zigeuner

See also Zigeuner

English

Etymology

A loanword from German; see further etymological information in the entry Zigeuner.

Noun

zigeuner (plural zigeuners)

  1. (offensive) A Gypsy.

Usage notes

"Zigeuner" is an imprecise term derived from a Greek word for "untouchable".[1][2][3] It is considered offensive by many Romani. In Germany, the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma rejects the use of the corresponding German term, "Zigeuner", as a designation for the Roma, regarding it as racist and as having been discredited by the Nazis' use of it.

See also the note about Zigeuner.

References

  1. ^ 2004, Viorel Achim, The Roma in Romanian History (Bucharest), page 9
  2. ^ 2007, Jean-Pierre Liégeois, Roma In Europe, page 17
  3. ^ 1993, Struggling for Ethnic Identity: The Gypsies of Hungary (published by Human Rights Watch), page 1

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Dutch

Etymology

A loanword from German; see further etymological information in the entry Zigeuner.

Noun

zigeuner m (plural zigeuners, diminutive zigeunertje)

  1. (sometimes offensive) Gypsy, member of the Roma
  2. (sometimes offensive) gypsy, person who leads a nomadic life

Usage notes

See the note on Zigeuner.

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Last modified on 22 May 2013, at 17:23