English to Shelta
The asterisked entries in the Shelta column are in place of contemporary Irish Traveller Cant words that have been erased in the public listing, in deference to the Irish Travellers' desire for privacy. Since this list is primarily for their use to expand the Cant if they wish, and since they already know and use those omitted words, I feel that this is the best compromise presently possible between the conflicting goals of secrecy, preservation and/or restoration. The complete version is only available to selected Irish Travellers for personal use.
There's a pronunciation guide at the bottom of the list. Since these pronunciations were natural to Gaelic speakers, but not to those whose first language is English, I do not expect these phonetics to survive actual usage intact for very long. But, hopefully, they will provide a starting point.
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SHELTA |
ENGLISH |
COMMENTARY & EXAMPLES |
| ayn | 1 | Shelta only, * KX and Shelta |
| odd | 2 | Leland's O.McD. used do (the Irish) |
| sheeka | 3 | |
| shaaka | 4 | KX similar to * |
| shooka | 5 | coogh or kyud, KX * = $5.00 |
| shay | 6 | |
| sheltoo | 7 | |
| okht | 8 | similar to German, "acht" |
| ayen | 9 | also nee |
| chal gyetcha | 10 | * KX |
| gyetcha | 20 | |
| odd gyetcha | 40 | |
| shooka gyetcha | 100 | KX * = $100.00 |
| * | 1000 | CX |
| nokh | ? | interrog.prefix Nokh hoo? ="Is that 'not' you?" ('not' is guess) |
| a | ? | question prefix, as in A tcherpu hoo, "Will you cook?" |
| * | 4 | CX & Shelta |
| raag | 4-wheeled vehicle | raag tchera = locomotive |
| A | BACK TO TOP | |
| * | abdomen | CX and Shelta |
| grawbaltha | able | |
| mukinye | abode | verb and noun |
| swurth | above | |
| graarch | acreage | |
| horsk | across | |
| hal | across | |
| agetool | afraid | |
| * | afraid | CX |
| * | afraid | CX |
| ar | after | |
| olsk | after | |
| areerth | again | |
| ayeerth | again | |
| yeerth | again | |
| mwaynya | ago | |
| * | airs, as in "put on airs" | CX |
| * | alcohol, esp. beer | CX |
| gaather | alcohol | |
| * | alcohol | CX |
| * | alcoholic | noun close to CX |
| * | ale | close to CX |
| atawp | alive | |
| thawpa | alive | |
| goikhil | all | more Irish than Shelta |
| * | alright | CX |
| a | and | |
| * | announcer(s) | CX |
| airpa | another | also aila which is really Irish |
| ala | another | |
| lee (2) | another | |
| * | anus | part CX |
| smugal | anvil | |
| mugel | apple | would "potato" be mugel a-ladu as in French? |
| groola | apple | |
| gray (2) | arise | all three verbs |
| * | arm | CX and Shelta |
| soolya | around | |
| * | arrested | CX and Shelta |
| * | arrested | CX |
| * | arrested | CX |
| gramail | as | |
| shloahya | ashes | |
| * | ask | CX |
| kuldrum | asleep | condition and intr. verb |
| grasal | ass | |
| * | ass | CX and Shelta |
| * | asshole | part CX |
| aburth | at all | |
| granta | aunt | |
| * | automobile | CX and Shelta (originally = "cart") |
| grooskal | awaken | |
| * | aware | CX |
| awasth | away | |
| umpi | away? | |
| sharker | axe | od sharker = balance scale brouen sharker = scythe |
| B | BACK TO TOP | |
| suba | babble | |
| goikhera | baby | |
| sulyan | baby | |
| nup | back | |
| graysh | back | |
| agraysh | back | torin agreesh, "coming back" |
| * | backside | CX and Shelta |
| agraysh | backward | torin agreesh, "coming back" |
| sugoon | bacon | |
| * | bad | CX |
| * | bad luck | CX |
| * | bad | CX and Shelta |
| * | bad | CX,KX and Shelta prob.stand-alone ver. of *, i.e. "It is bad.") |
| * | badness | CX and Shelta |
| ruboag | bag (as in suitcase?) | |
