Complete List of English Gypsy Words Scattered Through Lavengro and Romany Rye

Common European Gypsy forms are in parenthesis.

Abri

(Avrí), out, forth.

Adré/Adrey

(André), in, into.

Ambról

A pear.

Andé

In, into.

Angár

Charcoal, coal.

Apopli

Again, once more.

Ava / Ávali

Yes.

Avella

(3rd singular of aváva), he comes; gorgio avella, some one is coming. [Avava, avesa, avela.]

Ballúva

(Baló), pork.

Baló

Hog.

Baró

Feminine barí, plural baré, big, great.

Bátu

Father.

Baulo

See baló.

Bawlor

(Plural of baló), swine.

Bebee

(Bibí), aunt; (in George Borrow grandmother, with and without grand).

Beng

Toad; dragon, devil.

Bengui

(Spanish Gypsy Bengue), i.q. beng.

Besh

(Beshava), to sit.

Beti

A little, a bit of.

Bitchadey

(Bichavdé; plural of bichavdó), sent. With pawdel, transported.

Bokht

(Bakht), fate, luck, fortune.

Boró

See (baró).

Borodromengro

Highwayman.

Boshom

(Bashava, I sing or play), violin, fiddle.

Boshomengro

Fiddler.

Bovaló

(Barvaló), rich.

Bute

(But), much. Bute dosta, a good many, plenty of.

Cafi

(καρφἱ), horseshoe nail.

Caloró / Calorí

A Spanish Gypsy. Diminutive of caló; see kaló.

Cambrí

(Kamní), with child.

Camomescro

(From kamama, I love), a Lovell (Gypsy tribe-name).

Cana

(Kánna), when.

Caulor

(Collor), plural shillings.

Chabé

Plural of Chabó.

Chabó

(Tchavó), child, lad; Gypsy.

Chachipen

(Tchatchipé), truth.

Chal

[Noun] (Chabál or chavál, still existant in Spain), lad; Gypsy. Romany chal, Gypsy; Romany chi, Gypsy (lass).

[Verb] (For jal, from java). Chal Devléhi (ja Devlésa), go with God, farewell.

Chavó

I.q. Chabó.

Chi

(Tchái), girl, lass, child; Gypsy.

Chibándo

(Spanish Gypsy, see chive), tossing; preaching (a sermon).

Chick

(Tchik), dirt, mud.

Chie

I.q. Chi.

Chiknó

(Tiknó), a youth. Tawno Chiknó, “Shorty.”

Chinomescro

(From tchinava, I cut), chisel, parer.

Chipe

(Tchip), tongue.

Chive

(Tchivava), to throw; to pass (false coin).

Chívios

Is cast (he).

Chong

(Tumba), hill. Chong gav, Norwich, town of the Castle hill.

Choomer

(Tchumi), a kiss.

Chore

(Tchorava), to steal.

Chories

Thieves.

Chovahanee

(Tchovekhaní), a witch.

Chovahanó

(Tchovekhanó), a wizard.

Churi

(Tchorí), knife.

Coin

(Kon), who?

Coko

(Káko), uncle.

Colikó

((kalikó), Spanish Gypsy calicaste, on the morrow), on the morrow, in the morning (B.’s “early” is a mistake).

Coor

(Curava, I strike), to strike, to hammer.

Cooromengro

Boxer.

Covántza

Anvil.

Covar

(Ková), a thing.

Cral / Crállis

(Krális), king.

Cukkerin

(Merely alliterative with dukkerin).

Curomengro

Boxer.

Czigány

(Hungarian), Gypsy⁠—tsigáñ.

Dearginni

(Hungarian, dörŏg, thunder; dörgeni, to thunder), it thunders.

Dick

(Dikava), to see.

Dinelo

(Deniló or diniló), a fool.

Divvus

(Divés), day.

Dloovu

(Error for lovó).

Dook

[Noun] (Slavic), spirit, soul, divining spirit, demon, ghost. Russian dux.

[Verb] To spirit away, to bewitch.

Dosta

Enough.

Dove odoy

(From odová), that there; up yonder.

Drab

[Noun] Herb, drug; poison, see drow.

[Verb] To poison.

Drabengro

Seller of medicines, apothecary. Drabengro ker, apothecary’s shop.

Drom

(δρόμος), road, way.

Drow

I.q. Drab; often plural drugs; poison.

Dúi

Two.

Duk

(Borrow’s dook).

