Romani
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Phrases
English
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Phrases
Romani Word |
English Meaning |
abiav |
wedding feast, marriage, party,
in, inside |
akti |
here |
albergo |
inn |
alazas |
flame |
ale |
but |
aleluyas | Pentecostals |
amaro | our |
ambrol |
pear |
amoni |
anvil |
amria, amriya, armaya |
curse, oath |
ando foro |
into town |
angustri |
ring |
arey |
at |
arter |
after |
arvah |
yes |
aster |
star |
ataman |
cheiftan |
atch |
stop |
atchintan | parking place, stopping place |
athinganoi |
danger |
avree |
away |
avri |
outside |
awenydd, awenyddion | "inspired one," seer, shaman |
Romani Word | English Meaning |
b'e-g |
take |
b'o-r |
non-Rom woman |
baksheesh |
good fortune |
bal, bala |
hair |
balame |
gaje |
balval, barval |
wind |
bar, bur | mountain, brother, stone |
bar valo |
rich |
barearve |
to honor, respect, obey |
barban | wind |
bari lavuta |
viola |
baro | big, large |
barri |
big |
barvalimos |
wealth |
bater |
may it be so |
bauri |
snails |
bavo |
Kris complaint |
baxt |
fate, karma, one's nature, fortune,
luck |
baxtalo |
lucky, happy |
bayo (Pl. bayura) |
Kris precedents |
beebee |
aunt |
beng |
devil or frog |
bangalo |
devilish |
berk |
breast |
Besh! |
Sit! |
beshtas |
sat |
bestipen |
wealth, riches |
bhen |
ssiter |
bi-lacho |
no good |
bibaxt |
bad luck |
bidonville | shantytown |
binak |
twin |
bino |
sin |
bitcheno pawdel |
to be deported, "sent across" |
bitcherin' much |
magistrate, "transporter" |
bo-v | oven |
bob |
money |
boba | bean |
bog |
get, be paid |
bogacha |
baked flour bread |
bokh |
hunger |
bokoli |
pancakes stuffed with small
pieces of meat |
boreens |
side-roads |
bol |
type of music |
bolta |
shop |
bori, boria |
bride, daughter-in-law,
sister-in-law |
bosh |
fiddle |
brashki |
frogs |
bravi'os |
nomadic, "wild" |
brigaki djili |
"sorrow songs" |
bu-ino | proud |
bujo |
bag, medicine bag |
bul | buttocks |
bulibasha |
traditional local leader |
bushalo |
sour |
but guli |
very sweet |
butji | possession |
Romani word | English Meaning |
c'or |
to steal |
c'oribe' |
theft |
c'uc'i |
breast |
cam |
sun |
cante jondo |
'deep song' |
cha'risma |
religious state-of-grace |
chachimos |
truth |
chakano |
star |
chao |
tea |
chava, chavvie |
boy |
chavi | girl, child |
cheeb |
tongue |
cheiz |
girl's dowry |
chere |
stars |
cheros | time |
chet | write |
chey |
girl, daughter |
chiavala |
lad |
chile mole |
hot barbeque sauce |
chin |
"cut/carve" i.e. write |
Chindilan? |
Weary? |
chindilo |
cut (past action) |
chindiyas |
the one who cut it |
chit | read |
chokesarav |
to forge (metal) |
chop | exchange |
chor | thief, to steal |
chorav |
to steal |
chordane |
intelligence service |
choribe |
theft |
choro |
thief |
chote |
vinegar |
chovexani, chovihani |
witch |
chuchi |
breast |
churara | sword |
churi |
knife |
chuti |
milk |
cikat | front |
ciocoi |
overseer |
clachans |
settled family groups |
clank |
to hide |
cokalos |
bone |
corthu | one being, joined |
crush | get out |
curaco |
raven |
Romani Word | English Meaning |
dant, dand | tooth |
darane svatura |
stories about magic, superstition,
and the supermatural |
dariav |
sea |
daro, darro |
bride price |
dat, dad |
father |
del |
spirit, avatar |
desrobireja |
emancipation from slavery |
dest |
wind |
desteredre |
bird |
detlene |
spirits of dead children |
devel |
God |
dhon |
very much |
dickin |
looking |
dickla, dickler, dicklo, diklo |
neckscarf. headscarf, handkerchief |
didikai |
gypsy fried |
dik, dick, dikh |
to see |
dila |
floor |
dili |
retarded, crazy |
dilo |
fool, imbicile |
dinilo |
crazy |
divano | discussion, meeting |
diwano |
group of elders called to discuss
a matter publicly |
djan |
to know |
djezbah |
coffee pot |
domari |
Asiatic dialect of Romani |
doodah |
sweetmeat |
dook |
magic |
dordie |
exclamation |
doshman |
enemy |
dosta |
enough |
drab |
medicine, herbs |
draba |
spell, charm |
drabarav |
I read |
drabarni |
healer, fotune teller |
drabengro |
medicine man, healer |
drarnego |
special healing herb |
drey |
in, inside |
dom |
man |
drom | road, way |
du' dera |
comfort(as in, "i'm sorry" during
a tragedy) |
dudum | melon, gourd |
dunha |
eiderdown |
dya, dai, daj, day |
mother |
dzolana, djolano | mule |
Romani Word | English Meaning |
e | the |
edra | sister |
edre | sibling |
Romani Word | English Meaning |
familia | extended family |
feen |
man |
ferari |
blacksmith |
filefilidh |
'vision poet,' seer, shaman |
foros, Forjus | town, city |
forshava | very, very good |
furtuna |
tempest |
fusui | bean soup |
fusui eski zumi | butter-bean soup |
Romani Word | English Meaning |
ga | walk |
gabori | jeweler |
gad | shirt |
gajengi baxt | bad luck, luck of a non-gypsy |
gajo, gadjo, gage | adult non-gypsy |
galbi | gold coins |
gami, g' ami |
bad |
garda |
police |
gavver | soldier, constable |
geg, g' e-g |
beg |
gelo |
gone |
gestena |
thank you |
get' ke |
explain |
gham |
heat |
ghel | girl |
gilabno |
male singer/reader |
gilbav |
I read |
gilyabar |
sing |
gin |
count |
glas |
voice |
glasso |
melodies |
glokots |
police |
glox |
man, non-Traveller also boss (non Rom, i.e. The Man) |
gooi | pudding |
gored |
money |
gorgio |
gadjo, non-Rom |
grai |
horse |
grast | horse, beast of burden |
grob |
tomb |
groi |
horse |
gropa |
shop |
grushi |
money |
gry | horse |
gunoi | feces |
gusha | Adam's apple |
Romani word | English meaning |
ha |
has |
hai |
yes |
hamishagos |
to meddle or disturb |
hath |
hand |
her'y |
truth? |
hi | is |
hin | was |
hokano baro |
great trick |
hum | will be |
Romani Word | English Meaning |
i | the |
inox | item |
iohai | medicine made from "ghost's vomit" |
is'i |
are |
isda |
see! |
Romani Word |
English Meaning |
jall, jawl, jil |
