Romani, Vlax

A language of Romania

Danubian, Gypsy, Roma, Romanese, Tsigene, Vlax Romany

Romani

246,000 in Romania (2011 census). 6,000,000 to 11,000,000 Roma worldwide (1987 I. Hancock). Ethnic population: 622,000 (2011 census). Total users in all countries: 566,980.

Location

Caras-Severin and Dolj counties: largest concentrations; scattered elsewhere south and southeast.

Language Maps

Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Slovenia

Hungary

Language Status

6b (Threatened). Recognized language (2001, Local Public Administration Law No. 215, Article 40(7), others).

Classification

Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Romani, Vlax

Dialects

Sedentar Romani, Romanian Kalderash (Coppersmith, Kalderari, Kalderash, Kelderash, Kelderashícko), Ukraine-Moldavia, Eastern Vlax Romani (Bisa), Churari (Churarícko, Sievemakers), Lovari (Lovarícko), Machvano (Machvanmcko), Serbo-Bosnian, Zagundzi, Sedentary Bulgarian, Ghagar, Gabor, Vallachian, Oltenian Ursari. Kalderash and Churari are occupational ethnonyms; Machvano is a geographical one. Other names are ‘Argintari’, silversmith and ‘Lingurari’, spoonmakers. Machvano and Serbian Kalderash have south Slavic superstratum; Lovari influenced by Hungarian [hun]. All 20 or more Vlax dialects are inherently intelligible; differences are mainly lexical and sociolinguistic (I. Hancock). A member of macrolanguage Romany [rom].

Language Use

Some children are not learning the language. Some young people, all adults.

Language Development

Printed or pre-recorded Romani language materials may not be understandable outside the country (or context of surrounding languages) in which they were produced. Grammar. Bible: 2008.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Romani, Vlax

Writing

Cyrillic script [Cyrl], used by Kalderash dialect. Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Christian.

Also spoken in:

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Albania

Language NameRomani, Vlax

User Population

4,000 in Albania (2012 census). Ethnic population: 8,300 (2012 census).

Location

Berat, Durrës, Elbasan, Korçë, Lezhë, Shkodër, Tiranë, and Vlorë counties.

Alternate Names

Rom

Dialects

South Albanian (Fieri, Korça), North Albanian, Gurbet.

Language Status

5* (Dispersed).

Language Use

Also use Gheg Albanian [aln]. Also use Tosk Albanian [als].

Language Development

Printed or pre-recorded Romani language materials may not be understandable outside the country (or context of surrounding languages) in which they were produced.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Ethnic groups are Ҫergar, Herli, Kurtof, and Meçkar. Christian.

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Argentina

Language NameRomani, Vlax

User Population

59,000 in Argentina (2018), based on nationality.

Dialects

Russian Kalderash.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Language Development

Printed or pre-recorded Romani language materials may not be understandable outside the country (or context of surrounding languages) in which they were produced.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Austria

Language NameRomani, Vlax

Location

Burgenland state: Oberwart district and Oberwart city.

Dialects

Austrian Lovari.

Language Status

6b* (Threatened).

Language Development

Printed or pre-recorded Romani language materials may not be understandable outside the country (or context of surrounding languages) in which they were produced.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Bosnia and Herzegovina

Language NameRomani, Vlax

User Population

4,000 in Bosnia and Herzegovina (2012 R. Hasic).

Location

Scattered.

Alternate Names

Danubian, Gurbéti, Gypsy, Rom, Tsigene, Vlax

Dialects

Serbo-Bosnian (Machvano, Machwaya), Kalderash, Southern Vlax, Gurbet.

Language Status

5* (Dispersed).

Language Development

Printed or pre-recorded Romani language materials may not be understandable outside the country (or context of surrounding languages) in which they were produced.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Christian.

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Brazil

Language NameRomani, Vlax

User Population

20,000 in Brazil (2021 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity.

Location

Pernambuco state.

Dialects

Russian Kalderash.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Language Use

All also use Portuguese [por].

Language Development

Printed or pre-recorded Romani language materials may not be understandable outside the country (or context of surrounding languages) in which they were produced.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Bulgaria

Language NameRomani, Vlax

User Population

1,830 in Bulgaria (2011 census).

Location

Sofiya province: Ihtiman.

Alternate Names

Rom

Dialects

Ihtiman.

Language Status

5* (Dispersed).

Language Use

Also use Bulgarian [bul].

