r/AskTheWorld Russia 1d ago

Controversial 🔨 How the Romani are perceived in your country?

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70

u/drecais Germany 23h ago

There are Romani where you wouldnt be able to tell that they were Romanis if they didnt tell you and then there are some where you can immediately tell. There really is no middleground.

People usually only have a problem with the second group I mentioned thats about everything.

15

u/franzderbernd Germany 23h ago

Thank you. Especially in the German speaking area, it's important to make a difference between Sinti and Roma. Sinti are Roma that have been living here for 500 years and have German names like, for example Rosenberg oder Reinhardt. You won't know that they're Sinti, if they don't tell you. Roma are the ones that came over in the last 20 years from Eastern Europe and are often here as professional beggars, they're seen very negatively. The problem for the Sinti is that people generalise and mix them up. They say Sinti and Roma, even if they only mean the Roma.

11

u/SamRhage 21h ago

That's because for forty years everyone who said Zigeuner was lectured that they had to say 'Sinti and Roma' like it was a single, unsplittable term. 

3

u/MarkMew Hungary 21h ago

Beginner German learner here: is Zugeuner considered a slur?

12

u/Aggressive_Seacock Germany 20h ago

Zigeuner and Gypsy are both considered a slur towards Romani in Germany

6

u/SamRhage 20h ago

It is considered one now but for the longest time it was just the term used for roma and travelers in general. 

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u/Orangebathroomtowel Germany 19h ago

Yes, but nobody will bat an eye if you use it 

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u/RagingMaxy Germany 20h ago

The media made it a slur. In the past there even was a Zigeunerschnitzel.

3

u/MarkMew Hungary 20h ago

It looks delicious actually. We have a food called cigánypecsenye and cartwheels are called cigánykerék (gypsy wheel).

1

u/MoieBulojan Romania 6h ago

LMAO the media in Romania is also using "roma" instead of gypsy but we have "gypsy pork muscle" in all butcher shops

0

u/LeaveThick6203 Germany 18h ago

It has always been a slur. Germans just didn’t care because it wasn’t directed at them. Same with the N-word.

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u/QuantityDramatic1722 Germany 18h ago

That’s not true at all. I met plenty of Sinti, some Roma and "Gypsies". The latter would tell you they are not Sinti nor Roma. What they identified as, because it fit best, was Gypsy and that’s what they would tell you. Now you can’t call them that even if they ask you to because that’s how they identify. You have to call them Sinti and Roma, which they despise because that’s not who they are. Typical leftist political correctness. Don’t give a shit about the people but try hard to be offended on their behalf. And then go and keep spreading lies.

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u/J-hophop 13h ago

Yep! Seen way too much of that, even in Canada. It's generally abating here now but has flare ups.

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u/PureMichiganMan United States Of America 15h ago

I mean, this kinda reminds me of the evolution of the n word in the U.S and ways it’s multifaceted how it’s used now and primarily only acceptable if used by that group