| lampa | bag | lampa muntches = "tobacco-pouch" lampa gored = "purse" |
| stcheema(r) | bagpipe | |
| * | bar-room | CX |
| surgon | bargain | |
| shchiblyeen | barn | |
| sgyibowl | barn | |
| grunsa | barrel hoop | |
| kleithon | barrier | possible tawn kleithon ladu = "Tinker's dam?" |
| leespa | basin | |
| shrish | basin | |
| shrish | basin | |
| reesbath | basket | |
| rooski | basket | |
| skipsy | basket | Romanichal |
| losport | bastard | |
| * | bathroom | CX |
| sugoo (1) | battle | verb and/or noun? |
| graysol | beard | |
| grisoag | beard | |
| lowber | beat | see mish |
| slim | beat | verb |
| * | beautiful | CX |
| * | bed | CX and Shelta |
| rablyeen | bedsheet | |
| gaather | beer | |
| sinawl | beer | see rawnyal |
| rawnyal | beer | dubious etymology |
| akhiver | before | |
| djooka | beggar | definitely not a Traveller |
| gyoochra | beggar | |
| * | beggar | close to CX using Cant pronunciation instead of initial g' |
| nup | behind | |
| mwaynya | behind | |
| * | behind | CX and Shelta |
| shlug (1) | bell | |
| srenth | bellow | |
| * | belly | CX and Shelta |
| slaaska | belt | noun chastity belt with lock ?? (:>D) |
| saltha | belt | noun |
| * | bent old man | close to CX |
| lyim | beside | noun and preposition |
| gyilikhon | bible | fairly soft g, almost "j" |
| * | big | CX, KX probably * |
| * | big lie | CX |
| * | big | CX & Shelta |
| thomiath | bigness | |
| nyakul | bind | verb and noun |
| graytcheen | bird | |
| kootchi | bit | noun |
| milk | bit | |
| byinniyan | bit | noun |
| threep | bit (to drink) | noun |
| midjokh | bit | Macalister has mid'og = "shilling" |
| medel | black | |
| * | black man | CX Romanichal? |
| gooth | black | adjective |
| * | black man | CX |
| goothena | blacksmith | Leland's O.McD. says "policeman" |
| * | blanket | CX |
| lampayid | blanket | |
| noos | blessing | used in noos a Daalyon = "God's grace" or "God willing" |
| sthafar(a)(is) | blessing(s) | |
| lud | blind | |
| liba | blood | |
| sorm | blue | |
| subakh | boar | |
| noabyri | bog | |
| tchairp | boil | |
| tchelp | boil | verb |
| skei-tchelpi | boiled water | |
| * | boisterous | CX |
| mark | bone | |
| gyilikhon | book | fairly soft g, almost "j" |
| sreikha | bookkeeper | |
| * | boot | CX & Shelta |
| * | boozer | noun close to CX |
| suboal | bottle | |
| dreeper | bottle | |
| shudjail | bottle | |
| brikler | bowl | |
| lagoon | bowl with handle | porringer |
| gushul | bowl | porringer |
| ruboag | box | |
| sibleen | boy | related to KX and Shelta * |
| sham | boy | |
| * | boy, small or little | diminutive form too close to CX |
| * | boy | Shelta from Macalister too close to CX |
| growkin | boy | |
| grawkin | boy | overtones of naivety, even stupidity |
| * | boy | CX and Shelta (using Leland's O.McD.'s pronunciation) |
| sharpog | boy | |
| granlum (1) | brass | |
| thopa | brave | |
| * | brawl | CX |
| pek | bread | |
| dura | bread | |
| djerri | bread | Leland's O.McD pronounces it this way |
| * | break | verb and condition CX & Shelta |
| prask | break wind | |
| sragaasta | breakfast | |
| myiskon | breast, woman's | |
| greetho | breeze | |
| grayed | bridge | |
| nyookal | bridle | |
| * | broadcasters (Travellers) | CX |
| * | broken | verb and condition CX & Shelta |
| simi | broth | Romanichal |
| manthri | broth | |
| shaakr (1) | brother | |
| * | brother | Shelta from Macalister too close to CX |
| * | brother | CX & Gaelic |
| * | brother | CX and Shelta (using Leland's O.McD.'s pronunciation) |
| * | brother | CX (from Gaelic) |
| * | brother, small or little | diminutive form too close to CX |
