A captivating video shared by Bulgarian Instagram user Hristiyan has illuminated the remarkable similarities between the Romani language and Hindi, leaving many internet users astonished. Hristiyan, who hails from one of Bulgaria’s oldest Roma tribes, shared that his ancestors migrated from India approximately 1,500 years ago. Despite the vast time elapsed, the Romani language has remarkably preserved many linguistic ties with Hindi, Urdu, and other Indo-Aryan languages.
Who are the Romani people?
The Romani people, also known as Roma, are an ethnic group with roots in the Indian subcontinent. Historically, they were nomadic, and today, significant Romani populations are found across Europe, particularly in Eastern and Central European countries. While the term “Gypsies” has been commonly used, “Roma” is the preferred and more respectful term.
Linguistic and genetic research consistently traces the Roma’s origins to the northwestern regions of India, including present-day Punjab and Rajasthan. Their migration to Europe is estimated to have occurred over centuries, beginning around the 5th century CE.
Romani language vs. Hindi
The Romani language is an Indo-Aryan language with diverse dialects. In a compelling demonstration, Hristiyan collaborated with speakers of Urdu, Hindi, and Punjabi to highlight the shared vocabulary. Words for common elements like “water” (paani) and “ear” (kaan) are pronounced similarly across these languages.
Further examples include “kaangli” in Romani, which corresponds to “kanghi” in Urdu and Hindi, and “bakro” in Romani, which is “bakra” in Hindi and Urdu. Hristiyan’s specific dialect uses “saanp” for snake and “machcho” for fish, further demonstrating recognizably shared words with languages like Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi, Bengali, and Gujarati.
Internet’s Reaction
The video’s revelation of these linguistic connections has elicited widespread surprise and curiosity online.
“I am shocked. I knew that they originated from India, but I have never expected that Gypsy languages can be so close Hindi/Urdu,” commented one user.
Another exclaimed, “OMG! How is that possible?”
The video has been lauded as a “masterpiece of linguistics, history and semiotic.” One Bulgarian woman shared a nostalgic memory: “I remember my dad once told me how, when he was a teenager in the 1960s, he’d go to the cinema, and little Roma kids would sneak in to watch Bollywood movies. Later they’d say they understood everything – that the actors were speaking Romani!”
A viewer with Bengali heritage noted the connection, stating, “My parents speak a rural dialect of Bengali from Kustia… I think we’re long lost cousins. Linguistically.”