to go |
jeti |
birth (circumstances of) |
jekhipe |
Oneness, unity |
jel'enedra |
little sister |
jel'sutho'edrin |
companion animals |
jilling |
going |
johai |
ghost's vomit |
jostumal |
enemy, 'wishes you harm' |
jude |
judge, tax collector |
Romani Word |
English Meaning |
ka |
will or shall |
kadessa |
mouse |
kafa |
coffee |
kair |
to do |
kaj |
where |
kak |
uncle: form a respectfull address
to an older person |
kal' enedral |
blood-bound (by blood vow, avenging someone, has swearing-to-deity connotations) |
kam, kham |
sun |
kan |
ear |
kana |
when |
kanny |
chicken |
karbaro |
erection |
karfin |
nail |
kas zhanes |
who do you know? |
kascht |
wood |
kasko san |
whose are you? |
kathal |
go gently |
katrinsa |
apron |
kazan |
small domestic stills |
keck, kek |
no, not |
kedas |
he made |
keir, ker |
house |
kele |
go onward |
k'ena |
house |
kerdem |
I made |
kertsheema, kirchima, kir`c`ima |
inn, tavern |
kesali |
forest spirit |
kesht, koshter |
stick |
kestra |
casual friend, acquaintance |
khan, kan |
fart |
khania |
hens |
khantino |
smelly |
khul |
shit |
khushti, kushti |
good, fine |
ki's, kish |
silk |
kidemos |
collections |
kintala |
balance |
kirvi |
groom, godmother |
kis's |
purse |
kishti, kis'ti |
belt |
kleti |
huts |
klidi |
key |
kocho, koc'o |
button |
kokalo |
bone |
kom'i |
more |
kon |
who |
kori, kar |
penis, coulter |
koro |
blind |
koshtenengo |
wooden |
koto-r |
piece |
kr`isis |
judgement |
kralis |
king |
krethes |
speculation |
kris |
formal tribunal/trial |
krisatora |
kris judges |
kris romani |
trial to settle disputes |
kulath |
(go) find |
kumpania, kumpa'nia |
a group of rom, caravan group (basic unit, can incl. more than 1 tribe, clan, extended, and chosen family) |
Romani Word |
English Meaning |
L vakandoka |
the moles |
lalleri |
non-Rom speaking |
lalo, lolo |
red |
lampo |
lamp |
langa |
flame |
lashav |
shame, honor |
lav |
word, name |
lavuta |
violin |
le |
the |
led |
ice |
ledome |
frozen |
lel |
to take, catch, arrest |
les |
his |
leshya'e |
helpful spirit, not mulo |
liha'irden |
deer-footed |
lil |
book, tale, story |
liri |
law |
lobo |
flame |
lom |
man |
lomavren |
Armenian dialet of Rom |
lon |
salt |
lork |
car |
love |
money |
lovina, lovi'na |
beer |
lovor |
a ceremony to divide money
earned |
lungo drom |
long road |
lus', lus |
a drink |
Romani Word |
English Meanings |
ma, maw |
an exclamation |
ma-sha-llah |
as god wills |
machka, mac'ka |
cat |
macho, maczo |
fish |
magerd'o, magherdo, moxado |
stained, unclean status |
mageripen |
purity code |
mahala |
quarter (of a town) |
mamioro |
a spirit or ghost who is said
to bring serious illness |
man'u's, manus |
Rom man |
manch, manc' |
cheer up |
mandi, me |
I |
mang |
to beg |
manishie, monashay, mollisher,
mort |
woman, wife |
manush |
people |
mariki |
sweet, layered, pizza shaped
pastry from flour, powdered milk, sugar and lard |
marim'e, marime |
unclean status, polluted, defiled,
rejected or outcast by trial |
martiya |
spirit of the night |
mas |
meat |
mashakar |
waist, center |
matiro |
martyr, prophet |
melalo |
dirt |
meska |
bear |
mi'zak, mizhak |
wicked |
midjloli |
erection |
mira |
my (mas) |
mindj |
female genitals |
ming |
cunt |
miri |
my (fem) |
miro |
queit |
mish |
vagina |
misli |
travel |
moarte |
death |
mode |
varieties of melody in Gypsy
Music |
mom |
wax |
monchimo |
system of servitude to pay off
debts and credits |
mora, much |
friend |
moro |
bread |
mortsi |
leather, hide, skin |
mrak's |
smear, unclean status |
mui |
mouth |
muj |
face, mouth |
mulani |
ghost |
mule |
the spirit or soul of a dead
person, ghost |
mule-vi |
a medium or an item capable
of reaching to world of the dead |
mulengi dori |
dirges or 'dead man's string'-a
magic ribbon tied or untied to call on dead spirits to protect
you |
mulla |
corpse |
muller'd |
killed, dead |
mulo |
death, spirits of the dead,
dead person, associated with uncleanness, vampirism |
mura, mu-ra |
berry |
mush |
man |
Romani Word |
English Meaning |
nai |
a negative |
nai man (keck) |
I have not got any |
nak |
nose |
namome |
written |
nano |
uncle |
narky |
bad, risky, unpleasant |
naswalemos |
illness, sickness |
natsia |
nation, tribe |
nav |
name |
nav gaijikano |
a non-Gypsy name |
nav romano |
Gypsy name |
nes |
bad |
nevimos |
novelty |
nevipe |
news |
nevo |
new |
niamo |
relatives |
nicobado |
taken away |
nivasi |
water spirit/mermaid |
nos |
it is |
Romani Word |
English Meaning |
o |
the (masc) |
o d'ives |
day |
o xonxano' baro'(cale') |
great trick |
o zhuvindo |
"The live one" |
ofisa |
fortune telling establishment |
Opre! |
arise |
oprey |
up |
orf |
off |
Romani word | English Meaning |
paanii, pan'i |
water |
pachivaki djili |
pachiv song |
paguba |
"raiding party" i.e. sent out
for supples |
pahome |
frozen |
pakiv, pachiv |
to honor, respect, obey,
esteem |
pakvora |
beautiful |
pal |
brother |
palecido |
"set apart" i.e. marime |
pale`cido |
non-rom |
pani |
water |
pani neiv |
fresh water |
papin |
goose |
paramishus |
tale |
paramitsha, paramicha |
gypsy fairytales |
parno |
white |
patragi |
Easter |
patrin |
marker, a leaf or page, road
sign |
payo |
gadje |
pe |
to drink |
pen, penne |
sister |
perina |
thick quilts |
pertia |
jellied pig's feet and ears |
pesha |
his |
petalos |
horseshoe |
phal |
brother |
phei |
sister |
phen, pena | sister |
phuro |
an elder of a familia |
pi |
to drink |
pi'bati |
drinks |
pibe |
beverage |
piko |
spear |
pipere |
pepper |
pir |
foot |
pirogo |
noodle and cheese pudding |
pisliskurja |
darling |
pitarer | to drink |
plal |
brother |
pliashka |
engagement feast |
poav |
field |
pomana |
a death feast |
pooker |
to ask, talk |
poove |
field |
popin |
goose |
porado |
erection |
porraimos |
literally: the Devouring i.i.
