The Romani

[Argeus the Paladin]

No, not the Romani famous for the Hastati-Principes-Triarii/Cohors Reformata/Imperatoria.

This Romani, aka. Gypsies.

I believe we can have at least a semi-interestying talk here about the gypsy people, how they came to Europe and, not the least, how could their name have so coincided with that of the people of the Senatus Populusque Romanus.

[Carpathian Wolf]

They changed their name for politics. At least in my country, no one of them ever called themselves "Romani" or "Romi." It was only after they went to Italy that they started calling themselves that and it's become a fad of sorts. Even a famous gypsy singer in Romania said on TV "I don't ever call myself that. I'm a gypsy (tsigan) and i've never heard this word in my life."

[Romano-Dacis]

First recorded use of the name, I think, dates from the 1970's.

[Carpathian Wolf]

Yea even in their folk songs they call themselves "tigani" (gypsy) with no issue. But some of them claim it's a racist term just to have something to complain about. I remember in Maryland i'd see a lot of Indians and Pakistanese in beautiful eastern colored clothing and i'd just get de ja vu. Very similar facial structure and clothing.

[Babur]

Yea even in their folk songs they call themselves "tigani" (gypsy) with no issue. But some of them claim it's a racist term just to have something to complain about. I remember in Maryland i'd see a lot of Indians and Pakistanese in beautiful eastern colored clothing and i'd just get de ja vu. Very similar facial structure and clothing.

To me, they look quite Europeanised in culture though .And I don't know what you mean by "eastern clothing",since their clothing looks quite different too.

[Seleucos of Olympia]

Here in Greece they are usually called "tsinganoi", or more 'officially' "athinganoi", though they are also colloquially called "gyphtoi". The latter stems from the name "Egyptians" since in the old times it was erroneously thought that they came from Egypt, but the word is considered offensive nowadays, so is no longer used publicly. Since Greeks have traditionally called themselves Romans, there hasn't been much excitement over calling them "Roma", but I see it sometimes.

A few years ago I spoke with a French anthropologist who had spent years living with Gypsies, and his opinion on their origin was that they were the refugees from a conquered Indian kingdom sometime in the middle ages (I don't remember the details), who fled to the west, creating a nomadic culture that entered Europe via the Byzantine Empire.

[bushbush]

modern PC.

[Hrobatos]

yup, in ex-Yugoslavia they are called "cigani" should be read as tsigani

seem everybody on balkan uses that name for them

[HunGeneral]

seem everybody on balkan uses that name for them

Or in afl of East-Europe - In Hungary they are most tipically named "Cigány" which is prnounced much like Tsigan. The term "Roma" as such is relatively new. Although it seems they don't find cigány insulting if used to desrcibe there music/bands or tradtitonly dances.

[konny]

In Hungary they are most tipically named "Cigány" which is prnounced much like Tsigan.

In German they are called Zigeuner, what seems to be the same word.

[Mithradates]

"Roma" is the plural of "rom" ("man" in gypsy)

Its in use in the media because the other words (gypsy, tsigan) are not politically correct.

[Petar]

Just quoting myself from another thread:

I've always found it silly how people here in Bulgaria have never been racist, yet after being irradiated with so many US movies for the past 20 years, now they consider Негър (Negur) to be extremely unappropriate.

Or another story about the Gypsies here - they were always called "Tzigani" (Gypsies), but in the past 10 years some silly organizations demanded that they're called "Roma" because "Tzigani" was offending (???). Now they're expecting us to call them "Roma" while they call among each other "Tzigani" and never use the word "Roma" themselves..
Sounds familiar, eh? It's the minorities' identity crisis, I guess. Same thing in Bulgaria, the US or South Africa.. different people, same ...

Regarding their origin, I know they've come dragged by the ottomans to Europe. No idea if there's a single 100% proven theory of how they migrated (although we all know they're Indian).

[0N3]

So they are not Romani or Gypsies...what is the definite correct name?

[Odovacar]

I think "gipsy" comes from egyiptian, as they claimed to be egyiptian christians. Their most frequent name is "tsigani" hung. "cigány"
This name became a mock word so it's not pc to use it now. "Roma" as they call themselves from "rom" as Mithradates mentioned.

As I remember "roma" is not used by all of their groups. They major gropus of gipsies differing in language and customs.

They came from India during the 14-15th century. They were presumably patt of ottoman armies, sort of auxiliaries but not really fighting ones, I think.

[dogukan]

we call them Çingene in Turkish...and we have a lot of them. In fact government tried to massacare them at some point in early republic days in Thrace.

[DAVIDE]

In Italy they're just Rom or Zingari (gypsies)

[Hrobatos]

it seems everybody calls them with some version of "tsigani" name
was there any tsigani nation in India recorded?

[Mithradates]

it seems everybody calls them with some version of "tsigani" name
was there any tsigani nation in India recorded?

Both the "gypsy" and "tsigan" words have greek origin (Aigyptioi and Atsinganoi), most of the other European countries borrowed this given names, there were no "Tsigani nation" in India.

[Babur]

it seems everybody calls them with some version of "tsigani" name
was there any tsigani nation in India recorded?

I am from India originally and I have never heard of it

[torongill]

Well in spanish they're gitanos, in french "Gitanne", if I'm not mistaken.