Language Development

Printed or pre-recorded Romani language materials may not be understandable outside the country (or context of surrounding languages) in which they were produced.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Christian.

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Colombia

Language NameRomani, Vlax

User Population

4,850 in Colombia (2005 census). Several hundred thousand throughout Latin America (Hancock 1984a).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Language Development

Printed or pre-recorded Romani language materials may not be understandable outside the country (or context of surrounding languages) in which they were produced.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Christian.

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France

Language NameRomani, Vlax

User Population

10,000 in France. 8,000 Kalderash, 2,000 Lovari.

Alternate Names

Rom, Romanes, Tsigane, Vlax

Dialects

Kalderash, Lovari.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Language Use

Also use French [fra].

Language Development

Printed or pre-recorded Romani language materials may not be understandable outside the country (or context of surrounding languages) in which they were produced.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Christian.

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Germany

Language NameRomani, Vlax

User Population

5,000 in Germany. 2,500 Lovari, 2,500–4,000 Kalderash.

Location

Scattered.

Dialects

Lovari, Kalderash.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Language Use

Also use Standard German [deu].

Language Development

Printed or pre-recorded Romani language materials may not be understandable outside the country (or context of surrounding languages) in which they were produced.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Christian.

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Greece

Language NameRomani, Vlax

User Population

1,000 in Greece.

Location

Attica region: Ajia Varvara, suburb of Athens; Epirus region: Parakalamos; Thessaly region: Karditsa regional unit, Sofades; Trikala regional unit.

Alternate Names

Rom, Romanés, Tsingani

Dialects

Lovari, Grekurja (Greco), Kalpazea, Filipidzía, Xandurja. Grekurja is probably Turkish [tur] influenced, distinct from Greek Romani dialect of Balkan Romani [rmn] (I. Hancock).

Language Status

5* (Dispersed).

Language Use

Also use Greek [ell], especially the settled population.

Language Development

Printed or pre-recorded Romani language materials may not be understandable outside the country (or context of surrounding languages) in which they were produced.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Nonsettled Gypsies are called Yifti. Distinct from Rumanovlach, a variety of Romanian. Christian.

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Hungary

Language NameRomani, Vlax

User Population

54,300 in Hungary (2011 census). Ethnic population: 309,000 (2011 census).

Location

Bács-Kiskun, Baranya, Békés, and Csongrád-Csanád counties.

Alternate Names

Beás, Cigány, Roma

Dialects

Lovari (Hungarian Lovari), Cerhari.

Language Status

4 (Educational).

Language Use

Also use Hungarian [hun].

Language Development

Printed or pre-recorded Romani language materials may not be understandable outside the country (or context of surrounding languages) in which they were produced. Taught as subject in primary and secondary schools.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Italy

Language NameRomani, Vlax

User Population

4,000 in Italy. 1,000–3,000 Kalderash, 1,000 Lovari.

Location

Major cities.

Alternate Names

Rom

Dialects

Kalderash (Italian Kalderash), Lovari, Italian Xoraxane.

Language Status

5* (Dispersed).

Language Use

Also use Italian [ita].

Language Development

Printed or pre-recorded Romani language materials may not be understandable outside the country (or context of surrounding languages) in which they were produced.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Christian.

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Mexico

Language NameRomani, Vlax

User Population

5,000 in Mexico (1993).

Location

Oaxaca state.

Dialects

Mexican Vlax.

Language Status

5* (Dispersed).

Language Use

Also use Spanish [spa].

Language Development

Printed or pre-recorded Romani language materials may not be understandable outside the country (or context of surrounding languages) in which they were produced.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Netherlands

Language NameRomani, Vlax

User Population

1,000 in Netherlands. 500 Kalderash, 500 Lovari.

Dialects

Kalderash, Lovari.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Language Use

Also use Dutch [nld].

Language Development

Printed or pre-recorded Romani language materials may not be understandable outside the country (or context of surrounding languages) in which they were produced.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Christian.

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North Macedonia

Language NameRomani, Vlax

Location

Bitola, Dolneni, Ohrid, Prilep, and Resen municipalities.

Dialects

Gurbet (Das, Džambazi).

Language Status

6a* (Vigorous).

Language Use

Also use Macedonian [mkd].

Language Development

Printed or pre-recorded Romani language materials may not be understandable outside the country (or context of surrounding languages) in which they were produced.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Norway

Language NameRomani, Vlax

User Population

500 in Norway (Johnstone 1993). Ethnic population: 3,500.

Location

Oslo county.