the Holocaust |
poshum, po's'um |
wool |
posoti |
pouch inside a skirt |
posta |
sacrifice ritual in nature |
postiu |
abstention from animal producits
on Friday |
potchee |
pocket |
poteen |
whiskey |
pral, prala |
brother |
pralipe |
bortherhood |
prastlo |
dishounred ie. marime, unclean
status |
pretera |
wildcat |
prey |
up, upon |
prikasa, prikaza |
very bad luck or omen |
pufe |
fried flour bread |
puri daj |
grandmother |
puri dad |
grandfather |
puro |
old |
pushka, pus'ka |
gun |
puterdea |
straddle the legs open |
puyo |
chicken stew |
puyuria |
gadje gypsy groupies |
Romani Word |
English Meaning |
r'asa |
race, tribe |
rakli |
non-Roma girl |
raklo |
non-Roma boy |
rarti |
night |
rat |
blood |
rawnie |
lady |
ray baro |
great lords |
raya |
land owners |
rebniko |
pond |
rikono |
dog |
rinkeni |
pretty, attractive |
risho |
reed, cane |
rocka, roackra |
to speak |
roj |
spoon |
rom |
man |
rom baro |
a leader; the "big man" in a
kumpania; "Bandoleer",intermediary with the gadje |
romane |
the language of the Rom |
romania |
the laws and traditions of the
Rom; social order |
romni |
wife |
romni nashli |
elopement |
rompien |
gypsyness, the state of being
a gypsy |
rovliako khelipen |
'stick dance' |
rukh |
tree |
ruv |
wolf |
rye |
gentleman |
Romani Word |
English Meaning |
sa-rk |
field |
sadullos |
safe |
salk |
take |
salpeens |
migratory farm workers |
sap |
snake |
sarma |
stuffed cabbage |
Sastimos, sastipe |
greeting , "To your health" |
sastro |
Father-in-law |
satarma |
star |
saviako |
Rolled pastry with fruit, cottage cheese and raisins |
schav |
gypsy boy |
schej |
gypsy girl |
se |
are/is |
sedre/sedrin |
child/ren |
ser`o, `ser`o, sero |
head |
shadogs |
cops/pigs/etc. |
shaia |
sister |
shala |
understand |
shanglo |
police constable |
shav |
unmarried gypsy male |
shav |
push, shove |
shavora |
companions? |
she |
swear |
she'chorne |
homosexual |
she' enedra |
blood sister (by oath, chosen family) |
shee |
is |
shebari |
bride, girl or young woman of
marrigale age |
sheka |
horseshit |
shena |
brotherhood, solidarity, clan |
schera |
head |
sheranda |
goosdown pillows covered in gay, flowered material |
sherp |
go |
shesti |
nonsense |
shey |
girl (pre-puberty) |
shimulo |
vampire, literally walking-dead |
shon |
moon |
shoska |
tent-pole |
shpera |
road-sign, marking" |
si |
is |
sir |
garlic |
skorni |
top-boots |
slavi |
Saints day's festivals (Catholic
and orthodox Christian) |
slobuzenja |
freedom |
smavandre |
short-distance travellers |
smente'na |
cream |
so |
what |
so' trekoth |
gullible person, "gape-mouthed
hatchling" |
socro-bori |
incest |
solakh |
Kris (trial) judgement using armaya (curse), with judgement left to mule (the dead) |
sonkai |
gold |
soske |
why |
sov |
(to) sleep |
spiuni |
spy |
staadi |
hat |
stanya |
stable (noun) |
staven |
water |
storvandre |
long distance travellers |
strazhno |
danger |
streyino |
strange |
strickapen |
imprison |
sumadji |
family heirloom |
suni |
saw |
sutho | forever |
svata/svatura |
gypsy story/ies |
Romani Word |
English Meaning |
tablipen |
warmth |
ta`ciben |
truth |
ta`co, tacho |
true |
taibhsear |
seer, shaman, 'vision
seer' |
talazo |
wave |
tale |
hawk |
taliga |
two-wheeled light cart |
tampeta |
thunderstorm |
tan |
market |
tarned`er |
younger |
tatt`o, tato |
hot, warm |
tenimos |
youth |
terno |
young |
te' sorthene |
spirit/heart friend, friend
bonded by heart,spirit |
tehara |
girl (pre-puberty), young
girl |
tern`o |
young |
themenge |
forgien |
thoximos |
duty |
tigins |
small/one-room houses, especially
refers to government settlements |
tips |
dumps |
tober |
road |
tooti |
you |
top |
on |
torarti |
tonight |
toreen, 'tori |
coming |
trampa |
barter |
treshul |
christian cross |
trito ursitori |
three spirits, one good, one evil, one mediator |
tru-pos |
body |
trushal odji |
hungry soul |
ts`erha, tserha |
household, tent |
tshor |
thief |
tshurii |
knife |
tsox |
skirt |
tu |
you |
tud |
milk |
tumnimos |
wedding arangements |
tutka |
turkey |
Romani Word |
English Meaning |
uzho |
related to marhime |
Romani Word |
English Meaning |
vadni ratsa |
wild goose of Romani legend |
vaida |
gypsy chief |
vai' datha |
agreement/resignation |
valval |
wind |
var' athanda |
(to be) forgetful |
vardo |
living wagon |
vare- |
-ever |
varek`ai |
wherever |
varnas |
clan |
vast |
hand |
vatave |
overseer |
vela |
came |
ves', vesh |
forest |
veshengo |
man of the forest |
ves' tacha |
beloved |
vetha |
running |
vezlime' |
embroidered |
vitsa/vitsi |
clan |
vord`on, vurdon |
wagon |
vortimo |
truth |
vurma |
trail signs of the road |
vyusher |
wolf |
Romani word |
English Meaning |
wavver |
wood (forest) |
wesh |
other |
wortacha |
partners |
wuzho |
purity, clean |
Romani Word |
English Meaning |
xa |
eat |
xabe |
beef stew |
xaimoko |
rabbit stew |
xanamiki |
co-parent-in-law |
xari |
one who eats |
xaritsa |
fried cornbread |
xin |
urinating |
xume'l |
breadcrumbs |
xume'r |
dough |
Romani Word |
English Meaning |
y |
and |
yai |
two |
yak |
eye |
yekhipe |
unity, oneness |
yog |
fire |
yungxo |
young ox |
yuthi'so'coro |
honor for road travel |
Z
Romani Word |
English Meaning |
za |
go |
zego |
ember |
zen |
saddle |
zeravo |
left side |
zhamutro |
bridegroom, or son-in-law |
zheita |
'bringing the bride home' |
zor |
strength |
Zuhno |
pure |
zumi |
soup |
zurla |
long wooden double-reed conical-bone instrument |
Romani Phrase | English Meaning |
Adro miro tem penena mande o baro
rai. |
In my country the gypsies call me the
great gentleman. |
Ajsi bori lachi: xal bilondo, phenel
londo. |
Such a daughter-in-law is good who eats
unsalted food and says it is salted. |
Akana mukav tut le Devlesa. |
I now leave you to God. (Funeral
comment) |
Amaro baro them |
Our big land, ie. ancestral homeland |
Ande save vitsa |
In which vitsa |
Ando gav bi zhuklesko jal o pavori bi
destesko |
In the village without a dog a man can
walk without a stick |
Ando gav bi zhuklesko shai piravel o manush
bi destesko |
In the village without dogs the farmers
walked without sticks |
Ashen Devlesa, Romale |
May you remain with God |
Baxt hai sastimos tiri patragi |
Wish luck and good health |
Bengesko niamso |
Cursed German |
Bi kashtesko merel i yag |
Without wood the fire would die |
Bolde tut, kako |
Please turn away (If she was unable
to avoid passing infront of one or between two men, a gypsy woman might
say this to avoid possible marhime) |
Can tute rakker Romanes, miri
dye? |
Can you speak Romany, my mother? |
Chailo sim |
I am replete (full) |
