Romani Chib

Romani Language Education

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Musical Instruments

guitar - gitara (f)

piano - klavir (m)

violin - lavuta (f)

violin bow - jarko (m)

fiddle - bashadi (f)

accordion - harmonika

electric guitar - gitara strujani (f)

saxophone - saksafono (m)

trumpet - truba (f) / trumpeta (f)

flute - furula (f) / shipa (f)

reed flute - zurna (f) / flijoro (m)

mandolin / bouzouki - buzuki (f)

saz / bağlama  - sazi (f)

clarinet - klarineto (m)

bell - zvono (m)

tuba - tuba (f)

tambourine - defi (m)

harp - harfa (f)

trombone - poasano (m)

drum - doba (f) / davuli (f)

drumstick - batako (m)

metal drum / goblet drum - darbuka (f)

banjo - banzho (m)

zither - citra (f) / kanuna (f)

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Adjective Derivation

Lovari has numerous suffixes that can be used to derive an adjective: -an, -al, -ikan, -utn, -un, -val, etc.. Each suffix belongs to a certain category of words, i.e. the semantics of the word determines the suffix when deriving an adjective. Ethnicity or Nationality -AN- example: Rromano, Xoraxano (Turkish), Dasikano (Croatian) Persons -IKAN- example: gadzhikano (as a gadjo), chorrikano (as a thief) Animals -AN- example: bakrano (sheep’s), dzhuklano (dog’s) Body -UTN- example: shorutno (head’s) Materials -UN- example: barruno (of stone), sumnajkuno (golden), phanrruno (silken) Location  -UN- example: angluno (front, first), gavuno (of a village), teluno (lower) Physical Adjectives -AN-, -AL-, -VAL- example: phurano (old), balalo (hairy), nasvalo (sick) Emotional Adjectives -AN-, -AL-, -IK- example: bidarano (fearless), darano (scared), baxtalo (lucky). chorrikano (miserable) When using adjectives, remember that the suffix must agree in both gender and number with the noun it describes. 

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How do you pronounce the letters like z and c when the have different lines over them?

Č - ch - as in the word ‘chair’Ž - zh - the closest English equivalent is the ‘z’ sound in the word 'azure’  

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Okolo O Kher: Around the House

house - kher (m)

door - vudar (m)

window - feljastra (f)

roof - uchardipe (m) / tavano (m)

cellar - podrumo (m)

attic - tavano (m)

floor - padlovo (m)

room - soba (f)

living room - djeseski soba (f)

bathroom - najimaski soba (f) / kupatilo (m) / banja (f)

bedroom - sovljimaski soba (f) / ratjardi (f)

dining room - xajimaski soba (f)

kitchen - kujna (f)

hallway - sala (f) 

entryway - ulazo (m)

closet - sekrini (f) / shifoni (f)

fireplace - bov (f)

chimney - horno (m) / kosho (m)

cupboard - ormano (m)

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Special Occasions & Holidays

Birthday - bijandimasko djes, bijando djes, rodendano

Happy Birthday!  Lasho bijandimasko djes!  Lasho rodendano! 

Congratulations! Baxtalipe!  Chestitime!

Christmas - Krechuno, Bozhiko, Kulunda Merry Christmas! Baxtalo/Lasho Krechuno! Baxtalo/Lasho Bozhiko! Baxtali/Lashi Kulunda! Christmas Eve - Krechunjeski Ratji, Kulundali Ratji, Tshinisara

New Year - Bersh Nevo Happy New Year! Baxtalo Bersh Nevo! New Year's Eve - Silvesteri New Year's Day - Vasili

Easter - Patradi Happy Easter! Lasho Patradi! Palm Sunday - Tsini Patradi

Passover - Patradjako Happy Passover! Lasho Patradjako! Hanukkah - Hanukkah Happy Hanukkah!  Baxtali Hanukkah!

