tzigane
English
Etymology
From the Hungarian cigány, which entered English via French. The Hungarian derives from Byzantine Greek τσιγγάνος (tsingános, “Gypsy”).[1][2][3] Cognate to Italian zigano and Spanish cíngaro. More broadly, also cognate to German Zigeuner, Italian zingaro, Portuguese cigano, Polish Cygan, Czech Cikán, Russian цыган.
The other major categories of words for the Roma are cognates of Rom (words related to the Romani people's autonyms) and cognates of Gypsy (words related to Egypt); see those entries for more information.
Pronunciation
Noun
tzigane (plural tziganes)
Synonyms
- zigeuner (a Romani person, especially a German Romani person)
Usage notes
Like Gypsy, this term may be considered offensive by Romani people. At the same time, it may not be understood or meant as offensive by non-Romani people.[4] See the usage notes at Gypsy and zigeuner.
References
- ^ 2004, Viorel Achim, The Roma in Romanian History (Bucharest), page 9
- ^ 2007, Jean-Pierre Liégeois, Roma In Europe, page 17
- ^ 1993, Struggling for Ethnic Identity: The Gypsies of Hungary (published by Human Rights Watch), page 1
- ↑ 4.04.1 see the notes on terminology in Edward Proctor's Gypsy dialects: a selective annotated bibliography of materials for the practical study of Romani (2008)
French
Alternative forms
Pronunciation
- IPA: /tsi.ɡan/
Noun
tzigane m and f (plural tziganes)
Usage notes
This term may be considered offensive by Romani people. At the same time, it may not be understood or meant as offensive by non-Romani people.[1]
Adjective
tzigane (masculine and feminine, plural tziganes)
- (attributive, sometimes offensive)[1]Gypsy
Proper noun
tzigane m
References
- ↑ 1.01.11.21.3 see the notes of terminology in Edward Proctor's Gypsy dialects: a selective annotated bibliography of materials for the practical study of Romani (2008)