Chces li tajnou vec aneb pravdu vyzvédéti
Blazen, dité opily clovéc o tom umeji povodeti. |
"Wouldst thou know a truth or mystery,
A drunkard, fool, or child may tell it thee." |
Das dab ka i roata le neve vurdoneski |
To give a push to the wheel of the new
wagon (ie. to provide a kcik start to newlywed households) |
Devlesa araklam tume |
It is with God that we have found you |
Devlesa avilan |
It is God who brought you |
Dovo's a huckaben. |
That's untrue. |
Droby tume Romale |
Traditional greeting (Response is
Nais tuke (Thank you)) |
Dza Devlesa |
God go with you |
El Crallis ha nicobado le liri de los Cales |
The King has taken away the law of the
Gypsies |
Feri ando payi sitsholpe te nauyas |
It was in the water that one leanred to
swim |
Gadje Gadjensa, Rom Romensa |
Gadje with Gadje, Rom with Rom |
hai shala |
do you understand? |
hai'she'li |
yes, I swear! |
her'y |
truth? |
I chatski tsinda de tehara vai do haino,
khal tut |
The true nettle stings from the begining |
I chirikleski kul chi perel duvar pe yek
than |
The droppings of a flying bird never fall
twice on the same spot |
Isi ili daba |
Here there are also smacks |
Isis ma xarica love; so hramosorav andi
gazeta; a-ko isi pomoshinav tumen |
I have a little money; I am a journalist;
maybe I can help you |
jekh dilo kerel dile hai but dile keren
dilimata |
One madman makes many madmen, and many
madmen make maddness |
Ka xila ma pe tute |
I am going to shit on you |
Kai zhal o vurdon vurma mekela |
Where the wagon goes a trail is left |
Kaski san? |
Whose are you? |
Kay zhala I suv shay zhala wi o thav |
Where the needle goes, surely the thread
will follow |
Kon del tut o nai shai dela tut wi o vast |
He who willingly gives you one finger will
also give you the whole hand |
Kon khakhavel o balo wi leste si I shuri |
He who feeds the pig also holds the knife
over it when it is fattened |
Kon khal but, khan peski bakht |
Ho who eats much eats away his own luck |
kon mangel te kerel tumendar r.oburen
`ci `soxa phenela tumen o `ca`cimos pa tumare
perintonde |
he who wants to enslave you will never
tell you the truth about your forefathers |
Kushti ratti! |
Good night! |
li' ha' eer |
by the Gods |
li' sa' eer |
by the highest Gods |
Love k-o vast, bori k-o grast |
Money in hand, bride on horse |
Mandar tsera tai kater o Del mai but te
aven tumenge |
From me a little money, but may God give
you plenty |
Maskar le gadjende leski shib si le Romeski
zor |
Surrounded by Gadje, the Rom's only defence
is his tongue |
May angle sar te merel kadi yag |
Before this fire burns out (Armaya) |
May kali i muri may gugli avela |
The darker the berry, the sweeter it is |
May mishto les o thud katar i gurumni kai
tordjol |
It is easier to milk a cow that stands still |
May mishto phabol o kasht o chordano |
Stolen wood burns better for being stolen |
May sigo sar te may khav |
Before I even have my next meal (Armaya) |
Me mangav te jav ando granitza tumensa |
I want to go to the border with you |
Me piav pani |
I drink water |
Me san de spoiroski shey |
I am Spiro's daughter |
Me som Bardu |
I am Bardu |
Miri kushti pen, Miro prala. |
my dear sister, my brother |
Mishto hom me dikava tute. |
I am glad to see you |
Mong your shünaben, rye. |
Beg your pardon, sir. |
Mukhenpe te khan la lumia |
If they conquer the world |
Na bister 500,000 |
Don't forget the 500,000 (reference to the
Holocaust) |
Na daran Romale vi ame sam Rom chache |
Do not fear, you Gypsy men, for we too are
Gypsies |
Na may kharunde kai chi khal tut |
Not to scratch where it doesn't itch |
Nais tuke |
Thank you |
Nashti zhas vorta po drom o bango |
You cannot walk straight when the road is
bent. |
Ne rakesa tu Romanes? |
Can you not speak Romany? |
O chavorro na biandola dandencar |
The child is not born with teeth |
O lov tai o beng nashti beshen patasha |
Neither money nor the devil can remain in
peace |
O manusha khelevan tut |
The people make you dance (said if a place
is nice) |
O shoshoy kaste si feri yek khiv sigo athadjol |
The rabbit which has only one hole is soon
caught |
O Spiro le tinshasho shav |
The Spiro who is the son of Tinha |
O ushalin zhala sar o kam mangela |
The shadow moves as the sun commands |
O xonxano baro |
The great trick |
O zalzaro khal peski piri |
Acid corrodes its own container |
Opre Roma! |
Roma arise! |
Ov yilo isi |
Is it okay (literally, is there heart here) |
Pachiv tumenge Romale |
"This song was offerd as a gift to worthy men" |
Pen the rani ta wusser mandy a
tri-grushi. |
Tell the lady to throw me a shilling. |
Perdal l paya |
Beyond the waters (the Americas) |
Piri telemosa chi athadjol o kam |
The kettle that lies face down cannot get sunlight |
Pral, mor rakker sä drován
|
Don't talk so loud, brother. |
Prohasar man opre pirende - sa muro djiben
semas opre chengende |
Bury me standing - I've been on my knees all
my life |
Putrav lesko drom angle leste te na inkrav
les mai but palpale mura brigasa |
I open his way in the new life agan and release
him from the fetters of my sorrow. (Ritual phrase to mark the end of
mourning) |
Rode chia bora le kanensa tai te na le yakensa |
Select one's daughter-in-law with the ears
and not with the eyes. (Pay more attention to reputation than looks) |
Romale tai shavale akarel tume o Pulika |
By your leave, Gypsy men and youths, this is
Pulika calling you (The proper formal way to address Rom) |
Romale tai Shavale, Churara tai wi Lovara |
Gypsy men and youths, Churara and Lovara alike |
Sako peskero charo dikhel |
Everybody sees only his own dish |
Sar laci and'ekh vadra |
Like crabs in a bucket |
sar san |
how are you |
Save Spiro |
Which Spiro? |
Shuk tski khalpe la royasa |
Beauty cannot be eaten with a spoon |
Si khohaimo may pachivalo sar o chachimo |
There are lies more believable than truth |
so keres? |
What are you doing? |
Stanki nashti chi arakenpe manushen shai |
Mountains do not meet, but people do |
Te avel angle tute, kodo khabe tai kado pimo tai menge pe sastimaste |
May this food be before you, and in your memory, and may it profit us in good health and in good spirit |
Te avel angle tute |
May this be before you |
Te avel mange bakht drago mange wi te avav po gunoy |
All we need is good luck. With luck I would not even mind sitting on a dunghill |
Te aves yertime mander tai te yertil tut o Del |
I forgive you and may God forgive you as I do |
Te bisterdon tumare anave |
May your names be forgotten |
Te den, xa, te maren, denash |
When you are given, eat, when you are beaten, run away |
