.
Se, 3rd pers. sing. pres. Is, there is: kosko guero se, he is a
good fellow; se les, there is to him, he has.
Shab, v. a. Cut away, run hard, escape. Hun. Szabni.
This word is chiefly used by the tobair coves, or vagrants.
Shan. You are, they are. See Shin.
Shauvo, v. To get with child. See Shuvvli.
Shehaury. Sixpence. See Shohaury.
Shello, s. Rope. Span. Gyp. Jele.
Shello-hokta-mengro, s. Rope-dancer.
Sher-engro, s. A head-man, leader of a Gypsy tribe.
Sher-engri, s. A halter.
Shero, s. A head. Pers. [Persian: ]
Sherro's kairipen, s. Learning, head-work.
Sheshu, s. Hare, rabbit. See Shoshoi.
Sherrafo, a. Religious, converted. Arab. Sherif.
Shilleno / Shilleró / Shillo, a. Cold: shillo chik, cold ground.
Shillipen, s. Cold.
Shin. Thou art: sar shin, how art thou?
Sho, s. Thing.
Sho, a. Six.
Shohaury, s. Sixpence.
Shok, s. Cabbage: shockor, cabbages. Span. Gyp.
Chaja.
Shom, v. 1st pers. pres. I am. Used in the pure
Roman tongue to express necessity: e.g. shom te jav, I must go.
Lat. Sum. Hun. Gyp. Hom.
Shoob, s. Gown. Rus. Shoob. See Shubbo.
Shoon, v. n. To hear. Pers. Shiniden.
Sans. Sru.
Shoonaben, s. Hearing, audience. To lel shoonaben of the
covar, to take hearing of the matter.
Shoshoi, s. A hare or rabbit, but generally used by the Gypsies
for the latter. Sans. Sasa (a hare or rabbit).
Hun. Gyp. Shoshoi.
Shubbo, s. A gown. Rus. Shoob. Wal. Djoube.
Shubley patnies, s. pl. Geese.
Shun. A female Gypsy name.
Shuvvali, a. Enceinte, with child.
Si, 3rd pers. sing. pres. It is, she is: tatchipen si, it is
truth; coin si rawnie, who is the lady? sossi your nav, what is your
name?
Sicovar, ad. Evermore, eternally. Hun. Gyp. Sekovar.
Si covar ajaw. So it is.
Sig, ad. Quick, soon: cana sig, now soon. Span. Gyp.
Singó. Hun. Sietö.
Sig, s. Haste.
Sikkér, v. a. To show: sikker-mengri, a show.
Simen, s. a. Equal, alike. Sans. Samãna.
Simen. We are, it is we. Wal. Semeina (to resemble).
Simmeno, s. Broth. See Zimmen.
Simmer, v. a. Pledge, pawn.
Simmery-mengré, s. pl. Pawnbrokers.
Sis. Thou art: misto sis riddo, thou art well dressed.
Siva, v. a. To sew. Sans. Siv.
Siva-mengri, s. A needle, sewing-thing.
Siva-mengri, s. Sempstress.
Siva-mengro, s. Tailor.
Skammen, s. Chair. Wal. Skaun. Mod. Gr.
[Greek: ]
Skammen-engro, s. Chair-maker.
Skraunior, s. pl. Boots.
Slom / Slum, v. a. Follow, trace, track. Rus.
Sliedovat.
Smentini, s. Cream. Wal. Zmentenie. Rus.
Smetána.
So, pron. rel. Which, what: so se tute's kairing, what are you
doing?
Sollibari, s. Bridle. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ]
Sonakey / Sonneco, s. Gold. Sans. Svarna.
Sore / Soro, a. All, every. Sans. Sarva.
Sorlo, a. Early. Arab. [Arabic:]Sohr, Sahr
(morning, day-break). Wal. Zorile.
Soro-ruslo, a. Almighty. Dad soro-ruslo, Father
Almighty.
Se se? Who is it?
So si? What is it? So si ora, what's o'clock?
Soskey, ad. Wherefore, for what.
Sovaharri, s. Carpet, blanket.
Sove, v. n. To sleep. Hun. Gyp. Sovella (he
sleeps). Span. Gyp. Sobelar (to sleep). Danish,
Sove (to sleep).
Sove tuley. To lie down.
Sovie, s. Needle. See Su.
Soving aley. Lying down to sleep.
Spikor, s. pl. Skewers. Wal. Spik.
Spinyor, s. pl. Carrots.
Spinyor, s. pl. Pins. Span. Gyp. Chingabar (a pin).
Stadj, s. Hat.
Stanya / Stanye, s. A stable. Hun. Sanya. Wal.
Staula, steiníe(sheepfold).
Stanya-mengro, s. Groom, stable-fellow.
Stardo, part. pass. Imprisoned.
Staripen, s. Prison.
Staro-mengro, s. Prisoner.
Stannyi / Staunyo, s. A deer.
