On The Word “Gadje”
In every single dialect of Rromanes, the Romani language, there is a word specifically for those outside of our ethnicity; gadje, gadže, gažhe, gaujer, gage, gorger, gorgio, etc..
It is speculated that this word came into being from a Prakrit term meaning “civilian”, suggesting that at least part of our diasporic group was somehow militarily involved.
This is mere speculation, though, and is not based in concrete facts.
The term, “gadje”, and any derivations that exist in other dialects simply mean “non-Romani people”.
“Gadji” means “non-Romani woman”.
“Gadjo” means “non-Romani man”.
“Rakle”, or “raklja” mean “non-Romani children”.
These words have one meaning & one meaning only: not Romani.
They are in no way inherently derogatory.
Saying “gadje” is no different than saying “non-Romani”. “Gadje” is just the word we use in Rromanes. It is no different than using “nem Rroma”, “nicht Rromani”, “ne Rromu”, “non-Romani”.
We just have a single term for those outside of our ethnicity in our own language.
That being said, people who do not speak Rromanes, people who are not ethnically Romani, should not use “gadje” or any other forms of the word.
You should refer to yourself & others outside of our ethnicity as “non-Romani”, or whatever the term is that exists in your language.
Maybe you know a Romani person who is okay with you referring to yourself as “gadje”, but you should only use this term when speaking with that individual.
Otherwise, you are bastardizing, or appropriating a word from our language.
This word is not yours; it is ours.
I do not know exactly what it is that frightens people about this word.
No, we will not stop speaking our own language simply because it makes you uncomfortable.
Most Romani on here, or on other forums only use “gadje” amongst each other.
We have found ourselves in a predicament where this word is either stolen from us & used by non-Romani, or that we are chastised for using a word that comes from our language.
Many times, when we post in English, we will use non-Romani because that is the only English translation of the term.
If we want to insult you, “gadje” is not the term we would use.
We have our own swear words & our own insults that we are not shy about throwing around.
“Gadje” is not one of those words.
The only arguments I have heard against the word are from ill-informed non-Romani who wrongly think this word is a slur, or from those who can only claim Romani “ancestry” & do not quite understand what it means to have people tell you that you cannot speak your own language.
If you are non-Romani; do not use “gadje” to refer to yourself unless you are speaking with a Romani person who is okay with your using it.
If you are non-Romani; do not ask us to stop speaking our own language because you have a misunderstanding of a term that we use.
Kibori
Mahala Rai Banda
Rex Von Wriste is young, Rom and American. →
Also, he is very interesting!
Contributing Writer: ‘Rex Von Wriste’ Poet, Writer, Philosopher and Musician Rex Von Wriste is an American Rom based in Los Angeles. “Being Roma is a very large part of who I am.”
Page from “Romano Startorro” - “Roma Start” a learning book for children.
Sarajevo, 1990.
(not sure what dialect, possibly Banatiski, Gurbet, or Sremski)
Map of the World entirely in Rromanes.
Accurate country names courtesy of Translation Romani.
Feel free to use!!AHHH AWESOME~
(aw pout… different to my dialect :(
ie: italija = Talijansko)
Dear World,
Can you please just stop it with all your “gypsy” fashion, “gypsy” dance, and “gypsy” everything?
I would appreciate it if for once in my life I did not have to feel ashamed of who I am and the culture into which I was born. I am tired of having to constantly shout over the stereotypes that drown me & my people.It does not flatter us. That is not “appreciating” “gypsy” culture. In reality, it is tantamount to spitting in the face of our entire ethnicity; you are defecating on our culture. You are sexualizing our women, painting us as chlidren or savages. We have become invisible against the backdrop of misinformation, bigotry & hatred.
My ethnicity is not a lifestyle. My culture is not a type of fashion.
That word, “gypsy”, it’s a slur. I don’t want that word, but you can’t have it either. It is screamed as people spit in our faces, beat us in public, rape our women & burn down our houses. It was tattooed on the arms of my ancestors. It is used as a means to make people fear us, so we can be further ostracized an oppressed.
I am no victim. No one can hurt me without my permission.