Dukker

(From duk, spirit or demon, and ker, to make, to evoke), to tell any one’s fortune, to tell fortunes.

Dukkerin dook

The fortune-telling or divining spirit.

Dukkerin

(The in is English “ing”), any one’s fortune or fortunes, fate; fortune-telling. “To pen” a dukkerin is incorrect.

Dukkeripen

Fortune-telling.

Dumo

(Dumó), the back.

Duvel

(Devél), God.

Duvelskoe

(Devlesko), divine.

Dye

(Daï), mother.

Engro

(A mere adjectival ending, er, ing), Borrovian for “master,” “fellow,” “chap.”

Erajái

(Rashaï), priest, in Spanish Gypsy.

Eray

See rye.

Farm-engro

Farmer.

Fino

English fine.

Fóros

(φόρος = ἀγορά), city, town.

Gav

Village, town.

Gil

To singular.

Gillie

(Ghili), song, ditty.

Gitáno

A (Sp.) Gypsy.

Gorgikie

Feminine of gorgiko.

Gorgiko

Feminine of gorgio, non-gypsy.

Gorgio

(Gadjó), non-gypsy, stranger, somebody, policeman.

Gorgious

Adjective formed from gorgio.

Grandbebee

Grandmother. See bebee.

Grasní

Mare; jade.

Grondinni

(From Romanian), it hails.

Gry

(Graï), horse. Pellengog, stallion.

Gudló / Gudlí

Sweet; gudló pesham, honeycomb.

Gul eray

(Hungarian G?), sweet gentleman.

Habben

(Khabé, from khavava, I eat), food, victuals; feast.

Harkomescro

(Arkíchi, tin), tinker.

Hatch

To cook (evidently from pekava, rather than atchava).

Hinjirí

(Feminine of hinjiró, from djandjir, a chain), executioner.

Hir mi devlis

(Or diblis), by G⁠—.

Hokkawar

(Khokhavava), to lie, to cheat.

Hokkeripen

Falsehood, deception.

Hors-worth

Pennyworth. (Hors, from grosch?)

Iuziou

(Shuzó), clean.

Jaw

(Java), to go. See chal.

Jawing

Going.

Jib

(Chib) tongue, language.

Juggal

(Jukél), dog.

Juva / Juwa

(Young) woman.

Kair

See ker.

Kaló

Feminine kalí, plural kalé, black, dark.

Kauley

Feminine of kaulo.

Kaulo

See kaló.

Kaulomescro

Blacksmith.

Ke

To.

Kek

None.

Kekaubi / Kekkauvi

(Kakkávi), kettle.

Kekauviskoe saster

Kettle iron or hook.

Kekkenó

No, not one.

Ker

[Noun] House.

[Verb] (Kerava), to make, to do.

Kerdó

Made (he).

Kil

(Kelava), to play.

Kin

(Kinava), to buy.

Kistur

(Klisava), to ride.

Kitchema

Tavern, alehouse.

Kosko

I, good.

Kral / Krallis

King, see cral.

Lachipen

Goodness.

Laki / Lakie

(Lake), her, to her.

Lavengro

Word-master, philologist.

Lel

(Lava, lesa, lela), to take; to buy.

Len

I.q. Lende.

Lende

Their, to them.

Leste

Him.

Levinor

(Levina), ale.

Lil

Paper, book.

Lirí

Law.

Lis

It.

Lolló

(Loló), red.

Loovu

See.

Lovó

Coin; plural lové, money.

Lubbeny

(Lubní), harlot.

Lundra

London.

Luripen

Theft, robbery.

Mailla

Donkey.

Man

Me.

Mande

To me.

Mang

(Mangava), to beg.

Manriclí

(Manrikló), cake.

Manró

Bread.

Manus

(Manush), man.

Marél

(Error for merel): merava, meresa, merela⁠—he dies.

Mek

(Mukava), to leave, to let; mek lis, drop it.

Men

We.

Mensar

(Mensa), with us.

Mer

(Merava), to die.

Mi

(Me), I.

Miduveleskoe lil

Divine or godly book.

Miró

F, my, mine.

Miry

(Mirí), my.

Morro

Bread.

Muchtar

(Muktar), box, toolbox.

Mullo

(Muló), dead.

Nashkadó / Nashkadí

(Nashavdó), lost, ruined; hanged (George Borrow).

Nashky

Gallows (George Borrow).

Nav

Name.

O

The.

Odoi / Odoy

There, here.

