Sergio Franzese

THEMED GLOSSARY OF THE ROMANI LANGUAGE
(XORAXANÓ DIALECT)

English translation by John Hinsley

Introduction

This themed glossary  is intended to provide a basic vocabulary of the Xoraxanó dialect. For the time being, it makes up for the absence of a dictionary, the time and space for the publication of which is not, at the moment, available.

The words collected under each heading attempt to marry together aspects of the Romani world with those of the society of the Gadží. The fact that  the vocabulary is not always directly connected to the cultural traditions of the Roma explains the high incidence of loan words which have become part of the Romani language in recent times. Of course, in the specific case of the Xoraxané  Roma these are predominently of Slavic derivation due to their long stay in the Balkans.

For the revision and sorting out of this glossary, which has its origins in a collection of words I made some thirteen years go, I was once again able to avail myself of the advice of my tireless friend Neđad Ahmetović "Toni", to whom I owe my greatest esteem and gratitude.

THE FAMILY = E FÁMILJA

The father = o dad; the mother = e dej; the husband = o řom; the wife  (if "gypsy") = e řomní, (if not "gypsy") e džuvlí; the brother = o phral; the sister = e phen; the son = o čhavřó; the daughter = e čhej; the grandfather = o pápo; the grandmother = e bíka; the grandson = o unúko; the granddaughter = e unúka; the uncle = o kak; the aunt = e bibí; the nephew = o phraléhko / phejáko čhavřó (= the son of the brother/sister); the niece = e phraléhki / phejáki čhéj (= the daughter of the brother / sister); the cousin (m.) = o rodžáko; the cousin (f.) = e róditsa; the godfather = o kúmo; the godmother = e kúma; the godson = o kúmče; the father-in-law = o púntso; the mother-in-law = e púnitsa; one's son's/daughter's father-in-law = o prijáteli; one's son's/daughter's mother-in-law = e príja; the brother-in-law = o šuráko; the sister-in-law = e šurákinja (?); the son-in-law = o džamutró; the daughter-in-law = e borí.

THE DWELLING = O LODIPÉ

The tent = e tsáhra; the rear part of the tent= e pódži; the central pole, the main pole = o beránd; the tent pegs = e čilé; the caravan, trailer = e kampína; the caravan = e arabáva; the wheel = o kólo; the house = o čher; the apartment, the flat = o stáno; the room = e sóba; the door = o vudár; the padlock = o katántso; the key = o kjúčo; the window = e phendžeráva; the window-pane = o stáklo; the wall = o zído; the attic = o taváno; the floor = o pódo; the light = o svétlo; the kitchen = e kúnja; the table = o hastáli; the coal = o angár; the stove = e furunáva; the fire = e jag; the smoke = o thuv; the matches = e šíbitse; the embers = o záro; the ash = o práxo; the spit = o rážnjo; the dish = o čaró; the cup = o fidžáno; the glass = e čáša; the spoon = o řoj; the fork = o pirúno; the knife = e čurí; the petrol(?) can = e búšma; the bottle = e bótsa; the sofa, the couch = o dušéko; the bed = o krevéto; the carpet = e serdžáda; the cushion, the pillow = o šeránd; the sheets = e učharnjá (?); the blanket, the rug = e déka; the case, the box = o kuféri; the comb = e khanglí; the razor = o brznáko, o džiléto; the scissors = e kat; the soap = o sapúj; the towel = e peškíri; the broom = e métla; the cellar = o pódromo; the courtyard = e dvórišta.  

THE CITY = O FÓRO

The house = o čher; the church = e khandžerí; the mosque = e džamíja; the school = e škóla; the municipality = e ópština; the hospital = e bólnitsa; the lunatic asylum = e lúdnitsa; the prison, the jail= o phandipé; the station = e stánitsa; the train = e mašína; the railway (railway track) = e štréke; the shop = e zádruga; the baker's shop = o marnári ; the dairy = o thudári ; the butcher's shop = o masári ; the market = e píatsa; the hotel = o hótel; the bar = e gostjóna, e kafenjáva; the cemetery = e lemójra; the  cinema = o kíno; the road, the  street = o drom; the  piazza, the square = e píatsa; the park = o párko; the car = o ávto; the truck = o kamjóno; the bicycle = o bitsíklo.

