Complete List of English Gypsy Words Scattered Through Lavengro and Romany Rye + 

Common European Gypsy forms are in parenthesis. + 

Abri + 

(Avrí), out, forth. + 

Adré/Adrey + 

(André), in, into. + 

Ambról + 

A pear. + 

Andé + 

In, into. + 

Angár + 

Charcoal, coal. + 

Apopli + 

Again, once more. + 

Ava / Ávali + 

Yes. + 

Avella + 

(3rd singular of aváva), he comes; gorgio avella, some one is coming. [Avava, avesa, avela.] + 

Ballúva + 

(Baló), pork. + 

Baló + 

Hog. + 

Baró + 

Feminine barí, plural baré, big, great. + 

Bátu + 

Father. + 

Baulo + 

See baló. + 

Bawlor + 

(Plural of baló), swine. + 

Bebee + 

(Bibí), aunt; (in George Borrow grandmother, with and without grand). + 

Beng + 

Toad; dragon, devil. + 

Bengui + 

(Spanish Gypsy Bengue), i.q. beng. + 

Besh + 

(Beshava), to sit. + 

Beti + 

A little, a bit of. + 

Bitchadey + 

(Bichavdé; plural of bichavdó), sent. With pawdel, transported. + 

Bokht + 

(Bakht), fate, luck, fortune. + 

Boró + 

See (baró). + 

Borodromengro + 

Highwayman. + 

Boshom + 

(Bashava, I sing or play), violin, fiddle. + 

Boshomengro + 

Fiddler. + 

Bovaló + 

(Barvaló), rich. + 

Bute + 

(But), much. Bute dosta, a good many, plenty of. + 

Cafi + 

(καρφἱ), horseshoe nail. + 

Caloró / Calorí + 

A Spanish Gypsy. Diminutive of caló; see kaló. + 

Cambrí + 

(Kamní), with child. + 

Camomescro + 

(From kamama, I love), a Lovell (Gypsy tribe-name). + 

Cana + 

(Kánna), when. + 

Caulor + 

(Collor), plural shillings. + 

Chabé + 

Plural of Chabó. + 

Chabó + 

(Tchavó), child, lad; Gypsy. + 

Chachipen + 

(Tchatchipé), truth. + 

Chal + 

[Noun] (Chabál or chavál, still existant in Spain), lad; Gypsy. Romany chal, Gypsy; Romany chi, Gypsy (lass). + 

[Verb] (For jal, from java). Chal Devléhi (ja Devlésa), go with God, farewell. + 

Chavó + 

I.q. Chabó. + 

Chi + 

(Tchái), girl, lass, child; Gypsy. + 

Chibándo + 

(Spanish Gypsy, see chive), tossing; preaching (a sermon). + 

Chick + 

(Tchik), dirt, mud. + 

Chie + 

I.q. Chi. + 

Chiknó + 

(Tiknó), a youth. Tawno Chiknó, “Shorty.” + 

Chinomescro + 

(From tchinava, I cut), chisel, parer. + 

Chipe + 

(Tchip), tongue. + 

Chive + 

(Tchivava), to throw; to pass (false coin). + 

Chívios + 

Is cast (he). + 

Chong + 

(Tumba), hill. Chong gav, Norwich, town of the Castle hill. + 

Choomer + 

(Tchumi), a kiss. + 

Chore + 

(Tchorava), to steal. + 

Chories + 

Thieves. + 

Chovahanee + 

(Tchovekhaní), a witch. + 

Chovahanó + 

(Tchovekhanó), a wizard. + 

Churi + 

(Tchorí), knife. + 

Coin + 

(Kon), who? + 

Coko + 

(Káko), uncle. + 

Colikó + 

((kalikó), Spanish Gypsy calicaste, on the morrow), on the morrow, in the morning (B.’s “early” is a mistake). + 

