Shelta to English Lexicon

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English to Shelta

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The asterisked entries in the Shelta column are in place of contemporary Irish Traveller Cant words that have been erased in this 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.

The old Shelta words were derived largely from the 1937 edition of R.A. Stewart Macalister's "The Secret Languages Of Ireland." 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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Pronunciation Guide

SHELTA	ENGLISH	COMMENTARY & EXAMPLES
ayn	1	Shelta only, * Cx and Shelta
odd	2	Leland's O.McD. used do (the Irish)
sheeka	3
shaaka	4	Cx similar to sharker
shooka	5	coogh or kyud, Cx * = $5.00
shay	6
sheltoo	7
okht	8	similar to German, "acht"
ayen	9	also nee
chal gyetcha	10	* Cx
gyetcha	20
odd gyetcha	40
shooka gyetcha	100	* Cx keid = $100.00
*	1000	CX
A	BACK TO TOP
a	and
a	in
a	?	question prefix, as in A tcherpu hoo, "Will you cook?"
a	of
a-sathu	drowned
abistha	parish
aburth	at all
aga	possession
agetool	afraid
agraysh	back, backward	torin agreesh, "coming back"
*	butter	CX & Shelta
airpa	another	also aila which is really Irish
*	close	CX
akh	uh-oh!, oh yeah?	Macalister uses "Oh!" "alas! and "indeed!"
akharam	tomorrow	sroidean akharam= "tomorrow morning"
akhayr	last night
akhim	out, outside
akhiver	before, ever
akhonshk	today, this day's	Macalister has akhonshk= "tonight?"; not quite right with olomi
ala	another
*	milk	CX & Shelta See also * Cx
analth	wash, clean
ar	on, after
arark	similarly, same
*	return, come back	CX & Shelta See also * Cx
areerth	again
ashirth	down
asturth	in, into	both a position preposition and a motion preposition
aswurth	on, upon
atawp	alive
athoamier	moreover, further	related to thoam="great" or "large"
*	town	stress on first syllable. CX & Shelta See also *Cx
*	town	stress on first syllable. CX & Shelta See also * Cx
awarth	1	one of a number of alternate words for "1"
awasth	away
*	father	CX
ayeerth	again
B	BACK TO TOP
*	milk	CX & Gaelic
bageil	take, catch, catch(tak)ing
been	fine, great
bilsag	lips, mouth
*	little	CX & Shelta
blaanoag	cow
bladunk	prison
bleiki	pot
blinkam	candle
blinkee	window
blinklum	light
Bloarna	Protestant
blyantakh	shirt
blyhunka	horse
*	find, get, learn	CX & Shelta
bonar	good	possibly from French
*	rain	CX
boreens	side roads
borer	drill, gimlet
braas	food, sustinence
braasi	feed, dine
*	corn	CX & Shelta
*	brother	CX & Gaelic
*	brother	CX (from Gaelic)
*	idiot, crazy, go crazy	accent on last syllable CX
brikler	bowl, cup
*	shoes	CX
brogees	short pants
brouen	grain, corn
*	non-Traveller	CX & Shelta See also * Cx
*	leave, esp.suddenly	CX
*	give	CX & Shelta See also * Cx
bulla	note, letter
bulscur	wire
*	great, fine	CX & Shelta See also * Cx
buriakht	goodness	Might be buryath instead?
burik	table	Leland's O.McD. said bord, which is Irish
bwikad	hold, contain	bwikads= "pincers"
byaig	steal, take
byanag	hairdo
byinniyan	little, bit	noun
byinniyath	smallness	noun
*	little, small	CX & Shelta See also * Cx
*	woman	CX,Cx and Shelta *)
C	BACK TO TOP
*	old woman	CX (see karb)
chaidi	cap
*	garment	CX & Shelta See also * Cx
chal	half
chaldroch	knife	Leland's O.McD.uses it, but it's a Romany loan word
*	fire	CX & Shelta
*	get mad, grow irate	CX
*	lie	CX
*	thing, tax	CX
*	steal	CX
cherpyra	liar, imposter, con-man
*	fat, obese	CX
*	stick	CX & Shelta
*	sicken	CX
*	clothes, suit	CX
*	lie, inform on	CX & Shelta verb and noun, (lyesk chirps = "tell fortunes")
*	big lie, whopper	CX
*	license plates	CX
*	non-Traveller	CX adj. (used with Cant words for woman, man, people, etc.)