I just want my culture back. I want my dikhlo and my skirts and my braids and I don’t want to feel ashamed for wearing them. I don’t want to be feel afraid to wear them. I want people to stop giving me dirty looks or spitting at me because of who I am.
You can’t have even the pretty bits.
If you want to be a “gypsy”, you must take the “rules”, the heavy pain in my heart for the relatives who perished in genocide. You must burn candles with me. Take the insults, take the words of “dirty gypsy” and “gypsy scum”. Take being called a “slut” simply for being a Romani woman. Take being called a “monkey” & “European n*gger”. Take the fear of speaking out for your rights, the death threats.Take the shame of just existing.
I want my culture back.
I want my dignity back.
It was never yours to take in the first place.
collective-history: A Brief Introduction to Romani History →
The Romani are an ethnic group living mostly in Europe, who trace their origins to the Indian Subcontinent. Romani are widely known in the English-speaking world by the (pejorative) exonym “Gypsies”
Romani are widely dispersed, with their largest concentrated populations in Europe, especially the Roma of…
Links to Romani history if anyone is interested!
Also, “collective-history” is an awesome blog if you’re a history nerd.
Paramiča Romani
Sas-pe ekh vrama kana soro manušja trajade jekhthan thaj von džanenas na khanč bukisake, na iventsake, na nasvalimosake, thaj na siles vojasake.
O phuv das-pe maj laše kašteske bijandimatja thaj ande but kopačija baronas mas. Thud thaj paji sas kadi but rečkaja.
Manušja thaj vagalatja trajenas soro jekhthan thaj nasle mulipe daratar.
Jekh djes, ekh manuš phuro reslas te ekh xlopo čoro, thaj vo pušlas pe ekh ratjijako bešel thaj o xlopo čoro thaj leski Rromni lašimos dine lenca.
Po meklas les kaver djes, o manuš phuro das te o xlopo čoro tsino mačho ande ekh vaso.
Vo phendas, “Inkerl kava mačho thaj oda ma xa. Kana avav palal ande jekh khurko, me dimanja k’avav tume, te den palal te ma.”
Kana o manuš phuro sas, e manušnji po’o mačho dikhlas, thaj voj phendas te lako Rrom, “Sar šaj te avel te ame čjiravam kava mačho?”
O xlopo čoro vo das palal, “Šinavlem o manuš phuro te avav palal o mačho, thaj musaj te šinavel oda te inkerel dži vo avel palal.”
Thaj šaj, voj šinavlas, “me či te mudarel pe o mačho, sargodi, te inkerel oda sastimos.”
Duj khurkja araklem, e manušnji te djindivlas-pe: “O mačho musajjol maj lašo te o manuš phuro djindivlas andar oda, kasevo, te vo andas-as pala peste thaj najšik čjiraveldasa.”
Pal djindel-pe but vrama, voj las po’o vaso o mačho thaj voj šudardas pe le angarja.
Sas ekh štrafjal thaj voj mudardelas.
Kava sas jekhto mulipe ande soro e bari-lumnja.
Atunči, o beršindja kezisardas.
E rečkaja line-pe te šorajimos lenge bregja thaj das tasado pe Phuv.
Ando inato djes, o manuš phuro reslas palal te o manuš čoro thaj vo phendas, “Tu inkarlan tjiri sovli thaj tu či kerdjan mudarel o mačho. Aver les Rromnja, Kidl tjire tserxja, kerl ekh bero thaj tu avesa skepisavol.
Les tjire vagalatja, tjire kapačijake simintsja thaj tsimburja, te šaj’aj-te simil ande Phuv pala. Soro manušja thaj soro bukija trajime von musaj-te tasado, thaj numaj tu avesa te ačel.”
Ko kava, o manuš phuro xasavelas thaj o manuš čoro kerdjan so sas phendi.
Das beršind ko ekh lungo-berš thaj khanč šaj dikhjol, de paji thaj čer.
Atunči, le moraja xasardjlen čindojipe thaj o manuš čoro ande phuv naj čindi vo reslas lenca nevi Rromni, lenca tserxja thaj le vagalatja.
