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Roma

ROH-muh
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Roma (name) means the Romani people, an ethnic group with historical roots in India, now found across the world, especially Europe. Example: “The festival celebrated Roma music and culture.”

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The Romani people, an ethnic group with historical roots in India, now found across the world, especially Europe.
"The festival celebrated Roma music and culture."

How to use Roma

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe preferred name for the ethnic group historically also called Gypsies, a term now considered outdated or offensive by many.

Common mistake

Roma refers to the ethnic group; it is unrelated to "Roman" or the city of Rome, despite the similar spelling.

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Word forms

Plural
Romas
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The festival celebrated _____ music and culture.

Etymology

From Romani roma, the plural of rom ("man, Romani man"), ultimately traced to a Sanskrit word for a caste of traveling musicians.

Origin: Sanskrit

Synonyms

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romani Bohemian Rommany Gypsy Romany Gipsy

Related words

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Rhymes for Roma

Oma coma soma toma noma aroma paloma Tacoma sarcoma adenoma diploma Oklahoma
See all rhymes for Roma →

Frequently asked questions

What does “Roma” mean?
The word “Roma” means the Romani people, an ethnic group with historical roots in India, now found across the world, especially Europe. In plain terms, the preferred name for the ethnic group historically also called Gypsies, a term now considered outdated or offensive by many.
How do you pronounce “Roma”?
“Roma” is pronounced ROH-muh (/ˈɹoʊmə/ in IPA).
How do you use “Roma” in a sentence?
Here is “Roma” used in a sentence: “The festival celebrated Roma music and culture.”
What part of speech is “Roma”?
“Roma” is a name.
Where does the word “Roma” come from?
The word “Roma” comes from Sanskrit. From Romani roma, the plural of rom ("man, Romani man"), ultimately traced to a Sanskrit word for a caste of traveling musicians.
Is “Roma” a common word?
“Roma” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between Roma and Romani?
Roma most commonly refers to the ethnic group itself, while Romani is often used as the adjective or language name associated with that group. Both terms relate to the same people, who have historical roots in India and are now found across the world, especially Europe.
Is Roma the same as Romania?
No. Roma refers to an ethnic group with roots in India, while Romania is an unrelated country name referring to a nation in southeastern Europe. The similarity in spelling is coincidental.
Is Roma always capitalized?
Yes, Roma is capitalized because it names a specific ethnic group.

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Vocabulary lists that include Roma:

Words with Sanskrit origins Words that end with A

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