D	BACK TO TOP
Daalyon	God
*	crazy, whacky	CX loaned from Scot.Cant? derived from Romany doddi doddi ?
daynoch	lose
*	door	CX
djanadair	hammerer	Carpenter? or just somebody using a hammer?
djarp	true, real, excellent	really Irish more than Shelta or Cant
*	leave, go from	CX
*	self	CX and Shelta
djerri	bread	Leland's O.McD pronounces it this way
djigger	door
djima	stick, rod, dowel	Leland's O.McD pronounces it chimma
djima thira	match
djokh	this ?	guess based on Leland's O.McD usage
djonawdu	go
djooka	beggar, tramp	definitely not a Traveller
djookh	clothes
djorker	tin
*	hear, listen	CX
djumik	swear	to take an oath
Djumnik	Sunday
do	your
dodjeel's	your	(shift apostrophe for plural)
dolimi	dark of night
Dolsk	Protestant
*	tell fortunes	CX Romany loan word?
dorahoag	twilight, evening
dreeper	bottle
*	lace	CX
*	lock	CX verb and noun
*	you	CX & Shelta See also * Cx
dunik	cow
*	bread	CX & Shelta See also * Cx
E	BACK TO TOP
elum	town
*	do	CX
*	butter	CX & Shelta
F	BACK TO TOP
*	lazy	CX
*	meat	fay-ya blanog= "beef" CX & Shelta
faychairp	pan
*	face	CX
*	tooth	CX
feechir	sweep	noun
*	man	CX & Shelta See also * Cx
*	people	CX Cx May be pronounced *
*	meat	CX
*	date	CX
foargaree	tobacco
foaros	fair (on fairground)	not really Shelta, borrowed from Romany
*	old man	CX
G	BACK TO TOP
*	laugh	CX
*	soft, gullible, easy	CX
*	lame, crippled	CX
*	father	CX
*	alcohol, drink, beer	CX & Shelta See also * Cx
gafa	lame
galapa	fern
*	prostitute	CX
*	bad	CX and Shelta
*	bad luck	CX
*	extortion	CX
*	badness, evil	CX and Shelta
*	counterfeit money	CX,Cx see * *
*	bad	CX,Cx and Shelta (prob. stand-alone vers. of *, i.e. "It is bad.")
garo	bull
gasal	donkey
*	afraid, frightened	CX
gaverog	goat
*	child	CX
gawp	kiss	noun and verb
*	curse	CX noun and verb
gawtcha	color
gawth	young
gawthena	young person
gawthrin	child
*	ask	CX
*	beggar	close to CX using Cant pronunciation instead of initial g'
*	gasoline	CX
gesthi	judge	noun
getcha	forgive
getchal	forgiveness
geth	hot
geth	leave off, stop, wait
getool	fear, tremble, shake
*	socialize, dance, play cards	CX , also (s) stands for the cards themselves
giligopa	teapot
gita	fear
*	swindle	CX & Shelta See also * Cx
glask	grass
glodakh	dirt, dirty
*	man	CX & Shelta See also * Cx
*	money, wealth	CX
glootug	wool
gloral	listening
gloree	hear, listen to
glowroag	ear
glyawg	nit
glyeeth	mountain
*	kiss	CX
*	pocket	CX & Shelta
goapan	umbrella
goathi	give
goikhera	infant, baby
goikhil	all, every	more Irish than Shelta
gokhi	put, place, leave	verb
gokhyi	leave, put, place	Leland's O.McD. pronounces it goyhe
goo-op	cold	using O.McD.'s pronunciation
gooth	black	adjective
goothena	smith, blacksmith	Leland's O.McD. says "policeman"
gop	poor
gopa (2)	furnace, smithy	Leland's O.McD. provides this meaning
gopa (1)	pot
gored	money
*	laugh	CX
gori	put, give
goro	bull
goshta	plenty, many
*	ritz, airs, as in "put on airs"	CX
goveli	cow
Graadni	Saturday
graafsha	cursed, haunted
graag	street, city
graaltcha	welcome
*	candy	CX
graansha	stranger	noun
graanye	ring	noun
graarch	field, acreage
graarnog	flea
*	fodder	CX
gradum	soul, life, spirit
gragh	street
grakht	quench, put out
grakhton	week
grakhu	hurry
grakhul	towards
grala	shoulder
gramail	like, as
*	tent, shelter?	CX
