Romany

Romany is an umbrella term used for the Romani people and their language. In English, it is often used interchangeably with Romani or Roma, though some communities prefer those terms and may distinguish between people and language. The Romani are an ethnolinguistic group whose ancestors originated in the Indian subcontinent and who migrated into Europe during the last millennium. The name Gypsy has been used historically but is considered pejorative in many contexts.

The Romani language, Romani or Romani chib, belongs to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European family. It comprises numerous dialects that vary by region and community, with limited mutual intelligibility between some groups. Romani has absorbed vocabulary from languages spoken in the countries where communities settled, while maintaining common grammatical features.

Estimates of Romani populations vary widely. In Europe, communities are established across many countries, with sizable concentrations in Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Spain, Slovakia, the Balkans, and Western and Central Europe. Diaspora communities are present in the Americas, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Population counts are often imprecise due to social invisibility and varying self-identification.

Romani cultures are diverse, with rich musical, oral, and ritual traditions. Many communities maintain traditional crafts and occupations while many have settled into broader societies. Social organization often emphasizes extended family networks and clan-based affiliations. Religious affiliations include Roman Catholic, Orthodox Christian, Muslim, and other faiths, reflecting regional histories.

Contemporary issues facing Romani communities include discrimination, poverty, education gaps, and health disparities. Policy efforts in several countries and at the European level focus on inclusion, anti-discrimination, and access to education and housing. Romani activism emphasizes recognition of cultural rights, language preservation, and participation in public life.