| ruket | bucket | rhymes with the English |
| nyaaka | bucket | |
| koldni | bud | probably only Irish |
| lampoag | budget of tools | may include box they are carried in (see gruska) |
| garo | bull | |
| goro | bull | |
| paani (2) | bunny | after all this work, I figure I'm allowed these extensions. |
| sori | burial | |
| skurlum | burn | |
| skrakho | bush | |
| lathrum | butter | ?from English "slather?" |
| * | butter | CX & Shelta |
| * | butter | CX & Shelta |
| oid | butter | |
| sreepa | button | |
| skoich | button | Leland's O.McD. adds the "ch" |
| * | buy | CX |
| kari | buy | verb |
| C | BACK TO TOP | |
| kawb | cabbage | |
| lobaan | cabin | |
| sraakh | cake | |
| shib | call | |
| kawmpa | camp | English loan word, no doubt |
| * | camp | CX verb |
| * | campground | CX |
| * | camping place | CX |
| * | campsite | CX |
| khureen | can | |
| ngyaka | can | |
| nyokul | candle | |
| blinkam | candle | |
| * | candy | CX |
| kara | canoe | |
| Sheldroo | Cant, old | Leland wrote it down wrong, apparently, but Shelta is here to stay. |
| rabaid | cap | |
| haalor | cap | |
| chaidi | cap | |
| raag | car | raag tchera = locomotive |
| * | car | CX and Shelta (originally = "cart") |
| slooya | carbon | |
| roikha | card | |
| medjri | carry | |
| kutcher | cat | |
| maksthi | cat | Romany loan word |
| kreepukh | cat | |
| bageil | catch | |
| bageil | catching | |
| * | cease | kradji duilsha's pee = "Shut your mouth!" CX & Shelta |
| staal | cease | |
| loot | cereal | |
| nyochlur | chain | |
| slang | chain | |
| seiher | chair | |
| keihed | chair | |
| graypul | chapel | |
| gris (1) | charm | KX gris * ="fortune-telling woman" |
| * | cheap | CX |
| oid tcherpu(d) | cheese | Macalister has t'erpu (tcherpu) ="cooked." k'erp (cherp)?? |
| kasin | cheese | |
| mishoor | chest | |
| * | chicken | CX |
| graytcheen | chicken | |
| ree-meeder | chief devil | |
| * | child | CX |
| * | child | CX |
| gawthrin | child | |
| grimleoar | chimney | |
| gratha (2) | choke | see grath |
| risp | christen | |
| rispu | christening | Talosk Rispu = "Christmas Day" |
| makhal | church | also makher |
| ligi | church | |
| graag | city | |
| thribli | clan | |
| ladu | clay | |
| analth | clean | |
| * | clean | CX & Shelta |
| krush | clear out | Gammon |
| kom | clergyman | |
| krimashth | clergyman | |
| shaark | clever | "sharp" seems likely |
| shlaaka | cloak | |
| yoor | clock | Yiddish or Romany root probably |
| * | close | CX |
| kurlim | close | verb |
| sragon | cloth | adjective |
| * | cloth in bolts | CX |
| tchookh | clothes | |
| djookh | clothes | |
| * | clothes | CX |
| * | coat | CX |
| * | coat | CX & Shelta |
| skurik | coin, farthing | |
| rinshkal | colander maker | It might still be useful as a metaphor. |
| goo-op | cold | using O.McD.'s pronunciation |
| gawtcha | color | |
| reek | comb | noun |
| * | come back | CX & Shelta See also * KX |
| toari | come | |
| * | come | CX |
| sudjata | company | |
| * | con game | CX |
| cherpyra | con-man | |
| granlum (3) | condiment | |
| lag | conduct | |
| * | connected | CX |
| * | consume heartily | CX and Shelta |
| bwikad | contain | bwikads= "pincers" |
| tcherpa | cook | |
| tchairp | cook | |
| slukhul | copse | |
| brouen | corn | |
| * | corn | CX & Shelta |
| look | corner | noun |
| * | cost | CX & Shelta |
| grugyim | cottage cheese | |
| skreen | counterfeit | verb |
| * | counterfeit money | CX |
| * | counterfeit money | CX,KX see * |
| * | country | KX Grooth * = "America" CX & Shelta |
| soopla | couple | |
| rudju | court | verb and noun |