Ramadan - Ramadano Happy Ramadan! Baxtalo Ramadano! Herdelezi - Herdelezi, Ederlezi, Kakava Happy Herdelezi! Baxtalo O Herdelezi! Saint George's Day - Djurdjevdan Happy Saint George's Day! Baxtalo Djurdjevdan!

World Roma Day - Lumjako Romano Djes Women's Day - Manushnijako Djes Mother's Day - Dajako Djes Father's Day - Dadesko Djes, Babesko Djes

Holiday - Djes baro Happy Holidays!  Baxtale Djesa Bare! Have a good holiday!  T'aves shukar djes baro! (sing.) T'aven shukar djes baro! (plu.)

Cheers! Pe sastimaste!  Zhiveli!

Good Luck! But baxt!

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Expressing Feelings

Reference Basic Grammar: Verbs of Being, Verbs of Being: Past Tense & Possessive Constructs

te hatjarel - (v) to understand, to feel hatjaripe - (n) feeling

Feelings can be expressed by using verbs of being, the verb "te hatjarel", or by using possessive constructs.  Expressing Feelings through Verbs of Being

Like using any other adjective, there needs to be agreement in number & gender between the adjective and the noun it is describing.  brigako - (masc.) sad Vo si brigako - He is sad Voj si brigaki - She is sad Von si brigake  - They are sad khino - (masc.) tired

Me sim khini - I am tired (fem.) Ame sam khine - We are tired (pl.)

xolariko - angry (masc.)

Tu san xolariko - You are tired (sing.)(masc.) Tume san xolarike - You are tired (pl.)

Expressing Feelings through Possessive constructs: Instead of using an adjective, possessive constructs use a noun and allow the object to possess the felling or emotion.  [Noun formation from adjectives and verbs will be discussed in a later post] khinimos - (n.) tiredness Khinimos si man - I am tired [lit. tiredness is to me] Khinimos si amen - We are tired [lit. tiredness is to us] bokh / bokhalipe - (n.) hunger Bokhalipe sas tut - You were hungry [lit. hunger was to you] Bokhalipe sas tumen - You were hungry [lit. hunger was to you]

losh - (n.) happiness, joy Losh si la - She is happy [lit. happiness is to her] Losh sas les - He was happy [lit. happiness was to him] Losh si len - They are happy [lit. happiness is to them]

Expressing Feeling Using "te hatjarel": "Te hatjarel" is a verb meaning "to feel" or "to understand". It should be conjugated appropriately and used along with the adjective, which must agree with the noun it is describing.  ladzhano - (adj.) (masc.) ashamed Me hatjarav ladzhali - I feel ashamed (sing.) (fem.) Tume hatjaren ladzhale - You feel ashamed (pl.) darano - (adj.) (masc.) afraid, scared Voj hatjarel darani - She feels afraid (sing.) (fem.) Vo hatjarel darano - He feels afraid (sing.) (masc.) pachako - (adj.) (masc.) calm, patient Ame hatjardam pachake - We felt calm (pl.) Tu hatjardan pachako - You felt calm (sing.) (masc.) Expressing Feelings Using Possessive Constructs & "Hatjaripe": To express that one has a certain feeling, the word "hatjaripe" is used along with the appropriate possessive construct and an adjective, which must agree in number with "hatjaripe".  bilasho - (adj.) (masc.) bad Ekh hatjaripe bilasho si man - I have a bad feeling [lit. a feeling bad is to me] Hatjarimata bilashe si amen - We have bad feelings [lit. feelings bad are to us] nervozno / njugtalano - nervous, uneasy Ekh hatjaripe nervozno sas les - He had an uneasy feeling [lit. a feeling uneasy was to him] Hatjarimata njugtalane si tumen - You have uneasy feelings [lit. feelings uneasy are to you (pl.)]