Opré

On, upon, up.

Pa

Over, for.

Pal

(Pral), brother; friend, mate.

Palor

(Pralá), brothers.

Parraco

(L.L. Paracrow; Zinc. parauco), I thank.

Patteran

(Patrín), leaf of a tree, Gypsy trail.

Pawdel

(Perdál), on the other side, across.

Pellengo

(Pelengro, from pelé, testicles), with gry, a stallion.

Pen

(Penava), to say, to tell.

Peshotá

Plural of peshót pishót, bellows.

Petúl

(Pétalo), horseshoe.

Petulengro

Head of the clan “Smith.”

Pindró

(Pinró), foot, hoof.

Pios

(From piava, I drink), health, in toasting.

Piramus

MS. “Priamus.”

Plaistra

(Klashta), pincers, tongs.

Plastramengro

Runner, detective.

Poggadó / Poggadí

(Panghiardó), broken.

Poknees

(Paknís, a man of trust), magistrate.

Prala

Vocative of pal or pral, brother.

Pré

(Opré), on, upon.

Pudamengro

(From purdava or pudava, I blow), bellows.

Puró

Feminine purí, plural puré, old, ancient.

Pus

Straw.

Puv

(Or phuv) earth, ground.

Ran

Stick, rod, cane.

Ráni

Lady, wife.

Rarde

(Ratt), night.

Rat

Rate and rati, blood, race.

Rawnie

See ráni.

Rig

(?) to carry.

Rin

A file.

Rinkenó

í, pretty, fine.

Rom

Husband; Gypsy.

Roman

Borrovian tor Gypsy.

Romaneskoenaes

In Gypsy fashion.

Romanies

Gypsies.

Romanly

In Gypsy, Gypsy-like.

Romanó

í, Gypsy.

Romany Chal

Gypsy.

Romany Chi

Gypsy (girl).

Romany Rye

Gypsy gentleman.

Romany

(Anglicised form of Romanó, Romaní), Gypsy.

Rome and dree

(Rom andré? Gypsy at heart).

Romí

Wife.

Rommanis

In Gypsy, also wife (George Borrow).

Rommany

I.q. Romany.

Rové

(Third person singular of rovava), he weeps.

Rup

Silver.

Rye

(Ráï), gentleman.

Sanpriel

Sanspareil.

Sap

Snake.

Sapengro

Snake-catcher.

Sar shan

How art thou?

Sas

It was, were it.

Saster / Sastra

Iron.

Sastramescro

Worker in iron, smith.

Saulo

(MS. sorlo), morning; early (?)

Savó

What kind of a man? who?

Scoppelo

Ninny.

Se

(Isi), is, are.

Shan

(Isán), thou art.

Sherengro

(From sheró, the head), head man, chief.

Shom

(Isóm), I am.

Shoon

(Shunava), to hear, to listen.

Shukaro

(Tchokanó), hammer.

Shunella

(Shunéla, 3rd singular of shunava), is listening.

Si

(Isí), is, are; si men, are we; si mensar (mensa), is or are with us.

Sinaba

(Spanish Gypsy), was.

Sore

(Saré), plural all, all who.

Sos

[Verb](Isás), was.

[Pronoun] Who.

Sove

(Sovava), to sleep.

Swety

(Plural of Russian sviet), people, folks.

Synfye

Cinthia (Slavic th is pronounced ph).

Ta

And.

Tachó

í, true.

Tan

Place, tent.

Tasaulor

(Read ta-sorlo), tomorrow.

Tatchenó

í, modest, chaste.

Tatchipen

Truth.

Tawnie

Feminine of.

Tawnó / Tawní

(Tarnó), little, short.

Tove

(Tovava), to wash.

Trin

Three.

Truppo

(Trupo), body.

Tu

Thou.

Tute

(Tut), thee, to thy.

Vagescoe

Adjective of yag.

Vassavie

Feminine of.

Vassavó

í, vile.

Villaminni

(Hungarian villám), it lightens.

Wafodo

I, bad, raise.

Wel

(Corrupted from avella), to come, to go.

Welling

Coming.

Wendror

(Connected with andró, within?), the insides.

Wesh

(Vesh), forest.

Wust

To throw (better the first MS. form, chiv).

Yag

Fire.

Ye

The.

Yeck

(Yek), one.

Yov

(Ov), be.

Zigeuner

(Ger.), Gypsy.

Zingaro

(It.), Gypsy.