*	camping place, ground	CX
*	camp	CX verb
granail	knowledge
*	know	CX
*	want	CX (1)&(2) obviously this has changed since 1878 or so
*	fraud	CX
granko	turkey	the animal, not the insult
granlesk	green
granlum (1)	brass
granlum (2)	neighbor
granlum (3)	sauce, condiment
granta	aunt
granya	nail	verb
granyen	pregnant	it's possible O.McD. was playing a joke on Leland
graro	foal
grasal	ass, donkey
Grasano	Scot, Englishman
grashano	mason
graskal	open	verb
gratch	place	noun
*	watch, (look)	verb CX & Shelta
*	afraid, nervous, watchful	CX
grath	smoke
gratha (1)	hat
gratha (2)	choke	see grath
graura	summer
graw (1)	love
graw (2)	luck
grawbaltha	able
grawd	sod	unfortunate person, not grass
grawder	solder
grawkin	boy, naif	overtones of naivety, even stupidity
grawser	saucer
grawsi	please	verb
grawsta	satisfied
grawth	gold, golden
gray (2)	rise, arise, raise	all three verbs
gray (1)	tea
graydan	face	noun
*	make, do	CX & Shelta
graydj	hair
grayed	bridge
grayer	hay
graykhol	tooth
graypul	chapel
graysh	back, returned from
graysol	beard
graysub	pan
graytcheen	bird, chicken
gree-ed	silk
greeltchoor	miller
greenlesk	flax
greentchoor	dinner
greentha, -us	fair, market
greenthala	friends
greerse	hair
greesh	heart
greesk	straw
greeson	news
greetch	sick, ill
greetchi	dinner	?? I have the feeling McD. was a wise guy.
greetchyath	sickness, illness
greetho	wind, breeze
greewa	sweep	verb
greewog	fairy, pixie
greisk	thread
grentcha	quick
gresco	voice	noun
grespan	show, exhibit
*	dress	CX
grifi	female animal, mare
*	coat	CX & Shelta
grimleoar	chimney
grimsher	time, month, season	ext'd but indef. period; could mean year or weather
grinyoag	window
grinysheg	foolish female
gripa	supper
gris (1)	fortune, charm	gris b.="fortune-telling woman"
gris (2)	soul
griso	tell fortunes	verb
grisoag	beard
grisool	watch	noun
gritchair	dinner
*	onion	CX & Shelta See also * Cx
grokhta	snow	grokhta-nap = "snow-white"
grolan	noise
grolsa	lazy
grolsinyath	laziness
groodj (3)	tea
groodj (2)	feather
*	hair	CX
*	sugar	CX & Shelta See also * Cx
groola	apple
groona	gown, dress
grooskal	awaken
grooskill	punch	noun and verb
groosku	while
grooth	new
groothi	shut
*	shop
*	fur (fake)	CX
*	know, understand	CX
growda	soda
growkin	lad, boy, naif
growmug	egg
growpa	soap
*	work, job	noun and verb, CX and Shelta
*	store	CX
grugyim	curds, cottage cheese
grukh (2)	shoot	verb
grukh (1)	frost, ice
grunim	oat-meal
grunkel	uncle
grunsa	barrel hoop
grup	wisp, trace
grupawn	cup
gruska	tinsmith's box	perhaps "budget" (see lampoag)
gruskal	open	verb and adjective
*	hat	CX
gruvog	market fair
*	mouth	CX
*	work	CX
*	boot, shoe	CX & Shelta
guris	watch	noun
*	sit down	CX & Shelta
gushook	kettle
gushu	saddle
gushul	bowl	porringer
gut	wire
*	black man	CX
gweesh	hay, straw
gwilyi	lie down
gyal	yellow
gyay	with	using long "e" alternative
gyetchum	gate
gyilikhon	book, bible	fairly soft g, almost "j"
gyoar	penis	ignoring palatalized r
gyofag	sow, female pig
gyofan	horse
gyoochra	beggar
*	man	CX and Shelta ("old man")
*	monkey, bent old man	close to CX

H	BACK TO TOP
haalor	cap
haavari	home
hal	across
*	fake fur	CX
*	non-Travellers	CX
*	tough guy, stubborn man	CX
hawrum	morning
*	run away	CX
helm	town
hoo	you	singular only?