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Verbs of Being: Past Tense

I was - Me simas You were - Tu sanas He/She was - Vo/voj sas We were - Ame samas You were - Tume sanas They were - Von sas

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Conjuction List

and - thaj / haj or - vaj  but - de, ba, aba, ham yet - inke, mig for - pe, pre, pala nor - chi so - dehat, hat, te after - pala although - makar as - sar, sar vi as long as - pune because - andar, kaj, ke, hat before - angla even if - makar even though-  if - te, hat te, kana if only - chak te in order to - te once - jekhvar, varekana since - hat, kana, dekana so that - hoj, hat, te than - sar that - hat, ke, hoj, te though - kam unless - hachak until - dzhikaj, dzhi when - kana whenever - kanagodi where - kaj whereas - ba wherever - kajgodi while - sar, sarso, dzhikaj both...and - vi...thaj vi not only...but also - na chak...de vi not...but - chi...de either...or - vaj...vaj neither...nor - chi...chi / ni...ni whether...or - kana...vaj as...as - sar...kaj

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Past Tense Verb Conjugation

Most regular verbs follow a general past tense conjugation: -em         -am -an          -an -as          -e

The verb "to be": I was - me simas                      we were - ame samas you were - tu sanas                 you were - tume sanas he/she was - vov/voj sas         they were - von sas However, some verb stems change in the past tense form: Verb stems that end in "v", "r" or "l" and some in "n" are conjugated by "d" + ending: to do/make - te kerel I did - me kerdem                           we did - ame kerdam you did - tu kerdan                         you did - tume kerdan he/she did - vov/voj kerdas            they did - vov kerde

to dance - te khelel I danced - me kheldem                     we danced - ame kheldam you danced - tu kheldan                  you danced - tume kheldan he/she danced - vov/voj kheldas      they danced - vov khelde

to hit - te malavel I hit - me maladem                             we hit - ame maladam you hit - tu maladan                          you hit - tume maladan he/she hit - vov/voj maladas                     they hit - vov malade

Verbs that have "y" sounds preceding the final syllable of the verb stem may be conjugated using "-ilem" endings: to drink - te pijel I drank - me pilem                                   we drank - ame pilam you drank - pilan                                    you drank - tume pilan he/she drank - vov/voj pilas                    they drank - vov pile

to become drunk - te matjol  me matjilem                      ame matjilam tu matjilan                         tume matjilan vov/voj matjilas                 vov matjile

There are also several verbs with irregular past tense conjugations & they must be memorized when presented later. 

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Weather: Adjectives

hot / warm - tato a hot day - ekh djes tato

cold - shilalo / shudro a cold winter - ekh ivend shudro

snowy - ivalo rainy - brishindalo windy - balvalalo

cloudy - oblakno / felhevalo a cloudy sky - ekh cheri oblanko

humid - vlazhno a humid summer - ekh milaj vlazhno stormy - furtunalo foggy - muglalo icy - jegesho sunny - khamesko a sunny day - ekh djes khamesko clear - rendesho  / jazno a clear sky - ekh cheri rendesho

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Weather: Verbs

to rain - te del (o) brishind to drizzle - xurdes del (o) brishind to snow - te perel (o) iv to hail - te del (o) paho to lightening / there is lightening - vilamlij / strafjal to thunder / there is thunder - tudunij / rondij

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Question Words

what - so which - sosko which one - savo what for / why - soske / minek why - sostar when - kana where - kaj from where - kathar how - sar how much / how many - kazom / keci / sode who - kon whose - koske

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Introducing Yourself In Lovari

What's your name? - Sar bushos?                                    So si tjiro anav? My name is.. - Bushav..                         Muro anav si.. 

Where are you from? - Katharutno (masc.) san?                                      Katharutni (fem.) san?                                      Katharutne (pl.) san?                                      Kathar san? 

I am from.. - Kathar sim..                      Me sim kathar..  I am American - Sim Amerikanska / Amerikanjal. I am Canadian - Sim Kanadanska / Kanadajal. I am British - Sim Anglijanksa / Anglijal. I am Hungarian - Sim Ungrikal. I am Serbian - Sim Serbijal. Where do you live? - Kaj zhives?                                   Kaj trajis?  I live in.. - Me zhivav anda..                  Me trajiv anda..  How old are you? - Kozom bershja si tut?                               Keci bershja si tut?                                So si tjiro phurimos?

