zingaro
/ˈd͡zin.ɡa.ro/masculine
The Italian word for gypsy is zingaro.
zingaro is used to refer to a member of the Romani people or another nomadic group.
Meaning: a member of the Romani people or another nomadic group (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine singular form is zingaro. Its feminine form is zingara. For the plural, use zingari for a group of men or a mixed-gender group and zingare for a group of women.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ˈdzin.ɡa.ro/. It has three syllables, with the stress on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- While zingaro describes a person, its Greek roots suggest the word originally meant 'untouchable'.
- In modern Italian, calling someone a zingaro can be used as a harsh insult rather than just a description of ethnicity.
- The term gitano is occasionally used in Italy as a polite alternative, though it is more commonly associated with Spanish culture.
Examples in context
- Ho imparato molto sulla cultura dei Rom grazie a un documentario.I learned a lot about Rom culture from a documentary.
- Ho incontrato un zingaro che cantava meravigliosamente per strada.I met a gypsy who was singing beautifully on the street.
- Lo zingaro viveva in una tenda.The gypsy lived in a tent.
Example conversation
Matteo and Martina are talking about a documentary they watched.
- MatteoHai visto il documentario sullo zingaro?Did you see the documentary about the gypsy?
- MartinaSì, era molto interessante.Yes, it was very interesting.
- MatteoMi ha colpito il suo modo di vivere.His way of living struck me.
- MartinaÈ vero, è una cultura affascinante.It is true, it is a fascinating culture.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “gypsy” translations and entries zingaro, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries zingaro, CC BY-SA 4.0.