| rudju-yath | courtship | probable formal courtship. |
| shedi (1) | cover? | verb |
| blaanoag | cow | |
| dunik | cow | |
| mooreen | cow | |
| goveli | cow | |
| * | crazy | CX & Shelta |
| * | crazy | CX & Shelta |
| * | crazy | CX |
| * | crazy | CX loaned from Scot.Cant? derived from Romany doddi doddi ? |
| * | crazy | CX |
| * | crazy | CX |
| * | crazy | accent on last syllable CX |
| smentena | cream | Romany |
| * | crippled | CX |
| * | crippled | CX |
| * | cry | CX |
| * | cry aloud | CX weep noisily KX * * = "banshee" (bean sidhe) |
| * | cry | CX |
| * | cry out | CX weep noisily KX * * = "banshee" (bean sidhe) |
| brikler | cup | |
| makhon | cup | |
| grupawn | cup | |
| mishoor | cupboard | |
| grugyim | curds | |
| * | curse | CX noun and verb |
| laburth | curse | noun and verb |
| graafsha | cursed | |
| shorknes | cursing | verb and/or noun? |
| shark | cut | verb and noun |
| sharker | cutter | od sharker = balance scale brouen sharker = scythe |
| D | BACK TO TOP | |
| * | dagger | CX |
| * | damned idiot | CX (almost identical with the Irish usage?) |
| * | dance | CX , also (s) stands for the cards themselves |
| myouso | dance | verb and noun |
| myouso | dancer | verb and noun |
| dolimi | dark of night | |
| * | date | CX |
| sherkoo | daughter | sherkoo na slee = "daughter-in-law" |
| ladjnyakh | daughter | |
| talosk | day | talosk airpa = "another day," stafa talosk = "long day" = "spring" |
| tawn (2) | day | I think not "daylight day," but calendar "day" |
| * | day | CX |
| * | dead | verb, noun, adjective. Close to CX. Oldest Shelta word known. |
| * | dead | CX |
| * | deaf | CX |
| * | death | CX |
| * | death | verb, noun, adjective. Close to CX. Oldest Shelta word known. |
| skrawl | decent | |
| myounes | decent | |
| * | demented | CX & Shelta |
| * | demented | CX & Shelta |
| sakel | demolish | |
| meeder | devil | see ree-meeder |
| meederal | deviltry | |
| * | die | CX |
| * | die | verb, noun, adjective. Close to CX. Oldest Shelta word known. |
| lee (2) | different | |
| lee (3) | different | |
| tchairpin | digit (finger or toe) | |
| braasi | dine | |
| greentchoor | dinner | |
| gritchair | dinner | |
| greetchi | dinner | ?? I have the feeling McD. was a wise guy. |
| lodakh | dirt (as in dirty) | |
| ladu | dirt | |
| glodakh | dirt, dirty | |
| * | dirty | CX |
| * | dirty | CX and Gammon, noun when plain, adjective with (ty) |
| * | dirty | CX |
| sraskeen | dish | |
| slaatha | dish | |
| leespa | dish | |
| kleithon | ditch | possible tawn kleithon ladu = "Tinker's dam?" |
| * | do | CX |
| * | do not | CX |
| * | do | CX & Shelta |
| sikdoor | doctor | |
| * | doctor | CX |
| * | doctor | CX This has to be from English slang, "croaker." |
| misler | doctor | |
| nap (2) | doff | |
| * | dog | Shelta and CX,KX *) |
| * | dollar | CX |
| sreek | done | |
| sraik | done | |
| grasal | donkey | |
| nagat | donkey | |
| gasal | donkey | |
| * | donkey | CX & Shelta |
| djigger | door | |
| rodus | door | |
| * | door | CX |
| * | double(s) | CX & Shelta |
| djima | dowel | Leland's O.McD pronounces it chimma |
| ashirth | down | |
| sheert | down | |
| sheert | downward | |
| * | dress | CX |
| groona | dress | |
| mishoor | dresser | |
| borer | drill | |
| * | drink alcohol | CX |
| sringan | drink | |
| * | drink | verb close to CX |
| gaather | drink | |
| * | driver's licence. | CX |
| misla | drizzle | misla-in = "raining" |
| threep | drop | noun |
| slug | drop? | |
| sathu | drown | |
| a-sathu | drowned | |
| * | drunk | adjective close to CX |
| * | drunk | CX |
| * | drunkard | noun close to CX |
| waddler | duck | too easy! |
