Cikán

See also: cikán

Czech

Alternative forms

Etymology

Possibly from an Ancient Greek term meaning "untouchable"; compare the modern Greek designations Τσιγγάνοι (Tsingánoi), Αθίγγανοι (Athínganoi).[1][2][3] Cognates include Hungarian cigány, English tzigane, Italian zigano, Portuguese cigano, Polish Cygan, Russian цыган (cygan), German Zigeuner, and Spanish cíngaro.

Noun

Cikán m

  1. A Gypsy, a Romani.

Usage notes
  • The term Cikán/cikán is often intentionally derogatory and is therefore considered racist by some. Consequently, careful speakers use the term Rom instead. Cikán is still the prevailing term in informal Czech and in historical usage, however.

Synonyms

References
  1. 2004, Viorel Achim, The Roma in Romanian History (Bucharest), page 9
  2. 2007, Jean-Pierre Liégeois, Roma In Europe, page 17
  3. 1993, Struggling for Ethnic Identity: The Gypsies of Hungary (published by Human Rights Watch), page 1

Further reading
  • Cikán in Kartotéka Novočeského lexikálního archivu
  • cikán in Příruční slovník jazyka českého, 1935–1957
  • cikán in Slovník spisovného jazyka českého, 1960–1971, 1989
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