Coor + 

(Curava, I strike), to strike, to hammer. + 

Cooromengro + 

Boxer. + 

Covántza + 

Anvil. + 

Covar + 

(Ková), a thing. + 

Cral / Crállis + 

(Krális), king. + 

Cukkerin + 

(Merely alliterative with dukkerin). + 

Curomengro + 

Boxer. + 

Czigány + 

(Hungarian), Gypsy⁠—tsigáñ. + 

Dearginni + 

(Hungarian, dörŏg, thunder; dörgeni, to thunder), it thunders. + 

Dick + 

(Dikava), to see. + 

Dinelo + 

(Deniló or diniló), a fool. + 

Divvus + 

(Divés), day. + 

Dloovu + 

(Error for lovó). + 

Dook + 

[Noun] (Slavic), spirit, soul, divining spirit, demon, ghost. Russian dux. + 

[Verb] To spirit away, to bewitch. + 

Dosta + 

Enough. + 

Dove odoy + 

(From odová), that there; up yonder. + 

Drab + 

[Noun] Herb, drug; poison, see drow. + 

[Verb] To poison. + 

Drabengro + 

Seller of medicines, apothecary. Drabengro ker, apothecary’s shop. + 

Drom + 

(δρόμος), road, way. + 

Drow + 

I.q. Drab; often plural drugs; poison. + 

Dúi + 

Two. + 

Duk + 

(Borrow’s dook). + 

Dukker + 

(From duk, spirit or demon, and ker, to make, to evoke), to tell any one’s fortune, to tell fortunes. + 

Dukkerin dook + 

The fortune-telling or divining spirit. + 

Dukkerin + 

(The in is English “ing”), any one’s fortune or fortunes, fate; fortune-telling. “To pen” a dukkerin is incorrect. + 

