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Glite Dictionary
Gypsy language

Gypsy language

9.9
The language the Romani people speak, now better called Romani
  • noun
  • Slur
translation icon : lengua gitana (ofensivo)
  • It's important to refer to the Gypsy language as 'Romani' to avoid outdated terminology.

Examples

  • The book provides an overview of the Gypsy language and its rich oral tradition.

  • She has spent years studying the Gypsy language and its dialects across Europe.

  • The Gypsy language has many dialects.

  • Many people are learning the Gypsy languages of Europe.

  • It's important to refer to the Gypsy language as 'Romani' to avoid outdated terminology.

  • She has spent years studying the Gypsy language and its dialects across Europe.

  • The book provides an overview of the Gypsy language and its rich oral tradition.

Synonyms

Romany
vsGypsy language
8.9

A language that Romani people speak across Europe and beyond

is an older alternative name now regarded as dated and offensive
Romany language
vsGypsy language
9.9

A language from India spoken by Roma people in many countries

is the dated potentially offensive alternative rather than the modern neutral name

Surface Forms

Gypsy language singular
Gypsy languages plural

Morphology

Gypsy + language

The phrase is a straightforward compositional combination: 'Gypsy' (the people) + 'language' (a speech system) yields 'the language spoken by Gypsies/Romani', so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can infer the meaning. Although the headword is now considered dated and potentially offensive, that sociolinguistic issue does not affect its morphological transparency.

Etymology

Gypsy language may come from a long mistake: people once thought the Romani came from Egypt, so they called them 'Gypsies' and their speech the Gypsy language. Today it means the Romani language, but the term is dated and can be 'offensive', so use 'Romani' instead.