*	policeman	CX
horsk	across, over
I	BACK TO TOP
*	pay	CX
*	thing	CX and Shelta
*	there, over there, here	CX and Shelta
*	itself	CX
J	BACK TO TOP
*	lame, crippled	CX
K	BACK TO TOP
*	excrement, shit	CX
kadjoag	stone
kam	son
kamag	hen
kameir	mother
*	campsite	CX
kamreilidj	quarrel, fight
*	dog	Shelta and CX,Cx *
*	buy	CX
kant	gill, fluid wt.(4 oz.)
kar	where
kara	canoe
*	violently hurt, injure	verb CX and Shelta
*	injured, enraged	past tense of verb and condition CX and Shelta
karb	old woman, grandmother
karbu	market
kari	buy, pay	verb
*	sucker, fool, mark	CX
karmush	shirt
karnaan	dungheap, shitpile
karnag	undershorts
karnish	meat
kasin	cheese
kawb	cabbage
*	negro, black man	CX Romanichal?
kawlra	knife
kawmpa	camp	English loan word, no doubt
*	face	CX
kay	where	see kar
*	cry, lament, wail(ing)	CX
*	house	CX
*	cry, lament, wail	CX
*	house	CX
*	hundred	CX
keihed	chair
keinee	ears
kena	house	ignoring palatalized k
*	okay, alright	CX
kesig	mare
khureen	can
*	Romany	CX
*	slob, (dirty)	CX and Gammon, noun when plain, adjective with (ty)
*	dirty	CX
*	trousers	CX & Shelta
kleetug	sheep
*	fence	CX & Shelta
kleithon	wall, ditch, barrier	possible tawn kleithon ladu = "Tinker's dam?"
*	break, broken, smash(ed)	verb and condition CX & Shelta
*	mouth	CX
*	loudmouth	CX
kloodj	feather
klootcha	wool
klush	easy
koali	foot
koari	leg
koarig	vulva
*	foot	CX
kogi	turnip
koi	pincers	see bwikads
koldni	bud	probably only Irish
kom	clergyman
*	realize, know, understand	CX
*	swamp	CX
*	fool	CX
*	priest	CX & Shelta
kootchi	piece, bit, little (a)	noun
korib	warm	verb
kouvi	testacle
*	stop, cease, wait	kradji duilsha's pee = "Shut your mouth!" CX & Shelta
*	shoes	CX
*	chicken	CX
kradjee(s)	live(s), occupy(ies)
kran	farm
kreemoom	sheep
kreepukh	cat
kreepyin	stool
krees	saddle
krimashth	clergyman
*	old	CX and Shelta
krishena	oldster, eldest
*	doctor	CX This has to be from English slang, "croaker."
*	hunger	CX & Shelta
kroo	smith
krouder	string
kroudug	hen, layer
krush	clear out, run away	Gammon
kuldrum	asleep, sleep	condition and intr. verb
*	idiot	CX
*	sleep	CX
*	motel	CX
*	potato	CX & Shelta
*	feces, shit, solid waste	CX
*	horse, donkey	CX & Shelta
kurlim	close	verb
*	beautiful	CX
*	foot	CX
kutcher	cat
*	jail, prison	CX
*	five dollars, pound	CX
*	five	CX
L	BACK TO TOP
*	tell	CX & Shelta
*	exchange, swap	CX & Shelta
laabi	hide	verb
*	sucker, mark, victim	CX
*	girl	CX and Shelta
laakoon	stool
laakr	tailor
laask (2)	stool
laask (1)	light, ignite
laasoon	great-	used with gaater and nadjram, like thoam but use limited to lineage
*	dirty	CX
labairth	exchange, swap	verb
laburth	curse	noun and verb
*	shame(d), embarass(ed)	CX
ladjnyakh	daughter
ladjram	soap	English loan word "lather"
*	dirt, earth, clay	CX & Shelta See also * Cx
lag	lead, conduct, manage
lagoon	bowl with handle	porringer
lagprath	fish	noun
lampa	bag	lampa muntches = "tobacco-pouch" lampa gored = "purse"
lampayid	blanket
*	budget of tools, materials	CX & Shelta See also * Cx
lanach	highway
laproag	a fowl
lashool	nice, pretty, flower, fine
*	salt	CX & Shelta See also * Cx
lasp	taste	noun and/or verb?
lathrum	butter	?from English "slather?"
