# Is the term "gypsy" offensive? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 28, 2007, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-gypsy-offensive/394092 "2007-02-28T22:39:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2007, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-gypsy-offensive/394092/21 "2007-03-01T16:53:10Z")
With regard to the sometimes derogatory nature of the term, the word “gyp” might also be mentioned: From Merriam-Webster > [@](#): > > gyp > Function: noun > **Etymology: probably short for gypsy** > 1 British : a college servant > **2 a : CHEAT, SWINDLER b : FRAUD, SWINDLE** ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2007, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-gypsy-offensive/394092/22 "2007-03-01T19:57:51Z")
There is **no** term for any racial/ethic group which is not considered “offensive” by some. ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2007, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-gypsy-offensive/394092/23 "2007-03-01T20:25:00Z")
[QUOTE=Colibri] With regard to the sometimes derogatory nature of the term, the word “gyp” might also be mentioned: From Merriam-Webster [/QUOTE] _and see_, > **[Gyp: The Origins of a Word Meaning to Cheat or Swindle](https://www.worldwidewords.org/qa-gyp1.html)** > > The verb 'gyp' might derive from 'gypsy,' but direct evidence remains elusive—and the true origins of this slur reveal surprising complexity and historical uncertainty. > **[Gyp: pain and its origins in northern English dialect](https://www.worldwidewords.org/qa-gyp2.html)** > > How did 'gyp' come to mean pain in British English, and is it really connected to the cry used to command horses? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2007, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-gypsy-offensive/394092/24 "2007-03-01T20:45:25Z")
[QUOTE=DrDeth] There is **no** term for any racial/ethic group which is not considered “offensive” by some. [/QUOTE] Are you sure? Do the people of Britain take offense to being called a Brit by Americans? Do Yanks mine being called Yanks by a Brit? I am sure there are many other exceptions, but these come to mind very quickly. Great thread. It sounds like overall it is OK to refer to a group of Roma as gypsies but it would be insulting to a Roma to hear someone that moves around a lot called a gypsy. Is this generally correct? Jim ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2007, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-gypsy-offensive/394092/25 "2007-03-01T20:47:22Z")
[QUOTE=What Exit?] Do Yanks mine being called Yanks by a Brit? [/QUOTE] Are you callin’ me a Yankee, boy? Are you implying that I would have anything to do with Yankees in any way, shape or form? Because if you are, I’m goning to have to ask you to step outside! ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2007, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-gypsy-offensive/394092/26 "2007-03-01T20:52:44Z")
[QUOTE=What Exit?] Are you sure? Do the people of Britain take offense to being called a Brit by Americans? Do Yanks mine being called Yanks by a Brit? [/QUOTE] You are limiting the usage here. I said “There is no term for any racial/ethic group which is not considered “offensive” by _some_.” not “There is no term for any racial/ethic group which is not considered “offensive” by\* everyone.”\* Black dudes can call \*each other \*“Nigger” at times, do note. I don’t know about the people of Britain take offense to being called a Brit _by Americans-_ but one Irish poster in a recent PIT thread (about “Japs”) made it very clear that when _he_ used Brit it was a racial slur. So, Brit _can_ be offensive. It isn’t always, of course. And fuck yeah- you call someone from the South a “Yank” and they will let you know just how deeply you have fucked up. So, Yank \*can \*be offensive, but it isn’t always. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2007, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-gypsy-offensive/394092/27 "2007-03-01T21:02:27Z")
[QUOTE=DrDeth] You are limiting the usage here. I said “There is no term for any racial/ethic group which is not considered “offensive” by _some_.” not “There is no term for any racial/ethic group which is not considered “offensive” by\* everyone.”\* Black dudes can call \*each other \*“Nigger” at times, do note. I don’t know about the people of Britain take offense to being called a Brit _by Americans-_ but one Irish poster in a recent PIT thread (about “Japs”) made it very clear that when _he_ used Brit it was a racial slur. So, Brit _can_ be offensive. It isn’t always, of course. And fuck yeah- you call someone from the South a “Yank” and they will let you know just how deeply you have fucked up. So, Yank \*can \*be offensive, but it isn’t always. [/QUOTE] Based on \*\*Silenus’ \*\* half joke and your reply, I will withdraw my objection. Jim ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2007, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-gypsy-offensive/394092/28 "2007-03-01T21:13:40Z")
[QUOTE=DrDeth] There is **no** term for any racial/ethic group which is not considered “offensive” by some. [/QUOTE] Rubbish. Who, exactly, considers “Swedish” offensive? ---
**Author:** ![Kal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Kal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kal)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2007, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-gypsy-offensive/394092/29 "2007-03-01T21:19:14Z")
[QUOTE=Colibri] Rubbish. Who, exactly, considers “Swedish” offensive? [/QUOTE] Swiss people, when called it by mistake. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2007, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-gypsy-offensive/394092/30 "2007-03-01T21:25:17Z")