Te khalion tai de shingerdjon che gada, hai tu te trais sastimasa tai voyasa |
May your clothes rip and wear out, but may you live on in good health and in fulfilment |
Te lolirav I phuv mure ratesa |
May I redden the earth with my blood |
Te malavel les i menkiva |
May the malignant disease waste him |
Te merav |
May I die |
Te merel amaro kuro o lasho |
May our favorite stallion die |
Te merel muri shey |
May my child die tomorrow |
Te merel muro dad, muri dei |
May my father, mother, brothers die |
Te na khuchos perdal cho ushalin |
To try to jump over your own shadow |
Te pabaren mange memelia |
May you burn candles for me |
Te phirav pa0o gav |
To go about the village (to beg) |
te pochinen penge lazhav |
Pay for their shame |
te prakhon man pasho o X |
May I be buried next to X |
Te shordjol muri godji sar shordjol kadi bera |
May my brains flow out the way this beer flows out if... |
Te shordjol muro rat |
May my blood spill |
Te vestinel o dosti Tito, te vestinena o jugoslovenske manusha |
Long live comrade Tito and long live the Yugoslav people |
te xav ka to biav |
May I eat at your wedding |
vai' datha |
many paths |
yekka buliasa nashti beshes pe done grastende |
With one behind you can't sit on two horses |
Yodjo la Mimako Zhamutro |
Yodjo, Mimi's son-in-law |
Zhan le devlesa tai sastimasa |
Go with God and in good health |
English to Romany
English Word | Romani Meaning |
abstention from animal products
on Friday |
postiu |
acquaintance |
kestra |
Adam's apple |
gusha |
adult non-gypsy |
gajo, gadjo |
after |
arter |
agreement |
vai' datha ("many paths") |
and |
y |
anvil | amoni |
apron |
katrinsa |
are |
se, is`i |
Arise! |
Opre! |
Armenian dialect of Romani |
lomavren |
to arrest |
lel |
as god wills |
ma-sha-llah |
Asiatic dialect of Romani |
domari |
to ask |
pooker |
at | arey |
attractive |
rinkeni |
aunt |
beebee |
avatar |
del |
away | avree |
English Word | Romani Meaning |
bad |
narky, gami, nes, g' ami |
bad luck |
bibaxt, gajengi baxt, prikasa,
prikaza |
bag |
bujo |
baked flour bread |
bogacha |
balance |
kintala |
(hot) barbeque sauce |
chile mole |
barter |
trampa |
bean |
boba |
bear |
melalo |
bean soup |
fusui |
beast of burder |
grast |
beautiful |
pakvora |
beef stew |
xabe |
beer |
lovina, lovi'na |
beg |
geg, mang, g' e-g |
beloved |
ves' tacha |
belt |
kishti, kis'ti |
berries |
mura |
berry |
mu-ra |
beverage |
pibe |
big |
baro, barri |
bird |
desteredre |
birth (circumstances of) |
jati |
blacksmith |
ferari |
blind |
koro |
blood |
rat |
blood bound (by blood vow, avenging
someone, has swearing-to-deity connotations) |
kal' enedral |
blood sister (by oath, chosen
family) |
she' enedra |
body |
tru-pos, trupos |
bone |
cokalos, kokalo |
book |
lil |
boss (Non-Rom, i.e. The Man) |
glox |
boy |
chava, chavvie |
bread |
moro |
breadcrumbs |
xume'l |
breast |
berk, chuchi, c'uc'i |
bride |
bori, shebari, boria |
bride price |
daro, darro |
bridegroom |
zhamutro |
brother |
bar, prala, pral, plal, phal,
pal |
brotherhood |
pralipe, shena |
but | ale |
butter-bean soup |
fusui eski zumi |
buttocks | bul |
button |
kocho, koc'o |
English Word | Romani Meaning |
came |
vela |
cane (reed) |
risho |
car |
lork |
caravan group |
kumpa'nia |
casual friend |
kestra |
cat |
machka, mac'ka |
to catch |
lel |
center |
mashaka |
ceremony to divide money earned |
lovor |
charm (noun) |
draba |
cheer up |
manch, manc' |
chicken |
kanny |
chicken stew |
puyo |
chieftian |
ataman |
child |
cha(h)vi |
child/ren |
sedre/sedrin |
Christian cross |
treshul |
city |
Forjus, foros |
clan |
shena, vitsa/vitsi, varnas |
clean |
wuzho |
co-parent-in-law |
xanamiki |
coffee |
kafa |
coffee pot |
djezbeh |
collections |
kidemos |
constable |
gavver |
comfort(as in, "i'm sorry" during
a tragedy) |
du' dera |
coming |
toreen, 'tori |
companion animals |
jel'sutho'edrin |
companios |
shavora |
cops/pigs/etc. |
shadogs |
corpse |
mulla |
count |
gin |
crazy |
dinilo, dili |
cream |
smente'na |
cunt |
ming |
curse | amria, amriya, armaya |
cut (past action) | chindilo |
English Word | Romani Meaning |
danger | athinganoi, strazhno |
darling |
pisliskurja |
daughter |
chey |
daughter-in-law |
bori |
day |
o zhuvindo |
dead |
muller'd |
dead person, associated with
uncleanness, vampirism |
mulo |
death |
mulo, moarte |
death feast |
pomana, poma'na |
'deep song' |
cante jondo |
deer-footed |
liha'irden |
(to be) deported |
bitcheno pawdel |
devil | beng |
devilish |
bengalo |
dirges |
mulengi dori |
dirt |
melalo |
discussion (to settle disputes) |
divano |
dishonoured i.e. marime |
prastlo |
(to) disturb |
hamishagos |
(to) do |
kair |
dog |
rikono |
dough |
xume'r |
(girls) dowry |
cheiz, darro |
(a) drink |
lus', lus |
(to) drink |
pi, pitarer, pe, pi'bati |
dumps |
tips |
duty |
thoximos |
English Word | Romani Meaning |
ear |
kan |
Easter |
patragi |
eat |
xa |
eiderdown |
dunha |
elder of a familia |
phuro |
elopement |
romni nashli |
emancipation from slavery |
desrobierja |
ember |
zego |
embroidered |
vezlime' |
enemy, 'wishes you harm' |
doshman, jostumal |
engagement feast |
pliashka |
enough |
dosta |
erection i.e. big penis |
porado, karabro, midjloli |
to esteem |
pakiv |
ever |
vare |
exchange | chop |
exclamation | dordie |
explain |
get' ke |
extended family | familia |
eye |
yak |
English Word | Romani Meaning |
face |
muj |
family heirloom |
sumadji |
family, immediate |
tsera |
fart |
khan, kan |
fate, fortune | baxt |
father |
dat, dad |
father-in-law |
sastro |
a feast given in honor of a
visitng guest |
pakiv |
feces |
gunoi |
female genitals |
mindj |
fiddle |
bosh |
field |
poove, poav, sa-rk |
(go) find |
kulath |
fine |
kushti |
fire |
yog |
fish |
macho, mazco |
flame |
lobo, alazas, langa |
floor |
dila |
food |
scran |
fool |
dilo |
foot |
pir |
forest |
kasht, ves' , wavver |
forest spirit |
kesal i |
forever |
sutho |
(to) forge (metal) |
chokesarav |
(to be) forgetful |
var' athanda |
forgien |
themenge |
formal tribunal |
kris |
fortune teller |
drabarni |
fortune telling establishment |
ofisa |
freedom |
slobuzenja |
fresh water |
pani nevi |
fried cornbread |
xaritsa |
fried flour bread |
pufe |
friend |
mora, much |
friend bonded by heart/spirit |
te'sorthene |
front |
ciakt |
frog | beng, brashki |
frozen |
pahome, ledome |
English Word | Romani Meaning |
gadje |
payo, balame, gorgio |
gadje gypsy-groupies |
puyuria |
garlic |
sir |
gentleman |
rye |
get |
bog |
get out |
crush |
ghost |
mule, mulani |
ghost's vomit |
johai |
girl |
chavi, chey, ghel |
girl (pre-puberty) |
shey, tehara |