*	look, peer	CX
laydoag	lady
lee (2)	another, different
*	bed	CX and Shelta
lee (1)	fresh
lee (3)	queer, different
leespa	dish, basin
*	tell, teach	CX
liba	blood
ligi	church
linska	name	noun, see munik
*	wit, sense, intelligence	CX
*	crazy	CX
*	story, excuse, sales-pitch	CX and Irish
*	mare	CX
*	car, automobile	CX and Shelta (originally = "cart")
*	tent, cabin	CX & Shelta See also * Cx
lod	white, shiny?	would tend to assign "shiny" here and "milk-white" to nap
*	mud, soot, dirt (as in dirty)	CX & Shelta See also * Cx
loo-oag	meal	as in "oatmeal" or "ground meal"
loobeen	loaf (of bread)
look	corner	noun
*	eye	CX & Shelta See also * Cx
loorkoag	ocular, eye-related	loorkoag slunya = "glasses", "spectacles"
loorp	flour
loot	porridge, cereal
losk	stool	How many words for "stool" did they have?
*	bastard	CX & Shelta See also * Cx
lowber	hit, strike, beat	see mish
*	marry	CX and Shelta
*	married	CX & Shelta
*	married	close to CX
lub	hole
lub a koarig	vagina
*	anus, asshole	part CX
*	tent	CX & Shelta See also * Cx
*	word	CX & Shelta
lud	blind
ludjra	north
ludus	light
*	lousy	CX
*	deaf	CX
lugil	cry out, cry aloud	weep noisily Cx * lugil = "banshee" (bean sidhe)
*	ears	CX
lumee	tent cover, tarpaulin
*	legs	CX
lurhan	shoes
*	strong beer	CX and Shelta
*	consume heartily, eat	CX and Shelta
luskaan	herring	sardine, too?
luskan	hoop, ribbed rim (of a can)
lutram	prostitute
lyag	lose, forget, pawn
lyagun	loss
lyart	mind
lye	white
lyeema	louse
lyeeman (1)	mile
lyeeman (2)	year	context tells the difference, I suppose.
lyeerk	wit, sense, intelligence
lyeerko	witty
lyesko	story	similar to Cx * (Gaelic loan word)
lyibis	sweet
lyim	side, edge, beside	noun and preposition
lyishgad	skillet	Cx * & getch = "hot food" perhaps?
lyitchen	people	used only by Leland's O.McD.
lyivin	mill, factory
lyogakh	small boy
lyoor	money
M	BACK TO TOP
madel	tail
*	knife, dagger	CX
makhal	church	also makher
makhon	cup
maksthi	cat	Romany loan word
mamyrum	room
*	understand	CX loan word from Scottish Travellers
*	talk	verb , CX too close to word below in Scottish Cant
mankers	handkerchief
manthri	soup, broth
mark	bone
marro	if	Macalister says "if there were. . ."
masheen	goose	"turkey" by extension?
mashoor	hammer	noun
*	place	CX
*	hand, arm, handle	CX and Shelta
*	mother	CX
*	arrested, taken	CX and Shelta
*	feeling, taking, handling	CX and Shelta
mayri	stairs
medel	black
medjri	carry
meeder	devil	see ree-meeder
meederal	deviltry
*	louse, (lice)	CX
*	shirt	CX & Shelta
meersroon	shawl
meeshoag	tongue
meeshur	scissors	meeshur thoam = shears, snips
*	myself	CX
*	mule	CX
menthroh	friend
merhgin	tinker's box	see gruska
mhic	shame?
