Exploring the Linguistic Similarities Between Gypsy Language and Sanskrit

You remember the last time you saw those mysterious eyes of a Gypsy? You probably questioned not once if Gypsies have migrated from Indian subcontinent. You’ll be surprised how close they are…

Romani, also known as “gypsy” language, is a language of Indo-Aryan origin, and therefore it shares many similarities with other Indo-Aryan languages, including Sanskrit. Here are some similar words in Romani and Sanskrit:

Comparison of count to ten in Romani, Sanskrit and Russian:

Romani (Gypsy)SanskritRussian (transliteration)
yekekamодин (odin)
duydveдва (dva)
trintriniтри (tri)
starchatvariчетыре (chetyre)
panshpancaпять (pyat’)
shovshatшесть (shest’)
eftasaptaсемь (sem’)
ochtoashtaвосемь (vosem’)
enjanavaдевять (devyat’)
deshdasaдесять (desyat’)
RomaniDevanagari SanskritTransliterated SanskritEnglish Translation
Ajअजajagoat
Amanअमन्amanpeace
Andoअन्तःantaḥinside
Ariअरिarienemy
Baroवारvāraday
Baxtभक्तिbhaktidevotion
Bhojभोजनbhojanafood
Boktभक्तbhaktadevotee
Bukiबुक्कbukkabook
Chorचोरchorthief
Chovचवchavataste
Cikछिद्रchidrahole
Dandदंडdaṇḍapunishment
Devlaदेवालयdevālayatemple
Dikदिशाdiśādirection
Dikhदिखानाdikhānāto show
Divanoदीवानdīvāncrazy
Dromध्रुमdhumaroad
Fakirफकीरfakīrascetic
Gadjo/Gadjiगजgajaelephant
Gharघरgharahouse
Gypsyग्यानीgyānīknowledgeable
Halहलhalaplow
Jivजीवjīvalife
Jivdoजीवनjīvanalife
Jorजोड़jorapair
Kalaकालkālatime
Kaliकालीkālīblack
Kanकणkaṇaparticle
Kardकार्यkāryawork
Kavकविkavipoet
Khelखेलkhelagame
Khushiखुशीkhuśīhappiness
Khyalख्यालkhyālathought
Krodhक्रोधkrodhaanger
Kushtoकुशलkuśalaskillful
Lakhलाखlākhaone hundred thousand
Lashaलश्यlaśyadance
Lekhलेखlekhawriting
Mahalमहलmahalapalace
Manushमनुष्यmanuṣyahuman
Maaमांmother
Mandeमंदिरmaṇdiratemple
Moriमृत्युmṛtyudeath
Mulloमूल्यmūlyavalue
Palaपलpalamoment
Riknoरिक्तriktaempty
Roshniरौशनीraushanīlight
Sastoसस्ताsastacheap
Sevसेवsevaservice
Soorसूरsūrabrave
Tablaतबलाtablādrum
Tanoतनtanabody
Wuzhoविशेषviśeṣaspecial
Yekएकekaone
Zorज़ोरzorastrength

Please note that the spelling of some words in Romani may vary depending on the dialect and geographic region.

Traditional Gypsy Dance