Romany

British  

/ ˈrəʊ-, ˈrɒmənɪ /

noun

1. 1. another name for a Gypsy

   2. ( as modifier )

      Romany customs

2. the language of the Gypsies, belonging to the Indic branch of the Indo-European family, but incorporating extensive borrowings from local European languages. Most of its 250 000 speakers are bilingual. It is extinct in Britain

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Etymology

Origin of Romany

C19: from Romany romani (adj) Gypsy, ultimately from Sanskrit domba man of a low caste of musicians, of Dravidian origin

Example Sentences

That's the question Chantelle remembers asking herself after starting a new job and wondering whether or not to share her Romany heritage.

From BBC • Apr. 19, 2025

Polly said, “Why don’t you try someone else? Maybe try Romany singing it.”

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 5, 2024

Romany Webb, a senior fellow at the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, says that law is critical to making sure that communities aren’t adversely affected by energy and pipelines.

From Washington Post • Sep. 2, 2022

Romany Webb of the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia University called the ruling “a blow, but it is nowhere near the worst-case scenario.”

From New York Times • Jul. 1, 2022

“Nobody denies that the Romany people need a permanent place of abode.”

From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell