Gipsies

/ˈɡɪpsiːz/ noun

Definition

Plural of gipsy; an archaic or alternative spelling of Gypsies, referring to Romani people or those of Romani descent.

Etymology

An older English spelling of 'Gypsies,' derived from 'Egyptian' (as Romani were mistakenly thought to be Egyptian in origin). The '-ies' ending pluralizes the noun.

Kelly Says

The misspelling 'gipsy' for 'Gypsy' shows how wrong etymologies persist—Europeans invented the 'Egyptian' origin story, never asking Romani people where they actually came from.

Translations

AMአማርኛ
አማርኛ
a-ma-ra-n-nya
ARالعربية
الروم
al-rum
BNবাংলা
বঙ্গালি
bong-a-li
CACatalà
gitans
jee-tanss
CSČeština
Romové
ro-mo-veh
DADansk
zigenere
tsee-geh-neh-reh
DEDeutsch
Zigeuner
tsee-geh-nuh-er
ELΕλληνικά
Ρομά
ro-ma
ESEspañol
gitans
hee-tanss
FAفارسی
گیpsy
gee-psi
FISuomi
romanit
ro-ma-nit
FRFrançais
Gitans
zhee-tahn
GUGU
ગિપ્સી
gi-psee
HAHA
Roma
ro-ma
HEעברית
רומאים
ro-ma-im
HIहिन्दी
बंजारे
ban-ja-re
HUMagyar
cigányok
chee-ga-nyok
IDBahasa Indonesia
Roma
ro-ma
IGIG
Ndi Igbo
ndi ig-bo
ITItaliano
zingari
zhin-gah-ree
JA日本語
ロマ
roma
KKKK
көпшілік
ko-p-she-lik
KMKM
ភាសាខ្មែរ
phea-sa-kha-mer
KO한국어
집시
jibsi
MRMR
रोम
ro-m
MSBahasa Melayu
Roma
ro-ma
MYမြန်မာ
ရှမ်း
ya-shan
NLNederlands
Roma
ro-ma
NONorsk
zigenere
tsee-geh-neh-reh
PAPA
ਰੋਮ
ro-m
PLPolski
Cyganie
tsy-gah-nee
PTPortuguês
ciganos
see-gah-nos
RORomână
țigani
tee-gah-nee
RUРусский
цыгане
tsyganey
SVSvenska
zigenare
tsee-geh-nah-reh
SWKiswahili
Wazungu
wa-zun-gu
TAதமிழ்
பழங்குடி
pa-la-ng-ku-di
TEతెలుగు
బిక్కర
bik-ka-ra
THไทย
โรมัน
ro-man
TLTL
Roma
ro-ma
TRTürkçe
Çingene
ching-eh-neh
UKУкраїнська
цигани
tsyga-nyy
URاردو
رومی
ro-mee
VITiếng Việt
Roma
ro-ma
YOYO
Ẹ̀bọ̀
e-bo
ZH中文
吉普赛人
jí pǔ sài rén
ZUZU
Abantu abasha
a-ban-too a-ba-sha

Ethical Language Guidance

Gender History

'Gypsy' plural form—exonym historically used by majority populations to demean Romani people. Etymology from false 'Egyptian' association; name was never claimed by Romani communities themselves.

Inclusive Usage

Avoid entirely. Use Romani or Roma. Only use 'Gypsy' historically in quoted scholarly contexts with clear framing that it is an exonym.

Inclusive Alternatives

["Romani","Roma","Romani people"]

Empowerment Note

Romani communities and scholars have reclaimed and center the term 'Romani' (masc. sg. 'Rom', fem. sg. 'Romni') as identity descriptor; this terminology reflects self-determination.

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