Welsh Romani language facts for kids

Welsh Romani, also called Welsh Kalá, was a special type of the Romani language. People spoke it well in Wales until about 1950. The Kale people, a group of the Romani people, spoke this language. They came to Britain in the 1500s. The first time we know for sure Romani people lived in Wales was in the 1700s. Welsh Romani is part of a bigger family called Northern Romani dialects.

Words in Welsh Romani

Most words in Welsh Romani came from the original Romani language. But it also used words from other languages. These borrowed words are called loanwords.

Welsh Loanwords

Some words came from the Welsh language. For example:

• melanō meant "yellow," from the Welsh word melyn.
• grīga meant "heather," from the Welsh word grug.
• kraŋka meant "crab," from the Welsh word cranc.

English Loanwords

Welsh Romani also borrowed words from the English language. For example:

• vlija meant "village."
• spīdra meant "spider."
• bråmla meant "bramble."

Family of Romani Languages

Long ago, Welsh Kalá and Angloromani were seen as the same language. Angloromani was spoken by the Romanichal people in England. Together, they were known as British Romani.

Related Romani Groups

Welsh Kalá is very similar to other Romani languages. These include:

• Angloromani, spoken by Romanichal in England.
• Scandoromani, spoken by Romanisæl in Norway and Sweden.
• Scottish Cant, spoken by Scottish Lowland Romani in Scotland.
• Finnish Kalo, spoken by Finnish Kale in Finland.

The Welsh Kale, English Romanichal, Norwegian and Swedish Romanisæl, Finnish Kale, and Scottish Lowland Romani are all related. Their ancestors were Romani people who came to England in the 1500s.