Dukkeripen + 

Fortune-telling. + 

Dumo + 

(Dumó), the back. + 

Duvel + 

(Devél), God. + 

Duvelskoe + 

(Devlesko), divine. + 

Dye + 

(Daï), mother. + 

Engro + 

(A mere adjectival ending, er, ing), Borrovian for “master,” “fellow,” “chap.” + 

Erajái + 

(Rashaï), priest, in Spanish Gypsy. + 

Eray + 

See rye. + 

Farm-engro + 

Farmer. + 

Fino + 

English fine. + 

Fóros + 

(φόρος = ἀγορά), city, town. + 

Gav + 

Village, town. + 

Gil + 

To singular. + 

Gillie + 

(Ghili), song, ditty. + 

Gitáno + 

A (Sp.) Gypsy. + 

Gorgikie + 

Feminine of gorgiko. + 

Gorgiko + 

Feminine of gorgio, non-gypsy. + 

Gorgio + 

(Gadjó), non-gypsy, stranger, somebody, policeman. + 

Gorgious + 

Adjective formed from gorgio. + 

Grandbebee + 

Grandmother. See bebee. + 

Grasní + 

Mare; jade. + 

Grondinni + 

(From Romanian), it hails. + 

Gry + 

(Graï), horse. Pellengog, stallion. + 

Gudló / Gudlí + 

Sweet; gudló pesham, honeycomb. + 

Gul eray + 

(Hungarian G?), sweet gentleman. + 

Habben + 

(Khabé, from khavava, I eat), food, victuals; feast. + 

Harkomescro + 

(Arkíchi, tin), tinker. + 

Hatch + 

To cook (evidently from pekava, rather than atchava). + 

Hinjirí + 

(Feminine of hinjiró, from djandjir, a chain), executioner. + 

Hir mi devlis + 

(Or diblis), by G⁠—. + 

Hokkawar + 

(Khokhavava), to lie, to cheat. + 

Hokkeripen + 

Falsehood, deception. + 

Hors-worth + 

Pennyworth. (Hors, from grosch?) + 

Iuziou + 

(Shuzó), clean. + 

Jaw + 

(Java), to go. See chal. + 

Jawing + 

Going. + 

Jib + 

(Chib) tongue, language. + 

Juggal + 

(Jukél), dog. + 

Juva / Juwa + 

(Young) woman. + 

Kair + 

See ker. + 

Kaló + 

Feminine kalí, plural kalé, black, dark. + 

Kauley + 

Feminine of kaulo. + 

Kaulo + 

See kaló. + 

Kaulomescro + 

Blacksmith. + 

Ke + 

To. + 

Kek + 

None. + 

Kekaubi / Kekkauvi + 

(Kakkávi), kettle. + 

Kekauviskoe saster + 

Kettle iron or hook. + 

Kekkenó + 

No, not one. + 

Ker + 

[Noun] House. + 

[Verb] (Kerava), to make, to do. + 

Kerdó + 

Made (he). + 

Kil + 

(Kelava), to play. + 

Kin + 

(Kinava), to buy. + 

Kistur + 

(Klisava), to ride. + 

Kitchema + 

Tavern, alehouse. + 

Kosko + 

I, good. + 

Kral / Krallis + 

King, see cral. + 

Lachipen + 

Goodness. + 

Laki / Lakie + 

(Lake), her, to her. + 

Lavengro + 

Word-master, philologist. + 

Lel + 

(Lava, lesa, lela), to take; to buy. + 

Len + 

I.q. Lende. + 

Lende + 

Their, to them. + 

Leste + 

Him. + 

Levinor + 

(Levina), ale. + 

Lil + 

Paper, book. + 

Lirí + 

Law. + 

Lis + 

It. + 

Lolló + 

(Loló), red. + 

Loovu + 

See. + 

Lovó + 

Coin; plural lové, money. + 

Lubbeny + 

(Lubní), harlot. + 

Lundra + 

London. + 

Luripen + 

Theft, robbery. + 

Mailla + 

Donkey. + 

Man + 

Me. + 

Mande + 

To me. + 

Mang + 

(Mangava), to beg. + 

Manriclí + 

(Manrikló), cake. + 

Manró + 

Bread. + 

Manus + 

(Manush), man. + 

Marél + 

(Error for merel): merava, meresa, merela⁠—he dies. + 

Mek + 

(Mukava), to leave, to let; mek lis, drop it. + 

Men + 

We. + 

Mensar + 

(Mensa), with us. + 

Mer + 

(Merava), to die. + 

Mi + 

(Me), I. + 

Miduveleskoe lil + 

Divine or godly book. + 

Miró + 

F, my, mine. + 

Miry + 

(Mirí), my. + 

Morro + 

Bread. + 

Muchtar + 

(Muktar), box, toolbox. + 

Mullo + 

(Muló), dead. + 

Nashkadó / Nashkadí + 

(Nashavdó), lost, ruined; hanged (George Borrow). + 

Nashky + 

Gallows (George Borrow). + 

Nav + 

Name. + 

O + 

The. + 

Odoi / Odoy + 

There, here. + 

Opré + 

On, upon, up. + 

Pa + 

Over, for. + 

Pal + 

(Pral), brother; friend, mate. + 

Palor + 

(Pralá), brothers. + 

Parraco + 