midjokh	bit, small thing	Macalister has mid'og = "shilling"
milesh	remain, stay
milk	bit, piece
*	tinker, tinsmith	CX & Shelta See also * Cx
minyurth	now	talosk minyurth = "today"
mish	hit	verb
*	go	CX
*	come	CX
mishoor	dresser, chest, cupboard
misla	rain, drizzle	misla-in = "raining"
misler	doctor
*	go, walk, quick	close to Cant (CX) verb and adjective
*	vagrant, nomad	CX & Shelta See also * Cx
misli-in	going to	an aid in defining the future tense, as in "going to move on soon."
mithni	policeman
mo	my	also mosa
mong	fool
mongas	tongs
*	non-Travellers	CX
mooreen	cow
mooskoag	spoon
moothoag	sock, stocking
morg-hen	rabbit
moshona	goose	"turkey" by extension?
mugathath	folly, stupidity, inanity
mugathawn	fool	omathon-agon reversed
mugel	apple	would "potato" be mugel a-ladu as in French?
mukinye	dwelling, abode, living	verb and noun
mul	woman
mundjari	lunch	from French?
muni	start, encourage	muni tchera = "light a fire"
munika	name	English "moniker"
*	country	Grooth Monkeri = "America" CX & Shelta
muntches	tobacco
*	good, well	CX,Cx * * = "tasty" * * = "pretty"
*	good, well	close to CX
*	goodness	close to CX
muskro	policeman	from Romany. Musker = "policeman" in English Cant
mwaynya	last, behind, ago
mweel	I
mweelsha	me
mwik	west
mwog	pig
myali	sweet
myena	yesterday
myiskon	woman's breast
myounes	decent
myour	fat
myouso	dance, dancer	verb and noun
N	BACK TO TOP
na (2)	in
na (1)	of, of the
naak	stitch, shred of clothing
*	mother	CX & Shelta
nagat	donkey
naker	tinker	Gammon has naker as "ruffian"
nap (2)	take off, doff
nap (1)	white
nap (3)	milk	verb
naper (2)	spade
naper (1)	meddle
nasdjaish	here, with
*	trailer, shelter	CX soft "th," almost a "v" sound
*	clean, wash	CX & Shelta
nawp	give
*	nervous	CX
*	person, fellow, (some)one	CX & Shelta
*	no, (do) not, nothing	CX
*	people	CX
neep	yellow
*	night	CX
*	penis	CX
ngloo	nail
ngyaka	tin, can
niba	pin	niba loork = "needle" niba shlyukh = "pen"
nimpa	pint
nimpeen	pin
noabyri	bog, swamp
nokh	?, is that not...?	interrog.prefix Nokh hoo? ="Is that 'not' you?" ('not' is guess)
nolsk	near
*	gun	CX & Shelta
*	urinate	CX
noos	help, blessing	used in noos a Daalyon = "God's grace" or "God willing"
noospoag	spoon
*	place, home	CX
nulsk	when
*	pound, money	weight or money, pound or $5.00 CX & Shelta
nup	back, behind
nutha	hat
nyaak (1)	lack	verb and noun
nyaak (2)	rogue, rascal	close to Gammon's naker
*	bucket	CX & Shelta See also * Cx
nyaakish	roguish, rascally
nyaifin	shame
nyairp	smell, odor	verb and noun
nyakul	tie, bind	verb and noun
*	steal	CX
nyedas	place, lodging, house
nyochlur	chain
nyok	wish, want
nyokul	candle
nyukal	bridle, halter
nyugi	pound	money
*	head, one, penny	CX and Shelta
nyuklyoar	match
nyurth	now

O	BACK TO TOP
od(h)	to, too, two	English back-formed, you think?? Actually Irish for all 3 = do
oid	butter
oid tcherpu(d)	cheese	Macalister has t'erpu (tcherpu) ="cooked." k'erp (cherp)??
olomi	night
olsk	over, past, after
*	idiot	CX
*	damned idiot, super idiot	CX (almost identical with the Irish usage?)
opagrow	shop	see gropa
oura	town
*	ourselves	CX
P	BACK TO TOP
paani (2)	hare, rabbit, bunny	after all this work, I figure I'm allowed these extensions.
paani (1)	water	probably Romani. See skei
*	sell, trade, sellers, traders	CX and Gammon and Shelta
*	white-skinned	CX
Palanthus	England, English	noun and adjective
*	child	CX
*	mouth	CX
*	announcer(s), msg. relay(s)	CX
pek	bread
*	louse	CX
*	innocent, naif, simpleton	CX
*	kiss	CX (from the Gaelic)
Pokkonus	magistrate, J.P.	Romanichal
pornuk	Protestant	see Bloarna
*	five dollars	CX
*	potato	CX and Irish
prask	fart, break (or pass) wind,
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R	BACK TO TOP
raag	car, 4-wheeled vehicle	raag tchera = locomotive
*	crazy	CX
raagli	garden
raaks	without
raark	way, means, manner	a-raark = "similarly." that raark = "in that case" or "then."