girl (of marrigable age) |
shebari |
(to) go |
jall, jawl, jil, za, sherp |
go gently |
kathal |
go onward |
kele |
God |
devel |
godmother |
kirvi |
going |
jilling |
gold |
sonkai |
gold coins |
galbi |
gone |
gelo |
good |
khushti, kushti |
good fortune | baksheesh |
goose |
popin, papin |
goosedown pillows covered in gay, flowered material |
sheranda |
gourd |
dudum |
grandfather |
puro dad |
grandmother |
puri daj |
great lords |
ray baro |
great trick |
o xonxano' baro'(cale'), hokano
baro |
greeting |
sastipe |
groom |
kirv i |
group of elders called to discuss
a matter publicly |
diwano |
group of Rom |
kumpania |
gullible person, "gape-mouthed
hatchling" |
so' trekoth |
gun |
pushka, pus'ka |
gypsy boy |
schav |
gypsy chief |
vaida |
gypsy fairytales |
paramitsha, paramicha |
gypsy friend |
didikai |
gypsy girl |
schej |
gypsy name |
nav romano |
gypsy story/ies |
svata, svatura |
gypsyness |
rompien |
English Word | Romani Meaning |
hair |
bal, bala |
hand |
hath, vast |
handkerchief |
diklo |
happy |
baxtalo |
has |
ha |
hat |
staadi |
hawk |
tale |
he made |
kedas |
head |
ser`o,ser`o, `se-ro-,
`ser`o, sero, shera |
headscarf |
dicklo, diklo |
healer |
drabengro, drabarni |
healing herb |
drarnego |
heart friend |
te' sorthene |
heat |
gham |
helpful spirit, not mulo |
leshya'e |
hens |
khania |
herbs |
drab |
here | akti |
hide (off an animal) |
mortsi |
(to) hide |
clank |
his |
pesha, les |
the Holocaust |
porraimos |
(to) honor |
pakiv, barearv, lashav |
honor for road travel |
yuthi'so'coro |
horse |
grai, grast, gry, groi |
horseshit |
sheka |
horseshoe |
petalos |
homosexual |
she'chorne |
hot |
tatt`o, tato, tat`o, tato |
house |
keir, k'ena, ker |
household |
ts`erha |
hunger | bokh |
hungry soul |
trushal odji |
huts |
kleti |
English Word | Romani Meaning |
I |
mandi, me |
I have not got any |
nai man (keck) |
I made |
kerdem |
I read |
drabarav, gilabav |
ice |
led |
illness |
naswalemos |
imbicile |
dilo |
imprison |
strickapen |
in, inside |
abiav, drey |
incest |
socro-bori |
inn | albergo, kertsheema, kirchima, kir`c`ima |
inspired one | awenydd, awenyddion |
intelligence service |
chordane |
intermediary with gaje |
Rom bar`o |
into town | ando foro |
is | hi, se, si, shee |
it is |
nos |
item | inox |
English Word | Romani Meaning |
jellied pig's feet and ears |
pertia |
jeweler |
gabori |
joined | corthu |
judge |
jude |
judgement |
kr`isis |
English Word | Romani Meaning |
karma | baxt |
key |
klidi |
killed |
muller'd |
king |
kralis |
knife |
churi, tshurii |
(to) know |
djan |
kris complaint | bavo |
kris judges |
krisatora |
kris precedents | bayo (pl. bayura) |
English Word | Romani Meaning |
lad |
chiavala |
lady |
rawnie |
lamp |
lampo |
landowners |
raya |
language of the Rom |
Romane |
large | baro |
law |
liri |
laws of the Rom |
Romania |
leader |
rom baro |
leaf |
patrin |
leather |
mortsi |
left (side) |
zeravo |
little sister |
jel'enedra |
"the live one" |
o zhuvindo |
living wagon |
vardo |
long distance travelers |
storvandre |
long road |
lungo drom |
(to) look |
dick |
looking |
dickin |
luck | baxt |
lucky | baxtalo |
English Word | Romani Meaning |
magic |
dook |
magistrate |
bitcherin' mush |
male singer/reader |
gilabno |
man |
feen, mush, rom, dom, lom |
man, non-Traveller |
glox |
man of the forest |
veshengo |
marker |
patrin, shpera |
market |
tan |
marriage | abiav |
martyr |
maturo |
may it be so |
bater |
meat |
mas |
(to) meddle |
hamishagos |
medicine |
drab |
medicine (made from ghosts
vomit) |
iohai |
medicine bag |
bujo |
medicine man |
drabengro |
a medium |
mule-vi |
meeting |
divano |
melodies |
glasso |
melon |
dudum |
mermaid |
nivasi |
migratory farm workers |
spalpeens |
milk |
tud, chuti |
the moles |
L Vakandoki |
money |
bob, gored, grushi, love |
moon |
shon |
more |
kom'i |
mother |
dya, dai, daj, day |
mountain | bar, bur |
mouse |
kadessa |
mouth |
muj, mui |
mule |
dzolana, djolano |
music (type of) |
bol |
my |
miri, mira |
English Word | Romani Meaning |
nail |
karfin |
name |
lav, nav |
nation |
natsia |
neckscarf |
dickla, dickler, dicklo |
negative |
nai |
new |
nevo |
news |
nevipe |
night |
rarti |
no, not |
keck, kek |
no good |
bi-lacho |
nomadic | bravi'os |
non-gypsy name |
nav gajikano |
non-Rom |
gage, gorgio, pale`cido |
non-Rom boy |
raklo |
non-Rom girl |
rakli |
non-Rom speaking |
lalleri |
non-Rom woman | b'o-r |
nonsense |
shesti |
noodle and cheese pudding |
pirogo |
nose |
nak |
novelty |
nevimos |
English Word | Romani Meaning |
oath |
amria, amriya, armaya |
(to) obey |
barearav, pakiv |
off |
orf |
old |
puro |
on |
top |
one being |
corthu |
one who eats |
xari |
oneness |
jekhipe, yekhipe |
other |
wesh |
our | amaro |
outside | avri |
oven | bo-v |
overseer | ciocoi, vatave |
English Word | Romani Meaning |
pachiv song |
pachivaki djili |
page |
patrin |
(to be) paid |
bog |
pancakes stuffed with meat |
bokoli |
parking place |
atchintan |
partners |
wortacha |
party |
abiav |
pear |
ambrol |
penis |
koir, kor |
Pentecostals | aleluyas |
people |
manush |
pepper |
pipere |
person who cut it |
chindiyas |
piece |
koto-r |
pocket |
potchee |
police |
garda, glokots |
police constable |
shanglo |
pond |
rebniko |
possession |
butji |
pouch inside a skirt |
posoti |
pretty |
rinkeni |
prophet |
maturo |
proud |
bu-ino |
pudding |
gooi |
pure |
zuhno, wusho |
purity |
wuzho |
purity code |
mageripen |
purse |
kis' i, kis |
push |
shav |
English Word |
Romani Meaning |
quarter (of town) |
mahala |
quiet |
miro |
English word | Romani Meaning |
rabbit stew |
xaimoko |
race (of people) |
r'asa |
"raiding party" i.e. sent out
for supplies |
paguba |
raven |
curaco |
read |
chit |
red |
lalo, lolo |
reed |
risho |
relatives |
niamo |
religious state-of-grace |
cha'risma |
resignation (expression) |
vai' datha "many paths" |
to respect |
pakiv, barearav |
retarded |
dili |
ring | angustri |
risky |
narky |
rich |
bar valo |
riches | bestipen |
road |
drom, tober |
road sign |
patrin, shpera |
rolled pastry with fruit, cottage cheese and raisins |
saviako |
running |
vetha |
English Words | Romani Meaning |
sacrifice (ritual in nature) |
posta |
saddle |
zen |
safe |
sadullos |
Saint's day's festivals (Catholic and
Orthodox Christian) |
slavi |
salt |
lon |
sat |
bechtas |
saw |
suni |
sea |
dariav |
(to) see |
dik, dick, dikh |
see! |
isda |
seer, shaman |
awenydd, awenyddion, filelfilidh,
taibhsear |
"sent across" |
bitcheno pawdel |
set apart i.e. marime |
palecido |
settled family groups |
clachans |
shall |
ka |
shame |