Pal kothja, trubuj-sas te buki, te pludjas thaj te simil, te šaj trajil.
Lesko trajimo sas pherdo grižomipe thaj rutojipe thaj lencaj resle nasvalipe thaj mulipe
Le manušja butjardelas maj lokodo.
Maj, maj exerja kaj beršja nakhle majsig manušja butile sas’vi majsig o tasado, thaj vi si’i akana.
There once was a time when all people lived together and knew nothing of work, of winter, of illness, or of want.
The Earth gave its finest fruits, and meat grew on many trees.
Milk & water flowed from many rivers.
People and animals all lived together & had no fear of death.
One day, an old man came to a peasant and asked him for a night’s lodging & the peasant & his wife gave him hospitality.
On leaving the next morning, the old man gave the peasant a little fish in a bowl.
He said, “Keep this fish & do not eat it. When I return in a week, I will reward you if you give it back to me.”
When the old man left, the woman looked at the fish & said to her husband, “How would it be if we cooked this fish?”
The peasant replied, “I promised the old man to return the fish & you must swear to keep it until he comes back.”
So, she swore, “I will not kill the fish, but will keep it safe.”
Two days later, the woman thought to herself: “The fish must be very good if the old man thought so much of it he carried it about and would not let it be cooked.”
After thinking it over for a long time, she took the fish from the bowl & threw it on the coals.
There was a flash of lightening & she was killed.
This was the first death in the whole world.
Then the rains began.
The rivers started to overflow their banks and flood the Earth.
On the ninth day, the man came back to the peasant & said, “You kept your oath and did not kill the fish. Take another wife, collect your relatives, build a boat and you will be saved.
Take your animals & seeds of trees and plants so that you can sow them afterwards upon the Earth. All humans and all living things must be drowned and only you will be left.”
At this, the old man disappeared and the peasant did as he had been told.
Rain fell for a whole year & nothing could be seen but water & sky.
Then the seas dried up & the man came out on dry land with his new wife, his relatives and the animals.
After that, they had to work, plough & sow, in order to live.
His life was full of worries & woes and with them came illness & death.
The people multiplied very slowly.
Many, many thousands of years passed before people became as numerous as they were before the flood,
And as they are now.
Evolution Of Language: Rromanes
English Hindi Lovari(Balk) Kalderash(Rus) AngloRom
door daravaja vudar porta wodder
day dina djes dyves divvus
flower phula luludji cveto lulu
woman mahila monačej džuvly juvali
chicken cikana kajn čavrin canni
pig su’ara bal balyčny bawlo
tongue jibha čib čip jib
cabbage gobhi šax jarmi shok
water pani pani pany panni
gold sona sumnakaj suvnakaj sonnakey
worm varma čjermo kirmo kurmo
eye ankha jakh jakx yak
eyes ankhem jakhe jakxa yakkor
Just a sample of words in various dialects of Romanes, as well as their Prakrit (Hindi) root words. Some terms, such as worm, were based upon loan words. Worm comes from the Persian or Kurdish word. Other words, such as pig, have merely evolved from the Hindi root word. However, given the pronunciation of “L” in many Romanes dialects, the word is likely less distant in pronunciation than in its written form. Very obviously, some words were heavily influenced by local languages. All dialects of Romanes have influence from contact with local languages.
Also, pardon title abbreviations. “AngloRom” is shortened from Anglo-Romany, the Lovari dialect is Balkan Lovari & Kalderash is Russka Kalderash.
We’re Not Oppressed In America?!
What do people mean we are not oppressed?!
My family hid their ethnicity since coming to this country. Maybe I should start posting ignorant and racist asks, taking pictures of some of the private messages that I have received for speaking on behalf of my ethnicity.
We are NOT even recognized as an ethnic minority here. That means we have one Hell of a time reporting hate crimes, which do occur. There are still “gypsy” crime units in police departments throughout the south. They don’t prosecute ethnic Romani; they prosecute nomadic criminals. What sort of racist message does that send.
I live in PA. In New Jersey, Romani people were not allowed to rent property, sell certain goods, and host gatherings until 1998. That’s not a mistake: 1998.