*	coat, blanket	CX
rabaid	cap
rabista	parish
rablyeen	sheet, bedsheet
radam	war
*	crazy	CX
*	out of mind	CX
*	counterfeit money	CX
raib	hay
raiglan	iron thing, hammer	"iron" as in "tire iron," possibly even "pressing iron?"
raiglum	iron	adjective
*	laugh	CX & Shelta See also * Cx
rawnyal	beer	dubious etymology
ree	king	from Irish righe
ree-meeder	chief devil
reek	comb	noun
reelye	intoxicating	see riloo
*	prostitute	CX & Shelta See also * Cx
*	pair, pant(s), double(s)	CX and Shelta
reesbath	basket
*	jail, prison	CX and Shelta
reesk	razor
*	lowlifes, goons, punks	CX
ribad	hat	Wow! Lot's of words for caps and hats.
ridyu	pregnant
Rilanthu	Irish
Rilanthus	Ireland, Roman Catholic
*	mad, crazy, demented	CX & Shelta
riltoag	quilt, sheet	nyedas riltoag = "camp" riltoag reglum = "sheet iron"
*	mad, crazy, demented	CX & Shelta
rinshkal	sieve (or colander) maker	It might still be useful as a metaphor.
risp	christen
rispu	christening	Talosk Rispu = "Christmas Day"
robikin	rain
*	door	CX & Shelta See also * Cx
roikha	card, playing card
*	egg	CX & Shelta See also * Cx
rooski	basket
*	bathroom	CX
ruboag	box, bag (as in suitcase?)
rudju	sweetheart, woo, court	verb and noun
rudju-yath	courtship	probable formal courtship.
ruket	bucket	rhymes with the English
ruspaan	purse
S	BACK TO TOP
*	alcohol, drink alcohol	CX
*	drunk	CX
*	priest	CX
*	field	CX & Shelta See also * Cx
sakaanta	quiet
sakel	demolish
sakerente	gentleman, respectable m.
saltha	belt	noun
sathu	drown
*	take, get	CX verb
*	taken, arrested	CX
*	cheap	CX
*	sit, sit down	CX
seiher	chair
sess	luck	also Irish (Cess)
sgrubal	tail
sgyibowl	barn
sha	emphatic suffix	esp. for pronouns, like: modjeel -sha = "myself especially"
shaakr (2)	four
shaakr (1)	brother
shaark	clever, sharp?	"sharp" seems likely
*	policeman	close to CX
shako	sin	verb and noun
shaluwa	dumb, speechless, silent	"l" followed by schwa sound more than palatalized
*	boy, lad	CX & Shelta See also * Cx
*	love, like	CX
shang	think, understand
shangar	snake, eel
shant	pint	they must have loved their Guinness
sharag	kiss	noun
sharagi	soldier
*	irk, madden, vex	CX & Shelta
shark	cut, slice	verb and noun
*	four, 4, quart	CX & Shelta
*	quarter, twenty-five cents	CX
sharker	cutter, axe, scissors	od sharker = balance scale brouen sharker = scythe
sharog	red, red-haired	Macalister has = "vexed." Seems a simple extension
sharpog	boy
sharu	quarter
shay	six
*	policeman	CX
shaykar	sister	with Cant for "woman," b. shaykar = "nun"
shchiblyeen	barn
shedi (1)	stand, mend, cover?	verb
shedi (2)	on, upon, over?	preposition
shee-u	sow seed
*	policeman, soldier	close to CX, possibly talking about "Black & Tan"
sheeka	three
sheerk	grass
sheert	down, downward, under?
Sheldroo	Shelta, old Cant	Leland wrote it down wrong, apparently, but Shelta is here to stay.