Alternate Names

Rom

Dialects

Lovari (Norwegian Lovari).

Language Status

5* (Dispersed).

Language Use

Also use Norwegian [nor].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 30%–60%. Literacy rate in L2: 75%–100%. Printed or pre-recorded Romani language materials may not be understandable outside the country (or context of surrounding languages) in which they were produced.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Christian.

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Poland

Language NameRomani, Vlax

User Population

5,000 in Poland.

Location

Scattered.

Alternate Names

Rom

Dialects

Lovari (Polish Lovari).

Language Status

5* (Dispersed).

Language Use

Most also use Polish [pol].

Language Development

Printed or pre-recorded Romani language materials may not be understandable outside the country (or context of surrounding languages) in which they were produced.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Christian.

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Portugal

Language NameRomani, Vlax

User Population

500 in Portugal.

Location

Scattered.

Dialects

Kalderash.

Language Status

5* (Dispersed).

Language Use

All also use Portuguese [por], as the language of education, government, business, and upward mobility.

Language Development

Printed or pre-recorded Romani language materials may not be understandable outside the country (or context of surrounding languages) in which they were produced.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Christian.

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Russian Federation

Language NameRomani, Vlax

User Population

128,000 in Russian Federation (2010 census). Census includes all Romani languages. Ethnic population: 205,000 (2010 census).

Location

Scattered.

Alternate Names

Rom

Dialects

Central Vlax Romani, Kalderash (Kelderash, Russian Kalderash), Lovari (Chokeshi Lovari). Russian Kalderash influenced by east Slavic, mainly Russian [rus] (I. Hancock).

Language Status

6b* (Threatened).

Language Use

Also use Russian [rus].

Language Development

Printed or pre-recorded Romani language materials may not be understandable outside the country (or context of surrounding languages) in which they were produced.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Vlax speakers from Russia are called Rusurja. Ethnic groups: Sárvi (left-bank Ukraine), Volóxuja (right-bank Ukraine), Chache (Moldavia), Kalderari (Moldavia, Ukraine, Odessa, Transcarpathia), Lovári (Ukraine). About 300,000 Gypsies from the former Soviet Union speak a variety of Romani, Lomavren, or Domari as L1 or L2 (Gunnemark and Kenrick 1985). Christian.

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Serbia

Language NameRomani, Vlax

Location

Widespread.

Alternate Names

Rom

Dialects

Lovari, Kalderash (Serbian Kalderash), Gurbet (Dzambazi, Gurbetsky).

Language Status

6a* (Vigorous).

Language Use

Also use Serbian [srp].

Language Development

Printed or pre-recorded Romani language materials may not be understandable outside the country (or context of surrounding languages) in which they were produced.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Slovakia

Language NameRomani, Vlax

Location

Scattered.

Alternate Names

Rom

Dialects

Lovari, Kalderash (Kaldarári), Slovak Bougesti.

Language Status

5* (Dispersed).

Language Use

Also use Slovak [slk].

Language Development

Printed or pre-recorded Romani language materials may not be understandable outside the country (or context of surrounding languages) in which they were produced.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Christian.

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Spain

Language NameRomani, Vlax

User Population

1,000 in Spain (2000).

Dialects

Kalderash.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Language Use

Also use Spanish [spa].

Language Development

Printed or pre-recorded Romani language materials may not be understandable outside the country (or context of surrounding languages) in which they were produced.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Sweden

Language NameRomani, Vlax

User Population

12,000 in Sweden (2020 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity.

Location

Stockholm.

Alternate Names

Rom, “Zigenare” (pej.)

Dialects

Kalderash (Taikon Kalderash), Lovari, Machvano, Gurbet.

Language Status

6b* (Threatened). Recognized language (2009, Language Act No. 600, Article 7).

Language Development

Printed or pre-recorded Romani language materials may not be understandable outside the country (or context of surrounding languages) in which they were produced.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Christian.

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Ukraine

Language NameRomani, Vlax

Location

Odessa and Zakarpattia regions.

Alternate Names

Rom

Dialects

Central Vlax Romani, Kalderash, Ukrainian Vlax.

Language Status

6b* (Threatened).

Language Use

Also use Ukrainian [ukr].

Language Development

Printed or pre-recorded Romani language materials may not be understandable outside the country (or context of surrounding languages) in which they were produced.

Other Comments

View other languages of Ukraine

Romani, Vlax

Primary tabs

A language of Romania

Also spoken in:

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