(L.L. Paracrow; Zinc. parauco), I thank. + 

Patteran + 

(Patrín), leaf of a tree, Gypsy trail. + 

Pawdel + 

(Perdál), on the other side, across. + 

Pellengo + 

(Pelengro, from pelé, testicles), with gry, a stallion. + 

Pen + 

(Penava), to say, to tell. + 

Peshotá + 

Plural of peshót pishót, bellows. + 

Petúl + 

(Pétalo), horseshoe. + 

Petulengro + 

Head of the clan “Smith.” + 

Pindró + 

(Pinró), foot, hoof. + 

Pios + 

(From piava, I drink), health, in toasting. + 

Piramus + 

MS. “Priamus.” + 

Plaistra + 

(Klashta), pincers, tongs. + 

Plastramengro + 

Runner, detective. + 

Poggadó / Poggadí + 

(Panghiardó), broken. + 

Poknees + 

(Paknís, a man of trust), magistrate. + 

Prala + 

Vocative of pal or pral, brother. + 

Pré + 

(Opré), on, upon. + 

Pudamengro + 

(From purdava or pudava, I blow), bellows. + 

Puró + 

Feminine purí, plural puré, old, ancient. + 

Pus + 

Straw. + 

Puv + 

(Or phuv) earth, ground. + 

Ran + 

Stick, rod, cane. + 

Ráni + 

Lady, wife. + 

Rarde + 

(Ratt), night. + 

Rat + 

Rate and rati, blood, race. + 

Rawnie + 

See ráni. + 

Rig + 

(?) to carry. + 

Rin + 

A file. + 

Rinkenó + 

í, pretty, fine. + 

Rom + 

Husband; Gypsy. + 

Roman + 

Borrovian tor Gypsy. + 

Romaneskoenaes + 

In Gypsy fashion. + 

Romanies + 

Gypsies. + 

Romanly + 

In Gypsy, Gypsy-like. + 

Romanó + 

í, Gypsy. + 

Romany Chal + 

Gypsy. + 

Romany Chi + 

Gypsy (girl). + 

Romany Rye + 

Gypsy gentleman. + 

Romany + 

(Anglicised form of Romanó, Romaní), Gypsy. + 

Rome and dree + 

(Rom andré? Gypsy at heart). + 

Romí + 

Wife. + 

Rommanis + 

In Gypsy, also wife (George Borrow). + 

Rommany + 

I.q. Romany. + 

Rové + 

(Third person singular of rovava), he weeps. + 

Rup + 

Silver. + 

Rye + 

(Ráï), gentleman. + 

Sanpriel + 

Sanspareil. + 

Sap + 

Snake. + 

Sapengro + 

Snake-catcher. + 

Sar shan + 

How art thou? + 

Sas + 

It was, were it. + 

Saster / Sastra + 

Iron. + 

Sastramescro + 

Worker in iron, smith. + 

Saulo + 

(MS. sorlo), morning; early (?) + 

Savó + 

What kind of a man? who? + 

Scoppelo + 

Ninny. + 

Se + 

(Isi), is, are. + 

Shan + 

(Isán), thou art. + 

Sherengro + 

(From sheró, the head), head man, chief. + 

Shom + 

(Isóm), I am. + 

Shoon + 

(Shunava), to hear, to listen. + 

Shukaro + 

(Tchokanó), hammer. + 

Shunella + 

(Shunéla, 3rd singular of shunava), is listening. + 

Si + 

(Isí), is, are; si men, are we; si mensar (mensa), is or are with us. + 

Sinaba + 

(Spanish Gypsy), was. + 

Sore + 

(Saré), plural all, all who. + 

Sos + 

[Verb](Isás), was. + 

[Pronoun] Who. + 

Sove + 

(Sovava), to sleep. + 

Swety + 

(Plural of Russian sviet), people, folks. + 

Synfye + 

Cinthia (Slavic th is pronounced ph). + 

Ta + 

And. + 

Tachó + 

í, true. + 

Tan + 

Place, tent. + 

Tasaulor + 

(Read ta-sorlo), tomorrow. + 

Tatchenó + 

í, modest, chaste. + 

Tatchipen + 

Truth. + 

Tawnie + 

Feminine of. + 

Tawnó / Tawní + 

(Tarnó), little, short. + 

Tove + 

(Tovava), to wash. + 

Trin + 

Three. + 

Truppo + 

(Trupo), body. + 

Tu + 

Thou. + 

Tute + 

(Tut), thee, to thy. + 

Vagescoe + 

Adjective of yag. + 

Vassavie + 

Feminine of. + 

Vassavó + 

í, vile. + 

Villaminni + 

(Hungarian villám), it lightens. + 

Wafodo + 

I, bad, raise. + 

Wel + 

(Corrupted from avella), to come, to go. + 

Welling + 

Coming. + 

Wendror + 

(Connected with andró, within?), the insides. + 

Wesh + 

(Vesh), forest. + 

Wust + 

To throw (better the first MS. form, chiv). + 

Yag + 

Fire. + 

Ye + 

The. + 

Yeck + 

(Yek), one. + 

Yov + 

(Ov), be. + 

Zigeuner + 

(Ger.), Gypsy. + 

Zingaro + 

(It.), Gypsy. + 