Until 1998, it was LEGAL for New Jersey state government to enact laws prohibiting the movement and economic well being of Romani persons.
We are constantly accused of not paying taxes, stealing, and being con artists. We have to sit there and listen to off hand comments & racist remarks and cannot say anything about it because we would give up our ethnicity.
No, it’s not as bad as Europe, but it’s not exactly good here, either. Why do you think so many of us claim other ethnicities. Because it’s better to be anything else but Romani in America.
Just the other day, someone spat at my fucking car after looking at me. That’s what we get just for being Romani in public.
Invisible minorities
I really cannot stand stand when people say “you’re not being oppressed in the US” because, one, you’re not Romani, you can’t tell me how bad my ethnicity is off here. That’s not for you to gauge. Secondly, there are numerous ways Romani people are being oppressed in America. It may not be as bad as Europe, where in many places our basic rights are stripped, we are murdered, raped, and physically assaulted for no reason other than our ethnicity, but there are plenty of harmful ways we’re oppressed in America.
My ethnicity is limited in representation in America. We have mystical depictions, that oversexualize Romani women, such as Disney’s Esmerelda. We have “reality shows” that exploit our culture, call us slurs, and oversexualize us, how us as uncivilized and thieves. This is how most Americans know us. SO when one of us does come out and say “I’m Romani” and have to explain that it’s related to “gypsy” we are associated with this representation. These depictions have led to immediate xenophobia and antiziganism. Our culture is constantly appropriated in America as well, which I have touched on in several posts. The word gypsy is now used to describe any sort of trend, when the word itself hurts us all on different levels.
When we are out and we wear traditional clothes, such as the diklo (a traditional head covering) we’re often ostracized and assumed to be muslims (and many of us are) which leads to islamophobia, which is extremely prevalent in America.
Along with this, we’re not recognized as an ethnic minority in America yet, though up to a million people in America claim Romani as an ethnicity. I still have to select other on any form, and that’s how I feel in America. Invisible. Othered. Not wanted.
On a regular basis i have to hear that my ethnicity is not wanted. That we are thieves. That we’ve plagued Europe and now we’re doing the same to America. That I should die in a gas chamber. That Hitler was right. That my culture isn’t real. And that I don’t matter.
Tell me now that I’m not oppressed. Try taking a walk in my shoes.
The American Gypsies Fan Page
National Geographic Fan Page
”Freaking fail. I thought you were better than this Nat Geo. You make Jesus cry.”
”they should embrace evolution of cultures, there would be less drama in thier lives!”
“you people are so racist! if you have such a problem go back where you came from!!”
”They are way too paranoid and racist”
”I’m watching it now!:) also Romanian rules!:) I know cuz I’m full blood Romanian.”
”Kon si kava.. gadjo kojr?! Ugh! Chaxo si thaj xoli mange..”
”should had called this show American Gypsy Gangsters”
”What i dont get is ,it says not all gypsies are fortune tellers but this show is all about a family who runs fortune telling places.”
”Where are Erik, Joey, & Bobby’s wives? If the wife lives with her husbands family & family is everything then where are they?”
”they are very prejudice and discriminating to Americans. Then why do they live here. if they don’t like us influencing them , then why live in this FREE country?”
”What disgusting people.”
”If you are law abiding citizens, how do you make your money????? You seem to have an easy way of life, with money and fancy cars, but it’s interesting to know how you earn that $$$”
”Spain,and too many countries to mention,have fair skin. YOU ARE SO WRONG ABOUT RACE ETC. You condem people what have less melationin? What makes “non-WHITES” superior in your eyes????What is wrong with you. If you can’t play the victim then what will happen?”
”There is an American Gypsies billboard in Times square, the cultural center of the world!:)”
”In front of gaje eating mahrimé food.”
”You are so proud of Romania? That is great! We are so PROUD of AMERICA Too!”
“This show is pretty shocking. Seemed to be a majority of male Neanderthals high on testosterone. Totally embarrassed for for this “culture” [..]”