Stiggur, s. Gate, turnpike. Old cant, Giger (a
door).
Stiggur-engro, s. Turnpike-keeper.
Stor, a. Four.
Storey, s. Prisoner.
Stuggur, s. A stack.
Su, s. Needle. Hun. Tü.
Subie / Subye, s. Needle: subye ta naval, needle and thread.
Sueti, s. People. Lithuanian, Swetas.
Sungella, v. It stinks.
Sutta / Suttur / Suta, s. Sleep. Sans. Subta
(asleep). Hin. Sutta (sleeping). Lat. Sopitus.
Suttur-gillie, s. Sleep-song, lullaby.
Swegler / Swingle, s. Pipe.
Syeira. A female Gypsy name.
T
Tã, conj. And.
Talleno, a. Woollen: talleno chofa, woollen or flannel
petticoat.
Tan, s. Place, tent. Hun. Tanya.
Tard / Tardra, v. a. To raise, build, pull, draw: the kair is
tardrad opré, the house is built; tard the chaw opré, pull up the grass.
Hin. Tornã (to pluck). Wal. Tratze. Gaelic,
Tarruinn.
Tardra-mengre. Hop-pickers.
Tas, s. Cup, nest of a bird. See Dui tas, doo das.
Tasarla / Tasorlo, s. To-morrow. Lit. to-early.
See Sorlo.
Tasarla, s. The evening. This word must not be confounded
with the one which precedes it; the present is derived from the
Wallachian Seari (evening), whilst the other is from the Arabic Sohr,
Sahar (morning).
Tassa-mengri, s. A frying-pan. See Tattra-mengri.
Tatchipen, s. Truth. Sans. Satyata.
Tatcho, a. True. Sans. Sat.
Tatti-pãni / Tatti-pauni, s. Brandy. Lit. hot water.
Tatti-pen, s. Heat.
Tatto, a. Hot, warm. Sans. Tapta. Tap (to be
hot). Gaelic, Teth.
Tatto yeck, s. A hot un, or hot one; a stinging blow given in
some very sensitive part.
Tattra-mengri, s. A frying-pan.
Tawno m. / Tawnie f., a. Little, small, tiny.
Sans. Tarana (young). Wal. Tienir (young).
Lat. Tener. Span. Gyp. Chinoro.
Tawnie yecks, s. pl. Little ones, grandchildren.
Te, prep. To: te lesti, to her; this word is not properly Gypsy.
Te, conjunct. That: te jinnen, that they may know, an optative
word; O beng te poggar his men, may the devil break his neck. Wal.
Ci.
Tel, v. a. imp. Hold: tel te jib, hold your tongue.
Tem, s. Country.
Temeskoe, a. Belonging to a country.
Temno, a. Dark. Rus. Temnoy. Sans.
Tama (darkness).
Ten, s. See Tan.
Tikno, s. A child. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ]
Tikno, a. Small, little. Span. Gyp. Chinoro.
Lat. Tener.
Tippoty, a. Malicious, spiteful: tippoty drey mande, bearing
malice against me.
Tiro, pron. Thine.
Tobbar, s. The Road; a Rapparee word. Boro-tobbarkillipen
(the Game of High Toby - highway robbery). Irish, Tobar (a
source, fountain).
Tornapo. Name of a Gypsy man.
Tororo, s. A poor fellow, a beggar, a tramp. Sans.
Daridrã.
Tove, v. a. To wash: tovipen, washing. Sans. Dhav.
Toving divvus, s. Washing day, Monday.
Traish, v. a. To frighten, terrify: it traishes mande, it
frightens me.
Trihool, s. Cross: Mi doveleskoe trihool, holy cross.
Span. Gyp. Trijul. Hin. Trisool.
Trin, a. Three.
Tringrosh / Tringurushee, Shilling. Lit. three groats.
Tringurushengre, s. pl. Things costing a shilling.
Tringush, s. Shilling.
Trito, a. Third. Sans. Tritïya.
Trufféni. Female Gypsy name: Trufféni Kaumlo, Jack Wardomescrés
dieyas nav - Truffeni Lovel, the name of John Cooper's mother.
Mod. Gr. [Greek: ]
Truppior, s. pl. Stays.
Trupo, s. Body. Wal. Troup. Rus. Trup
Trushni, s. Faggot.
Trusno, a. Thirsty, dry. Sans. Trishnaj.
Tu, pron. Thou: shoon tu, dieya! do thou hear, mother!
Tud, s. Milk. Sans. Duh (to milk).
Tudlo gueri. Milkmaid.
Tug, a. Sad, afflicted.
Tugnipen, s. Affliction.
Tugnis amande. Woe is me; I am sad.
Tugno, a. Sad, mournful.
Tulé / Tuley, prep. Below, under: tuley the bor, under the
hedge. Slavonian, dóly.
Tulipen, s. Fat, grease.
Tulo, a. Fat.
Tute, pron. Accusative of Tu; generally used instead of the
nominative.