[QUOTE=Colibri] Rubbish. Who, exactly, considers “Swedish” offensive? [/QUOTE] Norwegians? ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2007, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-gypsy-offensive/394092/31 "2007-03-01T21:28:42Z")
[QUOTE=Colibri] With regard to the sometimes derogatory nature of the term, the word “gyp” might also be mentioned: From Merriam-Webster… [/QUOTE] I’m very surprised that the Cambridge dictionary doesn’t have the derogatory definition: > [@](#): > > gyp Show phonetics > noun UK INFORMAL > pain or trouble: > My knee has been giving me gyp since I started running. [http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=35099&dict=CALD](http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=35099&dict=CALD) ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2007, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-gypsy-offensive/394092/32 "2007-03-01T21:38:27Z")
Isn’t the “pain or trouble” definition pronounced “gip?” Different derivation. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2007, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-gypsy-offensive/394092/33 "2007-03-01T23:09:25Z")
Ethnic rivalries die slowly. My father (full-blooded Magyar) absolutely, positively considered “gypsy” or any derivation of it to be an ethnic slur, an insult or a full-fledged racist term. He actually chewed out my sister when she once jokingly referred to our “gypsy blood.” ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2007, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-gypsy-offensive/394092/34 "2007-03-01T23:14:33Z")
[QUOTE=silenus] Isn’t the “pain or trouble” definition pronounced “gip?” Different derivation. [/QUOTE] I’ve no idea how ‘gip’ is supposed to be pronounced 😛 I’d say it sounded like the first syllable of ‘gypsy’, certainly. ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2007, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-gypsy-offensive/394092/35 "2007-03-01T23:53:57Z")
[QUOTE=silenus] Isn’t the “pain or trouble” definition pronounced “gip?” Different derivation. [/QUOTE] > [@](#): > > The other meaning you give has no connection — it’s a derogatory term that is usually said to derive from the word gypsy. The sense of pain seems to be connected with a northern English dialect word, variously spelled gip or jip, that only ever appeared in the form “to give somebody or something jip”. It could mean to give a person or an object a sound thrashing (one example is of a man giving a carpet a beating), or generally to treat roughly or to cause pain. > **[Gyp: pain and its origins in northern English dialect](https://www.worldwidewords.org/qa-gyp2.html)** > > How did 'gyp' come to mean pain in British English, and is it really connected to the cry used to command horses? ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2007, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-gypsy-offensive/394092/36 "2007-03-02T00:00:32Z")
[QUOTE=GorillaMan] I’ve no idea how ‘gip’ is supposed to be pronounced 😛 I’d say it sounded like the first syllable of ‘gypsy’, certainly. [/QUOTE] The Cambridge definition shows “d3ip” and d3=jump [http://dictionary.cambridge.org/help/phonetics.htm](http://dictionary.cambridge.org/help/phonetics.htm) gip would begin with a hard ‘g’ as in give. _Id._ ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2007, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-gypsy-offensive/394092/37 "2007-03-02T00:06:26Z")
[QUOTE=Gfactor] The Cambridge definition shows “d3ip” and d3=jump [http://dictionary.cambridge.org/help/phonetics.htm](http://dictionary.cambridge.org/help/phonetics.htm) gip would begin with a hard ‘g’ as in give. _Id._ [/QUOTE] OK, sorry…I’m certainly not fluent with phonetic systems. In relation to the Cambridge quote, I’ve never heard it anything other then “d3ip”. (On preview - that 3 was put there by Windows as I copied it, and I’m not searching through Charmap to replace it 🙂 ) ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2007, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-gypsy-offensive/394092/38 "2007-03-02T00:08:23Z")
[QUOTE=GorillaMan] I’m very surprised that the Cambridge dictionary doesn’t have the derogatory definition [/QUOTE] It does in the Cambridge Dictionary of American English: > [@](#): > > gyp > [Hide phonetics] > verb [T] > INFORMAL > to cheat (someone) [http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=gyp\*1+0&dict=A](http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=gyp*1+0&dict=A) The Compact OED gives both pronunciations for the second meaning: > [@](#): > > gyp1 > /jip/ (also gip) > > • noun Brit. informal pain or discomfort. > > — ORIGIN perhaps from gee-up (see GEE2). [Oxford Languages - The home of language data.](http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/gyp_1?view=uk) ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2007, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-gypsy-offensive/394092/39 "2007-03-02T00:10:03Z")
[QUOTE=GorillaMan] OK, sorry…I’m certainly not fluent with phonetic systems. (On preview - that 3 was put there by Windows as I copied it, and I’m not searching through Charmap to replace it 🙂 ) [/QUOTE] Nor am I. I was equally lazy, so I just put a three in there tagged as size 1. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2007, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-gypsy-offensive/394092/40 "2007-03-02T00:16:30Z")
[QUOTE=Gfactor] Nor am I. I was equally lazy, so I just put a three in there tagged as size 1. 😃 [/QUOTE] Brownie points for honesty! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-gypsy-offensive/394092.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-gypsy-offensive/394092.md?page=3)