| * | dullard | CX |
| shaluwa | dumb | "l" followed by schwa sound more than palatalized |
| karnaan | dungheap | |
| mukinye | dwelling | verb and noun |
| E | BACK TO TOP | |
| glowroag | ear | |
| keinee | ears | |
| * | ears | CX |
| ladu | earth | |
| * | easy | CX |
| klush | easy | |
| * | eat | CX and Shelta |
| lyim | edge | noun and preposition |
| sugadj | educated | glokh sugadj = "doctor" |
| shangar | eel | |
| roomoag | egg | see growmug |
| growmug | egg | |
| krishena | eldest | |
| * | embarass(ed) | CX |
| sha | emphatic suffix | KX esp. for pronouns, like: * -sha = "myself especially" |
| muni | encourage | muni tchera = "light a fire" |
| Palanthus | England | noun and adjective |
| Palanthus | English | noun and adjective |
| Grasano | Englishman | |
| * | enraged | past tense of verb and condition CX and Shelta |
| dorahoag | evening | |
| akhiver | ever | |
| goikhil | every | more Irish than Shelta |
| * | evil | CX and Shelta |
| djarp | excellent | really Irish more than Shelta or Cant |
| labairth | exchange | verb |
| * | exchange | CX & Shelta |
| * | excrement | CX |
| * | excuse | CX and Irish |
| grespan | exhibit | |
| thribli | extended family | |
| * | extortion | CX |
| loork | eye | |
| * | eye(s) | CX |
| loorkoag | eye-related | loorkoag slunya = "glasses", "spectacles" |
| F | BACK TO TOP | |
| * | face | CX |
| graydan | face | noun |
| * | face | CX |
| lyivin | factory | |
| shlug (2) | failing | adjective and adverb. Macalister has also verb "to fall?" |
| greentha, -us | fair | |
| gruvog | fair | |
| foaros | fair (on fairground) | not really Shelta, borrowed from Romany |
| greewog | fairy | |
| * | fake fur | CX |
| slug | fall down | |
| slug | fall | |
| stafa | far | stafa thoaber = "long road" thoaber stafa = "main road" |
| kran | farm | |
| slesker | farmer | |
| prask | fart | |
| myour | fat | |
| * | fat | CX |
| * | father | CX |
| * | father | CX |
| gita | fear | |
| getool | fear | |
| kloodj | feather | |
| groodj (2) | feather | |
| * | feces | CX |
| braasi | feed | |
| * | feeling | CX and Shelta |
| * | feisty | CX |
| * | fellow, small or little | diminutive form too close to CX |
| * | fellow | CX & Shelta |
| * | fellow | Shelta from Macalister too close to CX |
| * | fellow | CX and Shelta (using Leland's O.McD.'s pronunciation) |
| grifi | female animal | |
| gyofag | female pig | |
| * | fence | CX & Shelta |
| galapa | fern | |
| sup | few | |
| soopla | few | |
| graarch | field | |
| saark | field | |
| threepus | fight | verb and noun |
| * | fight | CX |
| kamreilidj | fight | |
| * | find | CX & Shelta |
| buri | fine | |
| been | fine | |
| thopa | fine | |
| lashool | fine | |
| sraik | finished | |
| sreek | finished | |
| tchini | fire | |
| thera | fire | noun |
| * | fire | CX & Shelta |
| skaiv | fish | noun |
| lagprath | fish | noun |
| * | five | CX |
| * | five dollars | CX |
| skukar | five | |
| * | five dollars | CX |
| shooka | five | |
| tchini | flame? | |
| suboal | flask | |
| greenlesk | flax | |
| graarnog | flea | |
| spurk | flirt | very elastic verb, disapproving everything |
| loorp | flour | |
| lashool | flower | |
| graro | foal | |
| * | fodder | CX |
| tcholi | follow | verb |
| mugathath | folly | |
| braas | food | |
| * | fool | CX |
| mong | fool | |
| mugathawn | fool | omathon-agon reversed |
| * | fool | CX |
| grinysheg | foolish female | |
| * | foot | CX |
| koali | foot | |
| * | foot | CX |
| lyag | forget | |
| getcha | forgive | |
| getchal | forgiveness | |
| spurkera | fornicator | |
| gris (1) | fortune | KX gris * ="fortune-telling woman" |