lashav |
shantytown |
bidonville |
shirt |
gad |
shit |
khul |
shop |
bolta, gropa |
short distance travellers |
smavandre |
shove |
shav |
sibling |
edre |
sickness |
naswalemos |
side-roads |
boreens |
(the) sight |
dook |
silk |
ki's, kish |
sin |
bino |
sing |
gilyabar |
sister |
pena, pen, ben, bhen, edra,
, penne, phen, phei, shaia |
sister-in-law |
bori |
Sit! |
Besh! |
(animal) skin |
mortsi |
skirt |
tsox |
(to) sleep |
sov |
small/one-room houses, especially refers to government settlements | tigins |
smelly |
khantino |
snails |
bauri |
snake |
sap |
soldier |
gavver |
solidarity |
shena |
son-in-law |
zhamutro |
sorrow songs |
brigaki djilia |
soup |
zumi |
sour |
bushalo |
to speak |
rocka, rockra |
spear |
piko |
speculation |
krethes |
spell |
draba |
spirit |
del |
spirit friend |
te' sorthene |
spirit of the night |
martiya |
spirits of dead children |
detlene |
spoon |
roj |
spy |
spiuni |
stable (noun) |
stanya |
star |
aster, chakano, chere, satarma |
state of being a gypsy |
rompien |
(to) steal |
chor, chorav, c'or |
stick |
kesht, koshter |
'stick dance' |
rovliako khelipen |
still, small domestic |
kazan |
stone |
bar |
stop |
atch |
stopping place | atchintan |
stories about magic, superstition
and the supernatural |
darane svatura |
story |
lil |
straddle the legs open |
puterdea |
strange |
streyino |
strength |
zor |
stuffed cabbage |
sarma |
sun |
cam, kam, kham |
swear |
she |
sweetmeat |
doodah |
sword | churara |
English Word | Romani Meaning |
take |
b'e-g |
(to) take |
lel, salk |
taken away |
nicobado |
tale |
paramishus, lil |
talk |
pooker |
tavern |
kertsheema |
tax collector |
jude |
tea |
chao |
tempest |
furtuna |
tent |
ts`erha, tsehre |
tent pole |
shoshka |
thank you |
gestena |
the |
e, i, le, o (masc) |
theft |
choribe, c'oribe |
thief |
chor, choro, tshor |
thick quilts |
perina |
three spirits |
trito ursitori |
thunderstorn |
tampeta |
time |
cheros |
tomb |
grob |
to your health |
sastimos, sastipe |
tonight |
torarti |
tongue |
cheeb |
tooth |
dant, dand |
top-boots |
skorni |
town |
foros |
traditional local leader |
bulibasha |
trail signs of the road |
vurma |
Transporter | bitcherin' mush |
travel |
misli |
tree |
rukh |
trial to settle disputes |
kris romani |
tribe |
natsia, r'asa |
true |
ta`co, tacho |
truth |
chachimos, ta`ciben
, her'y, vortimo |
truth? |
hery, her'y |
turkey |
tutka |
twin | binak |
two |
yai |
two wheeled light cart |
taliga |
English Word |
Romani Meaning |
uncle |
kak, nano |
unclean status |
moxado, mrak's, magerd'o, magherdo,
marim'e, marime, prastlo |
understand |
shala |
unity |
jekhipe, yekhipe |
unmarried gypsy male |
shav |
unpleasant |
narky |
up |
opre, prey |
upon |
prey |
English Word | Romani Meaning |
vagina |
mish |
vampire |
shilmulo |
very much |
dhon |
very sweet |
but guli |
very, very good |
forshava |
vinegar |
chote |
viola | bari lavuta |
violin |
lavuta |
"vision poet" | filelfiligh |
"vision seer" |
taibhsear |
voice | glas |
English Word | Romani Meaning |
wagon |
vord`on, vurdon |
waist |
mashaka |
walk |
ga |
walking dead |
shilmulo |
was |
hin |
warm |
tato |
warmth |
tablipen |
water |
paanii, pani, pan'i,
staven |
water spirit |
nivasi |
wave |
talezo |
wax |
mom |
way |
drom |
wealth |
bestipen, barvalimos |
Weary? |
Chindilan? |
wedding arrangements |
tumnimos |
wedding feast | abiav |
what |
so |
when |
kana |
where |
kaj |
wherever |
varek`ai |
whiskey |
poteen |
who |
kon |
Who do you know? |
kas zhanes |
Whose are you? |
kasko san |
white |
parno |
why |
soske |
wicked |
mi'zak, mizhak |
wife |
mollisher, manishie, monashay,
romni |
wild |
bravi'os |
wildcat |
pertera |
will |
k a |
will be |
hum |
wind | barban, dest, balval, barval, valval |
witch |
chovexani, chovihani |
wolf |
ruv, vyusher |
woman |
mort, mollisher, manishie,
monashay |
wood, ie. forest |
kascth, wavver |
wooden |
koshtenengo |
wool |
poshum, po's'um |
word |
lav |
write |
chet, chin |
written |
namome |
English Word |
Romani Meaning |
English Word | Romani Meaning |
yes | arvah, hai |
you |
tu, tooti |
young |
tern`o |
young ox |
yungxo |
young woman (of marrigable age) |
shebari, tehara |
younger |
tarned`er |
youth |
tenimos |
English Word |
Romani Meaning |
English Phrase |
Romani Meaning |
Acid corrodes its own container |
O zalzaro khal peski piri |
All we need is good luck. with luck I would not even mind sitting on a dunghill |
Te avel mange bakht drago mange wi te avav po gunoy |
Beauty cannot be eaten with a spoon |
Shuk tski khalpe la royasa |
Before I even have my next meal (oath) |
May sigo sar te may kav |
Before this fire burns out (oath) |
May angle sar te merel kadi yag |
Beg your pardon, sir. |
Mong your shünaben, rye. |
Beyond the waters (The Americas) |
Perdal l paya |
Bury me standing - I've been on my knees all
my life |
Prohasar man opre pirende - sa muro dijiben
semas opre chengende |
By the Gods! |
Li' ha' eer |
By the highest Gods! |
Li' sa' eer |
By your leave, Gypsy men and youths, this is
Pulika calling you (The proper formal way to address Rom) |
Romale tai Shavale akarel tume o Pulika |
Can you not speak Romany? |
Ne rakesa tu Romanes? |
Can you speak Romany, my mother? |
Can tute rakker Romanes, miri dye? |
Cursed German |
Bengesko niamso |
Do not fear, you Gypsy men, for we too are
Gypsies |
Na daran Romale vi ame sam Rom chache |
Do you understand? |
hai shala |
Don't forget to 500,000 (reference to the
Holocaust) |
Na bister 500,000 |
Don't talk so loud, brother. |
Pral, mor rakker sä drován
|
Everybody sees only his own dish |
Sako peskero charo dikhel |
From me a little money, but may God give
you plenty |
Mandar tsera tai kater o Del mai but te
aven tumenge |
Gadje Gadjeensa, Rom Romensa |
Gadje with Gadje, Rom with Rom |
Go with God and in good health |
Zhan le devlesa tai sastimasa |
God go with you |
Dza devlesa |
Good night! |
Kushti ratti! |
Gypsy men and youths, Churara and Lovara alike |
Romale tai Shavale, Churara tai wi Lovara |
He who eats much eats away his own luck |
kon khal but khal peski bakht |
He who feeds the pig also holds the knife
above it when it is fattened |
Kon khakhavel o balo wi leste si I shuri |
"He who wants to enslave you will never
tell you the truth about your forefathers" |
"kon mangel te kerel tumendar r.oburen
`ci `soxa phenela tumen o `ca`cimos pa tumare perintonde" |
He who willing give you one finger will
also give you the whole hand |
Kon del tut o nai shai dela tut wi o vast |
Here there are also smacks |
Isi ili daba |
how are you |
sar san |
I am Bardu |