THE COUNTRYSIDE AND SEASIDE = AN E GAVÁ THE PÁŠA E MÓRA

The nature = e príroda; the village = o gav; the mountain = o búrdo; the hill = o burdořó; the valley = e xar; the stone = o barthe field = e njíva; the grass = e čar, the hay = o khas; the straw = o phus; the meadow = e umál; the wood. the ; forest = o voš; the tree = o kaš; the flower = e luludžín; the leaf = e patrín; the vineyard = e draká; the well = o ubló; the fountain = e česmáva; the cave = o xivadó bar; the river = e len; the bridge = e prud; the lake = o jezéri; the stable = e štálahen-house = e khanjángi štála; the sea = e móra; the beach = e šišáj; the boat = e bárka, o čámtso; the ; the desert = púštinja.e

PEOPLE = E ŘOMÁ

The king = o tsáro, o králjo; the leader, the cheif = o šéfo; the sedentary (non Roma) man = o gadžó; the friend (m), the companion = o amál, o drugári; the friend (f) = e drugáritsa; the fiancé = o ljubámniko; the bride = e mláda; the wife = e borí; the widower = o udóvso; the widow = e udovítsa; the passer-by, the traveller = o pútniko; the young man = o ternó; the old man = o phuró; the rich man = o barvaló; the poor man = o čoró; the worker = o rádniko; the thief = o čor; the murderer = o řom (gadžó) kaj mudarél; the witness = o sjedóko; the captive, the prisoner = o phangló; the fugitive, the runaway = o našadó; the prostitute = e kúrva; the witch = e džoxaní; healthy = sastó; ill = nasvaló; mad = diló; blind = kořó; dumb = mútavo; deaf = kašukó; lame, crippled = bangó; humpbacked = grbavo; drunk = mató; lying = xoxamnó.  

TRADES AND TOOLS = E BUČJÁ THE O HALÁTO

The blacksmith = o kováči; the palmist (f), the chiromancer (f) = e řomní kaj doračarél; palmistry, the palm-reading = o doračaripé; the musician = o řom (gadžó) kaj bašavél; the violin = e vjolína, e čemáne (?); the music = e múzika; the judge = o súdja; the lawyer = o avokáto; the teacher = o učítelji; the doctor = o ljekári; the policeman = o loló, o pořaló, o pačardó, o džandáro; the peasant = o gadžó kaj oríl e phuv, o seljáko; the shepherd = o čobánino; the fisherman = o mačhári; the trader, the businessman = o zadrugári; the butcher = o masári; the baker = o marnári; the tailor = o suvári; the cloth = o štófo; the shoemaker = o gadžó kaj lačarél e kóndura; the joiner = o gadžó kaj radíl o kaš; the journalist = o novinári; the soldier = o vojníko; the mayor = o baró gadžó e gavéhko; the innkeeper = o konobári; the servant (m) = o slúga; the servant (f) = e slúga.

FOOD = O XAPÉ

The soup (with meat) = e zumí; the soup, the broth = e súpa; the flour = o aró; the bread = o mařnó; the pasta = o xumér; the salt = o lon; the oil = o úlje; the vinegar = o serčéto; the onion = e purúm; the garlic = e sir; the sugar = o sičéri; the honey = o avdžín; the butter = o čil; the lard, the fat = o koj; the meat = o mas; the prosciutto = o balikanó (mas); the salame = e saláma; the egg = o arnó; the fish = o maćó; the potatoes = e kompíra; the cabbage = o šax; the beans = e fusujá; the peas, the lentils = e gráškúri; the salad = e saláta; the tomatoes = o patlidžáno; the pepper = o pipéri; the wheat = o dživ; the maize, the (Indian) corn = o bóbo; the rice = o rézo; the cheese = o čirál; the apple = e phabáj; the pear = o ambról; the grapes = e drak; the peach = e bréska; the cherry = e čiréš; the walnut = o akhór; the hazel-nut = e pexénd; the cake = o marnó gudló; the water = o paj; the wine = e mol; the beer = e píva; the milk = o thud; the tea = o čaj; the coffee = e kafáva; the spirits = e račíja.

THE CLOTHES = E PATAVÉ

The hat = o šešíri; the cap = e čhadží; the fez = o fézo; the turban = o turbáno; the earrings = e čejá; the foulard = o dikhló; the shirt = o gad; the blouse = e blúza, o koparáno; the cloak = e mántla, e kabánitsa; the (over)coat, the jacket = o kapóto; the skirt = o fistáno; the trousers (of women) = e dimíje; the trousers (of men) = e pantóle; the knickers, the underpants = e sostejá; the belt = o kajíši; the pocket = e póski; the socks = e čarápe; the shoelaces = e snúre; the handkerchief = e fartsúla; the button = e pulía; the ring = e angrustí; the bag = e tášna, e késa; the purse = e čisí.  