Tuv, s. Smoke, tobacco.
Tuvalo / Tuvvalo, a. Smoky. Span. Gyp. Chibaló (a
cigar).
V
VANGUS, s. Finger. Sans. Angula.
Vangustri, s. Ring. Sans. Angulika, anguri.
See Wangustri.
Vaneshu, s. Nothing. From the Wallachian Ba nitchi, not at
all.
Var, s. Flour: var-engro, a miller. See Waro.
Vardo, s. Cart. See Wardo.
Vassavo / Vassavy,a. Bad, evil.
Vast, s. Hand.
Vava. An affix, by which the future of a verb is formed, as
Heta-vava. It seems to be the Wallachian Wa-fi, he shall or will
be.
Vellin, s. A bottle.
Vauros, s. A city. Hun. Város. Sans.
Puri. Hin. Poor. Wal. Orash.
Vénor / Vennor, Bowels, entrails. See Wendror,
W
WAFO, a. Another. Sans. Apara.
Wafo divvus, s. Yesterday. Lit. the other day.
Wafo tem. Another country, foreign land.
Wafo temeskoe mush, s. A foreigner, another countryman.
Wafo tem-engre. Foreigners.
Wafodu / Wafudo, a. Bad, evil.
Wafodúder. Worse: wafodúder than dovor, worse than they.
Wafodu-pen, s. Wickedness.
Wafodu guero, s. The Evil One, Satan.
Wafodu tan, s. Hell, bad place.
Wangar, s. Coals, charcoal. Sans. Angara.
See Wongar.
Wangustri, s. Ring.
Warda, v. To guard, take care: warda tu coccorus, take care of
yourself.
Wardo, s. Cart. Sans. Pattra.
Wardo-mescro, s. Carter, cartwright, cooper, name of a Gypsy
tribe.
Waro, s. Flour.
Waro-mescro, s. Miller.
Wast, s. Hand. See Vast. Wastrors, hands. Gaelic,
Bas (the palm of the hand).
Weggaulus / Welgorus / Welgaulus, s. A fair. Wal.
Bieltchiou.
Wel, v. a. He comes; from Ava. Sometimes used
imperatively; e.g. Wel adrey, come in.
Welling páli. Coming back, returning from transportation.
Wen, s. Winter.
Wendror, s. pl. Bowels, inside. Wal. Pentetche.
Lat. Venter.
Wentzelow. Name of a Gypsy man.
Werriga, s. Chain. Rus. Veriga. Wal.
Verigie (bolt).
Wesh, s. Forest, wood. Pers. [Persian: ]
Wesh-engro, s. Woodman, gamekeeper.
Weshen-juggal, s. Fox. Lit. dog of the wood.
Woddrus / Wuddrus,s. Bed. Hun. Gyp. Patos. Wal.
Pat. The Spanish Gypsies retain the pure Indian word Charipé.
Wongar, s. Coal. Also a term for money; probably because
Coal in the cant language signifies money. See Wangar.
Wongar-camming mush, s. A miser. Lit. one who loves coal.
Wuddur, s. Door. Span. Gyp. Burda. Wal.
Poartie.
Wuddur-mescro, s. Doorkeeper.
Wust, v. a. To cast, throw.
Wusto-mengro, s. Wrestler, hurler.
Y
YACK, s. Eye. Sans. Akshi. Germ. Auge.
Rus. Oko. Lithuanian, Akis. Lat.
Oculus.
Yackor. Eyes.
Yag, s. Fire. Sans. Agni. Rus. Ogon.
Lithuanian, Ugnis. Lat. Ignis. Irish,
An (water, fire).
Yag-engri, s. Gun, fire-thing.
Yag- engro / Yago-mengro, s. Gamekeeper, sportsman, fireman.
Yag-kairepénes, s. Fireworks.
Yag-vardo, s. Fire-car, railroad carriage.
Yarb, s. Herb.
Yarb-tan, s. Garden.
Yeck, a. One. Sans. Eka. Hin. Yak.
Yeckoro, a. Only: yeckoro chavo, only son.
Yeckorus, ad. Once.
Yo, pron. He.
Yoi, pron. She. Sometimes used for La or Las, her; e.g.
Mande putch'd yoi, I asked she, her.
Yokki, a. Clever, expert: a yokki juva, a yokki woman - a female
expert at filching, ringing the changes, telling fortunes, and other
Gypsy arts. Sans. Yoga (artifice, plan), Yuj (to combine,
put together, plan).
Yora, s. Hour. See Ora.
Yoro, s. An egg. Wal. Ou.
Z
ZI, s. The heart, mind. Hun. Sziv. Sans.
Dhi.
Zimmen, s. Broth. Wal. Zmenteni (cream).
Zoomi, s. f. Broth, soup. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ]
Wal. Zamie (juice).
Zingaro. A Gypsy, a person of mixed blood, one who springs from
various races, a made-up person. Sans. Sangkara, compositus
(made-up).