”tHE DIS RSPECT FOR MY BELOVED aMERICA BY THESE ARROGANT CREEPS MAKES ME SICK”
”I’ve watched the TLC gypsy show and this gypsy show and I believe that American Gypsy is the true gypsies. […]”
”I hate the racism of the whole gadje term […]”
“Remember the ones abusing the kid? Beating in the back seat after a failed shoplifting event in the car, Indiana on YouTube? Texan clan. Funny how we never heard any more from major media for a follow up-no Nancy Grace follow up? Strange. Move along fast people… ”
Unofficial Fan Page:
“This is retarded.”
“Gypsies are all scam artists.”
“HAUL YOUR ROMA ASS OUT TO SOME OTHER COUNTRY! WE DON’T WANT PEOPLE LIKE YOU HERE!”
”[…] if u want to preserve your culture go back to romani india……i cant stand your show its garbage […]”
”[…] and if you gypsies all claim your women are all phsychic thats bullshit your just letting everyone know that its a fake…..your born with something like that not brainwashed into it”
“His father is a dipstick and no one really knows what a “Gypsy” really is……….they have no true roots […]”
”[…] their faith is pathetic and these are generations of crystal ball readers / Cultist down to the bone and I love watching this show simply because they are so damn stupid and pathetic that it is humorous.”
”(Just so the world knows, this one brought me to tears.)
”If you don’t like us.take your but back.I bet u take the money oh.good thing Roma not that way.”
”bunch of wannabe gangsters„r deez buttmunkeys italian??? in any case they act like a bunch of dipshits….”
”If you want to be hateful bigots only interested in your culture then please, leave America. After 9/11 we do not have a place in this country for such division. Gypsies are not better than us, nor we better than them. Welcome to America, melt with us or get the hell out. These people come across as some sort of lowbrow cross between the mafia and muslims.”
”Thieves and Cons show sucks!!!!”
”fucking gypsie turds”
These are the posts that were not deleted. National Geopgraphic can thank me for keeping a photographic log of all comments, so I can also share the best of all deleted posts at a later date.
Keep in mind this is after only two episodes of the nine episode series. I don’t know how many more “Get out of our country” comments we can take. It both angers me & amuses me what this show is doing to our culture. It also scares me.
People use any justification they can find for hate crimes, something which our people have been subject to for centuries and for which we often see no justice or apology. It frightens me, as well as many other American Romani, that people will take the out of context comments about “gadje” and “being American” and use these as a base for attacks on “gypsies”.
In a country where much of the south still has “gypsy” crime units & the racial epithet is used in media & fashion with no recourse or respect for ethnic people, it is not unfathomable that we will suffer greatly, while these networks make billions of dollars from our misery.
This is how America sees us now. This is a representative consensus of a opinions of not only the show, but our entire ethnicity.
I will not leave “your country”; it is for “your country” that most men in my family have served. My own father is a retired Marine. I had three cousins serve in Afghanistan & Iraq, one of whom also served in the first Gulf war. I have countless uncles who were drafted, or already in the military & served in Vietnam & Korea. The first American born male on my mother’s side enlisted during the Secona World War. The first Turcsik served this country before even becoming a citizen.
No, I will not leave. This is as much my country as it is yours. My children will have to grow up in this country. My brown skinned Romani children will suffer because of how the media choses to portray us. I pray you can sleep at night, Ralph Macchio, but I am a forgiving woman & would never wish the pain of my people on you, no matter what you’ve done to mine.
As my eyes turn glassy and I taste the salted anguish for the family and community I never had chance to love, I will pray for you, Ralph Macchio. I will pray for your soul every single day.
Open Letter to Ralph Macchio
Ek lil andar Ralph Maccio; o gadjo kon kerdjan “American Gypsies”.
biggadjeworld:This is an open letter to Ralph Macchio, creator of the National Geographic series, ‘American Gypsies’. I not only recommend reading the letter, but also highly reccomend viewing the films linked at the bottom of the letter.
This show does great injustice to our culture. Like MBFAGW, this show has already directly caused instances of racism and discrimination. I will write more about the show and it’s inaccuracies at a later date. Thank you.
Open Letter to Ralp MacchioReblogging this letter again because it’s worth reading more than once.
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