THE ANIMALS = E DŽIVINÉ

The dog = o džukél, o džučél; the bitch = e džuklí; the cat = e máčka; the bird = e čiriklí; the dove = e golúbitsa; the parrot = o papagáj; the horse = o grah (obl. grast-); the colt = o khurořó; the mare = e grasní; the cow = e gurumní; the ox, the bull = o gurúv; the donkey, the ass = o džoró; the pig = o baló; the sow = e balí; the goat = e busní; the ram = o bakró; the lamb = o bakró; the sheep = e bakrí; the rabbit = o šošój; the hare = o šošój dívo; the hen = e khanjí; the cock, the rooster = o basnó; the chick = o plso; the duck, the goose = e pátka; the wolf = o ruv; the mouse = o mišjáko; the tiger = e tigre; the elephant = o slóno; the giraffe, the cammel = e déva; the spider = o karpélji; the fly = e mak; the bee = o bindavóri; the mosquito = e komarítsa; the ant = e čir; the worm = o čermó; the fish = o mačó; the hedgehog = o jézo; the snake = o sap; the frog, the toad = e žambúka; the leg, the paw = o prnó; the tail = e purí; the horns = e šingá; the mane = e gríva; the feathers = e perúške.

THE HUMAN BODY = O TIJÉLO E MANUŠÉHKO

The body = o tijélo; the blood = o rat; the bone = o kókalo; the skin = e murčí; the mole = o biljégo; the hair = e bal; the head = o šoró; the skull = o šoró kostuléhko; the plait, the braid = e pletenítsa; the forehead = o čikát; the eye = o jak; the nose = o nak; the moustache = e mustáka; the beard = e bráda; the ear = o kan; the cheek = e čam; the lip = o vuš; the tooth = o dand; the tongue = e čhib; the throat = o krló; the neck = o kor; the shoulder blade = o dumó; the shoulder = e pjéška; the arm = o vah (obl. vast-); the hand = o vah (obl. vast-); the finger = o naj; the nail = e vúndži; the spine, the backbone = e kíčma; the back = e zejá; the chest = o kolín; the breasts = e čučá; the heart = o iló, o uljó; the lung = o bukó; the liver = o bukó; the abdomen = o poř; the stomach = o odží; the kidney = o bubréko; the intestines = e pořá; the penis = o kar; the testicles = e pelé; the vagina = e mindž; the thigh = o búto; the leg = o prnó; the knee = e čang; the foot = o prnó.  

TIME = O VRIJÉME

The day = o dživé; the week = o kurkó; the month = o čhon; the year = o brš; the hour = e saháto; the minute = o minútor; the holiday = e sláva; Sunday = o kurkó; the new year = o nevó brš; ieri = aračí; tomorrow = tehára;  today = adživé; the day before  yesterday = o gujárači; the day after tomorrow = o avér tehára; the afternoon, the evening = pašaračáti; the night = e ajrát; soon = brzo; early in the morning = ráno; late = kásno; midday = o pašdživé, e pódne; midnight = o pašorját; the dawn = e zóra; summer = o miláj; autumn = o jésen; winter = o vijénd; spring = e prolijéće; il weather = o vrijéme; the rain = o bršín; the wind = e barvál; the snow = o jiv; clear, settled = šukár dživé; hot = tató; cold = šilaló, šudró; humid = čingó.

THE SKY = O ÓBLAKO

The sky = o óblako; the earth = e phuv; the sun = o kham; the moon = o čhon; the stars = e čehrajá; the shade (?) = e sénka; the cloud = o óblako; the thunder, the lightning = o grómo.

RELIGION = E DEVLIKANÉ SVÁTURI

God = o Del; the devil = o džávolo, o beng; the madonna = e Góspa; the saint (m) = o svétso; the saint (f) = e svétinja; the church = e khandžerí; the mosque = e džamíja; the priest = o pópo; the Mullah (the Muslim "priest") = o hódža; the cross = o krsto; the marriage  = o abjiáv; the funeral = o spróvod; the prayer = e molítva; the candle = e memelí; the Hajj (the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca)  = o hadžíja; devout = pobózno (?); the Holy Spirit = o Svéto Dúho.

THE COLOURS = E BOJÁVE

white = parnó; black = kaló; red = loló; yellow = gálbeno; blue = plávo; pink = rúmeno; green = zéleno; blond = gálbeno.

The colours of horses = e grasténge bojáve

grey = álato; bay = šáreno; dun(?) = dórato; piebald(?) = biljégo; sorrel (light) = vrántso; sorrel (chestnut) = zéčkasto.

THE METALS = E KÓVINE

The silver = o rup; silvery = rupanó; the gold = o sumnakáj;  golden (of colour) = sumnakunó; the iron = o sástri; the copper = e xárkuma.  

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Copyright Sergio Franzese.  All rights reserved.