Gypsies in the UK speak a variety of languages depending on their ethnic origins and backgrounds. The main languages spoken by Gypsy groups in Britain are English, Romany, Welsh Romani and Scottish Cant.
What is the Romani language?
Romani, also known as Romany, Romanes or Romance, is the language of the Roma people, sometimes referred to as “Gypsies”, who originated in northern India but now live mostly in Europe and the Americas. Romani belongs to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European language family.
There are many dialects of Romani, reflecting the long separation of Gypsy groups in different countries. The main dialect divisions are:
- Vlax Romani – spoken mainly in southeastern Europe
- Balkan Romani – spoken in Bulgaria, Macedonia, Greece, Turkey and Albania
- Carpathian Romani – spoken in central and eastern Europe
- Sinte Romani – spoken in Germany, France and some other parts of western Europe
- Finnish Kalo – spoken in Finland
- Welsh Romani – spoken in Wales
- Angloromani – Romani dialects incorporating much English and other local vocabulary
Romani has often borrowed vocabulary from languages like Persian, Greek, Armenian, Romanian and Serbo-Croatian. English Romani dialects have borrowed extensively from English.
Do Gypsies in the UK speak Romani?
Many Gypsies in Britain do speak Romani, especially among the more traditional Traveller groups. However, Romani is declining under pressure from English, which is the dominant language. There are an estimated 300,000 Roma in the UK but only about half still speak Romani.
The main Romani dialects spoken in Britain are:
- Welsh Romani
- Angloromani
Welsh Romani
Welsh Romani, also known as Welsh Kale, is spoken by some Welsh Gypsies in Wales. It includes Romani vocabulary mixed with English and Welsh words. It is mainly used for communication within families and communities.
Angloromani
Angloromani is a Romani dialect that borrows extensively from English. It is spoken by Gypsies across Britain. Angloromani uses Romani grammar and sentence structure but incorporates many English words.
Here is an example text in Angloromani:
So ta the boshomengro, “Tute may lel opre the grai yeck baulo an’ opre lende yeck raklo an’ jam super ta tute.”
Translation: Then the preacher said, “You can take up the grey horse and on it one sack and go quickly to you.”
Do British Gypsies speak English?
Most Gypsies in Britain today speak English as their main language, although many are bilingual in Romani as well. Romani is now usually only spoken among family and close community members.
Over generations, the Gypsy groups have become progressively integrated into broader British society. This has led to a shift away from Romani and increasing use of English for work, school and social interaction outside their communities.
A 2019 report on Gypsy and Traveller communities in Britain noted:
“English is now the first language and Romanes competency varies greatly across generations, with some young people conversant only in English.”
So while traditional Romani dialects are maintained to some degree, English has become the dominant language of Gypsies in the UK today.
Other minority languages spoken by British Gypsies
In addition to Romani and English, there are a couple of other minority languages used by some Gypsy groups in parts of Britain:
Welsh Cant
Welsh Cant is a dialect of English with some Romani loan words, traditionally spoken by some Gypsies in Wales. It is now highly endangered with fewer than 300 speakers remaining.
Scottish Cant
Scottish Cant or Scotch Cant is a dialect used by Scottish Travelers. It incorporates Scotland-influenced English vocabulary with some Romani words from Scottish Romani dialects. It was traditionally used as an in-group language but is now endangered.
What about other Romani dialects?
Romani dialects like Vlax, Balkan and Sinte Romani are not traditionally found among Gypsy groups in Britain. British Gypsies mainly speak the indigenous dialects of Welsh and Angloromani that reflect the Romani language mixing with local English and Celtic languages over many centuries in the UK.
However, some other Romani dialects are now being introduced to the UK through recent Roma immigrants from central and eastern Europe. But these dialects remain minority languages compared to English and British Romani varieties.
How many Gypsies speak Romani languages today?
| Romani Variety | Location | Estimated Speakers |
|---|---|---|
| Welsh Romani | Wales | 1,000 |
| Angloromani | England, Scotland, Wales | 150,000 |
| Scottish Cant | Scotland | 200 |
| Welsh Cant | Wales | 200 |
This table summarizes the estimated numbers of speakers for the main Romani-influenced language varieties used by Gypsies in Britain today.
Angloromani is the most widely-spoken with around 150,000 speakers across Britain. Welsh Romani is also still used by a few thousand Gypsies in Wales.
The English-influenced Scottish and Welsh Cant dialects are now highly endangered with only a few hundred elderly speakers remaining.
Overall, Romani language use is declining among British Gypsies due to long-term integration into English-speaking society. But traditional dialects like Angloromani and Welsh Romani persist, especially for in-group communication.
What is the legal status of Romani in the UK?
Romani languages have no official legal status in Britain. They are classified by the UK government as traditional community and family languages rather than official minority languages like Welsh, Scottish Gaelic or Irish.
Some key points about the status of Romani in Britain:
- Not recognized under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages
- Not taught widely in schools or included in national curriculum
- No national Romani language media in Britain, unlike in some other European countries
- No designated Romani-speaking areas or municipalities like for Welsh and Gaelic languages
Campaigners have argued Romani should be given stronger official status and protection in Britain, like other traditional minority languages. But so far the government has not extended additional legal recognition or rights to Romani varieties in the UK.
What education supports Romani language?
Education in Romani languages is very limited in Britain’s schools. Some specific efforts include:
- Small number of weekend schools teach Romani language and culture
- Some Gypsy and Traveller pre-school programs incorporate Romani songs and rhymes
- A few secondary schools offer Romani classes as community language options
- Romani language classes provided at certain colleges and universities
- Online Romani language courses developed by community groups
But Romani is not part of the standard curriculum in UK schools. Advocates continue to argue that Romani should be recognized as a community language and offered within schools in areas with significant Roma populations.
What threat does Romani face in the UK?
Linguists classify Romani dialects in Britain as “definitely endangered”. The main threats facing Romani in the UK are:
- Shift away from Romani towards English monolingualism
- Romani not passed down well by parents to children
- Negative attitudes towards Romani in wider British society
- Lack of Romani language programs and support
- Young people preferring to use English for social mobility
- Romani not kept up well by speakers in exile
For traditional dialects like Welsh Cant and Scottish Cant spoken by very small populations, extinction is imminent within decades.
Stronger varieties like Welsh Romani and Angloromani will likely survive longer, but a continuing decline in active use seems inevitable without greater efforts to preserve Romani language and culture in the UK.
Conclusion
The traditional language of the Gypsies in Britain is Romani, which developed various British dialects like Welsh Romani and Angloromani over centuries. These Romani varieties are still spoken today, especially among older generations and for in-group communication.
But English has now overtaken Romani as the everyday language of most British Gypsies due to integration into the mainstream English-speaking society. Romani is not recognized as an official minority language and struggles for survival amid declining use by younger generations.
Concerted efforts by both community members and governments will be needed to document and maintain traditional Romani dialects in the face of extensive language shift among Britain’s Gypsy and Traveler populations.