Me som Bardu |
I am glad to see you. |
Mishto hom me dikava tute. |
I am going to shit on you. |
Ka xalia ma pe tute |
I am replete (full) |
Chailo sim |
I am Spiro's daughter |
Me san de spiroski shey |
I drink water |
Me piav pani |
I forgive you and may God forgive you as I do |
Te aves yertime mander tai te yertil tut o Del |
I have a little money; I am a journalist;
maybe I can help you |
Isi ma xarica love; so hramosorav andi
gazeta; a-ko isi pomoshinav tumen |
I now leave you to God (funeral
comment) |
Akema mukav tut le Devlesa |
I open his way in the new life again and release
him from the fetters of my sorrow (ritual phrase to mark the end of
mourning) |
Putrav lesko drom angle leste te na inkrav
les mai bu palpale mura brigasa |
I want to go to the border with you |
Me mangav te jav ando granitza tumensa |
If they conquer the word |
Mukhenpe te khan la lumia |
In my country the gypsies call me the
great gentleman. |
Adro miro tem penena mande o baro
rai. |
In the village without a dog a man can
walk without a stick |
Ando gav bi zhuklesko shai piravel o
manush bi desteko |
In the village without dogs the farmers
walked without sticks |
Ando gav bi zhuklesko jal o pavori bi
destesko |
In which vitsa |
Ande save vitsa |
Is it okay (Literally, is there heart
here?) |
Ov yilo isi |
It is easier to milk a cow that stands still |
May mishto les o thud katar i gurumni kai
tordjol |
It is God who brought you |
Devlesa avilan |
It is with God that we found you |
Devlesa araklam tume |
It was in the water that one learned to
swim |
Feri ando payi sitsholpe te nauyas |
Like crabs ina bucket |
Sar laci and'ekh vadra |
Long live comrade Tito and long live the Yugoslav people |
Te vestinel o dosti Tito, te vestinena o jugoslovenske manusha |
Many paths |
Vai' datha |
May I be buried next to X |
Te pochinen man pasho X |
May I eat at your wedding |
Te xav ka to biav |
May I die |
Te merav |
May I redden the earth with my blood |
Te lolirav I phuv mure ratesa |
May my blood spill |
Te shordjol muro rat |
May my brains flow out the way this beer flows out if... |
Te shordjol muri godji sar shordjol kadi bera |
May my child die tomorrow |
Te merel muri shey |
may my father, mother, brothers die |
Te merel dad, muri, dei |
May our favorite stallion die |
Te merel amaro kuro o lasho |
May the malignant diseas waste him |
Te malavel les i menkiva |
May this be before you |
Te avel angle tute |
May this food be before you, and in your memory, and may it profit us in good health and in good spirit |
Te avel angla tute, kodo khabe tai kado pimo tai menge pe sastimaste |
May you burn candles for me |
Te pabaren mange memelia |
May you remain with God |
Ashen Devlesa, Romale |
May your clothes rip and wear out, but may you live on in good health and fulfilment |
Te khalion tai te shingerdjon che gada, hai tu te trais sastimasa tai voyasa |
May your names be forgotten |
Te bisterdon tumare anava |
Money in hand, bride on horse |
love k-o vast, bori k-o grast |
Mountains do not meet, but people do |
Stanki nashti chi arakenpe manushen shai |
my dear sister, my brother |
Miri kushti pen, Miro prala. |
Neither money nor the Devil can remain in
peace |
O lov tai o beng nashti beshen patshasa |
Not to scratch where it doesn't itch |
Na may kharunde kai chi khal tut |
One madman makes many madmen, and many
madmen makes madness |
Jekh dilo kerel but dile hai but dile keren
dilimata |
Our big land, ie. ancestral homeland |
Amaro baro them |
Pay for their shame |
te pochinen penge lazhav |
Please turn away (If she was unable to
avoid passing in front of one or between two men, a gypsy woman might say
this to avoid possible marhime) |
Bolde tut, kako |
Roma arise! |
Opre Roma! |
Select one's daughter-in-law with the ears
and not with the eyes (pay more attention to reputation than appearance) |
Rode chira bora le kanensa tai te na le yakensa |
Stolen wood burns better for being stolen |
May mishto phabol o kasht o chordano |
Such a daughter-in-law is good who eats
unsalted food and says it is salted |
Ajsi bori lachi: xal bilondo, phenel
londo |
Surrounded by the Gadje, the Rom's only
defense is his tongue |
Mashkar le gadjende leski shib si le Romeski
zor |
Tell the lady to throw me a shilling. |
Pen the rani ta wusser mandy a
tri-grushi. |
Thank you |
Nais tuke |
That's untrue. |
Dovo's a huckaben. |
The child is not born with teeth |
O chavorro na biandola dandencar |
The darker the berry, the sweeter it is |
May kali i muri gugli avela |
The droppings of a flying bird never fall
twice on the same spot |
I chirikleski chi perel duvar pe yek than |
The great trick |
O xonxano baro |
The kettle that lies face down cannot get much
sunlight |
Piri telemosa chi athadjol o kam |
The king has taken away the law of the
gypsies |
El Crallis ha nicobado la liri de los Cales |
The people make you dance (said if
a place is nice) |
O manusha khelevan tut |
The rabbit which has only one hole soon is
caught |
O shoshoy kaste si feri yek khiv sigo athadjol |
The Spiro who is the son oh Tinha |
O Spiro le tinshasko shav |
The true nettle stings from the begining |
I chatski tsinuda de tehara, vai de haino
khal tut |
The shadow moves as the sun commands |
O ushalin zhala sar o kam mangela |
There are lies more believable than truth |
Si khohaimo may pachivalo sar o chachimo |
"This song was offered as a gift to worthy
men" |
Pachiv tumenge Romale |
To give a push to the wheel of the new
wagon (ie. to provide a kickstart to newlywed households) |
Das dab ka i roata le neve vurdoneski |
To go about the village (to beg) |
Te phirav pa-o gav |
To try to jump over your own shadow |
Te na khuchos perdal cho ushalin |
Truth? |
her'y |
What are you doing? |
So keres? |
When you are given, eat, when you are beaten, run away |
Te den, xa, te maren, denash |
Where the needle goes, the thread will follow |
Kay zhala I suv shay zhala wi o thav |
Where the wagon goes a trail is left |
Kai zhal o vurdon vurma mekela |
Which Spiro? |
Savo Spiro |
Whose are you? |
Kaski san? |
Wish luck and good health |
Baxt hai sastimos tiri patragi |
with one behind you can't sit on two horses |
Yekka buliasa nashti beshes pe done grastende |
Without wood the fire would die |
Bi kashtesko merel i yag |
"Wouldst thou know a truth or mystery,
A drunkard, fool, or child may tell it thee." |
Chces li tajnou vec aneb pravdu vyzvédéti
Blazen, dité opily clovéc o tom umeji povodeti. |
Yes, I swear! |
hai'she'li |
You cannot walk straight whenthe road is
bent |
Nashti zhas vorta po drom o bango |