gypsy

IPA/ˈdʒɪpsi/
KK[dʒˈɪpsi]IPA/ˈdʒɪpsi/

gypsy — noun

  • gypsysingular
  • gypsiesplural

1. Someone who belongs to a community whose ancestors came from northern India and

1.nounB2
Definition

Someone who belongs to a community whose ancestors came from northern India and who share a common cultural and linguistic heritage. People from this community have traditionally traveled between different places rather than living permanently in one location. Most members now live in Europe or the Americas. Many people in this community prefer to be called Roma or Romani.

Example

The gypsy community in this region has passed down its musical traditions for centuries.

collocation: gypsy community

Lukas interviewed several gypsy families for his university research project.

gypsy families — countable noun, plural

Common collocations
  • gypsy community
  • gypsy family
  • gypsy caravan
  • gypsy musician
  • gypsy culture
  • gypsy tradition
  • gypsy history
  • gypsy settlement
Synonyms
  • Roma

    The preferred term for the ethnic group as a whole; used as both a singular and plural noun (e.g., 'the Roma people').

  • Romani

    Often used as an adjective (Romani culture, Romani language) or to refer to the people collectively. More precise than 'gypsy'.

Grammar Patterns

gypsy + noun (e.g. gypsy community)

the + gypsy + noun (e.g. the gypsy population)

Usage Note

This term was historically the common English name for the Roma people, but many members of the community now consider it inaccurate or offensive. In academic writing and formal contexts, Roma (for the people) and Romani (for the language, culture, or adjective) are the preferred terms. Using gypsy to refer to non-Roma travelers or to the lifestyle of moving from place to place is widely considered disrespectful.

Common Mistakes

I met a gypsy on the street who was selling handmade jewelry.
I met a Romani craftsman at the market.
Referring to a specific person as 'a gypsy' can feel reductive or stereotyping; use Roma or Romani when referring to an individual from this community.
We lived like gypsies, moving to a new city every year.
We lived a nomadic lifestyle, moving to a new city every year.
Using 'gypsy' to describe a non-Roma person's traveling habits is offensive to the Roma community.

Word family

  • Roma
    nounB2
  • Romani
    adjectiveB2
  • Romani
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Roma is the preferred term for the ethnic group and is used both as a noun (the Roma) and as an adjective (Roma culture). Romani is more commonly used as an adjective (Romani language, Romani traditions) but can also refer to the people collectively. Both terms are more respectful than gypsy in modern usage. Nomad, unlike the other three, refers to a lifestyle rather than an ethnic identity — any person or group that moves from place to place can be described as nomadic, regardless of their background. For example: 'The Roma community has faced discrimination for centuries' (ethnic group) versus 'The family lived a nomadic life, following work across the country' (lifestyle description, unrelated to ethnicity).

Roma ↗Romaninomad ↗

Etymology

GreekLatinFrenchEnglish

The word gypsy comes from Egyptian, a shortened form of the Middle English Egypcien. When Roma people first arrived in Western Europe during the 1400s, they were mistakenly believed to have come from Egypt, and so were called 'Egyptians.' Over time, this was shortened to 'gypsy.' In reality, the Roma people originally migrated from northern India, not Egypt.

First known use

1574

1574, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Verb