I am [...] years old.. - [...] bershja si man                                  Muro phurimos si [...]

Do you speak Rromanes? - Phenes Rromanes?                                             Phenes Rromani chib?                                             Vorbisares Rromanes?                                             Vorbisares Rromani chib? Do you speak English? - Phenes Inglizitska?                                        Vorbisares Inglizitska? I speak.. - Phenav...                  Vorbisarav.. 

I speak some / a little.. - Phenav ekh cerra..                                       Vorbisarav ekh cerra.. 

I don't speak.. - Chi phenav..                           Chi vorbisarav.. 

How do you say [...]? - Sar phenes [...]?                                     Sar vorbisares [...]?

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Basic Lovari Greetings

Hello!     T'aves baxtalo! (m)     T'aves baxtali (f)               T'aven baxtale (pl) Good morning!               Laši detehara! Good afternoon!             Lašo pala-mismeri! Good night/evening!       Laši ratji! Nice to meet you!     Me lošav hat/hoj maladilem tusa!                                  Me lošav te pindžarav tut!                                  Šukares te maladilol'as tut! ("hat" and "hoj" both mean "that" in Lovari Rromanes and their uses vary regionally) How are you?     Sar san?                           So si tusa? I am well.           Mišto sim.                           Lašo sim. (m)        Laši sim. (f) I am not well.     Čhi sim mišto.                          Bilašo sim. (m)      Bilaši sim. (f) Thank you.        Najis.                           Najis tuke.  And you?          Thaj tut? (sing)                                  Thaj tumen? (pl) Goodbye!           Žha Devlesa! (sing)                                Žhan Devlesa! (pl) See you soon!    Maj sigo te dikhel tut! (sing)                             Maj sigo te dikhel tumen! (pl) Good journey!    Baxtalo drom! Good luck!          But baxt!

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Farm Animals

sheep - (m) bakro lamb - (m) bakroro  cow - (f) gurumnji / guruvnji bull - (m) gurum / guruv chicken - (m) kajn hen - (f) kajnji rooster - (m) bašno horse - (m) graszt mare - (f) gražtnji  mule - (m) esvero donkey - (f) madžari turkey hen - (f) kurča turkey cock - (m) kurčano goat - (f) buzni kid - (f) - kečka duck - (f) raca goose (f) papin dog - (m) džukel

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To Want, To Like, To Love

In some Rromanes dialects, there is little distinction between the notion of wanting, liking or loving; a single verb may be used to expressed all three.  Although Lovari Rromanes has three separate terms that translate to "to want", "to like" and "to love", respectively, it is not uncommon for these to expressed using the single verb "te kamel". te kamel - v. to want or desire; to like or love (generally used as "to like" or "to love")

Me kamav - I like Tu kames - you like Vo / Voj kamel - he / she likes Ame kamas - we like Tume kamen - you like  Von kamen - they like te volil - v. to love; to want or desire (generally used as "to love")

Me voliv - I love Tu volis - you love Vo/ Voj volil - he / she loves Ame volis - we love Tume volin - you love Von volin - they love te mangel - v. to love; to want or request; to beg (generally used as "to want")

Me mangav - I want Tu manges - you want Vo / Voj mangel - he / she wants Ame mangas - we want Tume mangen - you want Von mangen - they want Contextual Examples:

So kames to xal? - What do you want (like) to eat?  Mangav ekh manro, mangavtut. - I want some bread, please. 

Voliv la. - I love her. 

Chi mangav les. - I don't love (want) him. 

Chi kamav kolako. - I don't like cake. 

Na mangen khanchi amendar. - They don't want anything from us.

Kamav t'aven baxtale. - I want (wish) you (pl.) to be lucky. 

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Colors

color - žino

red - lolo orange - narančalo yellow - čuto green - zeleno blue - mavro purple - čednila pink - rozeno white - parno black - kalo gray - sivo brown - melaxno gold - galbeno / sumnakaj silver - rupuno