*	sell, peddle	close to CX
Shelta	Irish Traveller lang.(1875)	Shelta
sheltu	seven
sherkoo	daughter	sherkoo na slee = "daughter-in-law"
shib	call, name, nominate
shingomei	newspaper	from Leland's O.McD. only
Shisher	Irish
*	sit, sit down	CX sounds like the Cockney slag word for "excrement?"
*	drink	verb close to CX
*	drunk	adjective close to CX
*	drunkard, boozer, alcoholic	noun close to CX
shkrawkh	tree
shlaaka	cloak
*	alcohol, esp. beer	CX
*	bar-room	CX
*	big	CX, Cx probably * *
shlee-a	leather
shloahya	ashes
shlug (2)	slow, weak, slowly, failing	adjective and adverb. Macalister has also verb "to fall?"
shlug (1)	bell
shlyaim	leap	verb
shlyaima	frog	Oh, come on!
*	ale	close to CX
shlyee-ukh	read, reading	glokh shlyee-ukh = "teacher"
shlyee-ukhther	scholar	see skolyami
shlyukh	rain
shlyukhu	wet
*	dullard, idiot	CX
shooka	five
*	walk	CX
shorik	key	see shrokhar and srothar. shorikin-lub = "keyhole"
shorknes	cursing	verb and/or noun?
shoru	wake, funeral
shrish	basin, sink?
shrish	basin
shrittel	kettle
shrokhar	key
shrug	jug
shrugu	spotted, speckled, pied	skaiv shrugu = "trout"
*	dollar	CX
shtcheema	pipe	see stcheema
shtcheemon	neck, windpipe?
shudjail	bottle
shukhar	key	see shorik, etc.
*	sell, peddle	CX
shum	own, possess	Leland's O.McD. only source again
shural	running, speedy
shuri	run	verb
shuri-er	runner
shushei	rabbit	Romani
sibleen	boy	related to Cx and Shelta *
sik	some, part, share
sikdoor	doctor
simi	broth	Romanichal
sinawl	beer	see rawnyal
sinta	pint
siskaar	sister
skaiv	fish	noun
skawfer	silver
*	water, sea, sail, liquid	CX & Shelta, noun Cx * myour-a = "fat liquid" = "oil"
*-tchelpi	boiled water, tea	Cx
*	sailor	CX
*	whiskey	CX
skeit	transported
skipsy	basket	Romanichal
sklawtakh	tea
skoabug	ship	noun
skoap	open	noun?? verb??
skoich	button	Leland's O.McD. adds the "ch"
skok	water	What makes this water different from skei?
skolya	know
skolyami	scholar, savant	"good scholar" obviously not meant as "student"
skrakho	tree, bush
skrawl	decent
skreen	counterfeit	verb
skrubol	well (hole in ground)	Cx * skrubol = "water well"
skudal	herring
skukar	five
skurik	coin, farthing
skurlum	burn
slaahog	rat	byinni slaahog = "mouse"
slaask	lock	noun
slaaska	belt	noun chastity belt with lock ?? (:>D)
slaasker	locksmith
slaatha	plate, dish
slang	chain
*	identification, driver's lic.	CX
slee	law
slesker	farmer
slim	beat, thrash, whip	verb
slokha	rotten
sloofa	wood	adjective?
Sloon	Monday
sloopen	watch, timepiece
slooya	soot, lampblack, carbon
slosk	kitchen
slug	fall, drop?, fall down
slukhul	greenwood, copse, grove
slunya	glass
smakh	spit	verb
*	nose	CX and Shelta
smawlkera	wooden spoon
smentena	cream	Romany
smugal	anvil
snail (2)	rush	snailee = "bundle of rushes"
snail (1)	needle	noun
*	little brother, boy, fellow	diminutive form too close to CX
*	brother, friend, fellow, boy	Shelta from Macalister too close to CX
*	brother, friend, fellow, boy	CX and Shelta (using Leland's O.McD.'s pronunciation)
*	eye(s)	CX
soolya	around
*	see, look	CX and Shelta
soopla	few, couple, several
soork	hair
sori	burial
sorm	blue
sorsh	resin
*	tobacco	CX
spurk	flirt, neck, pet, have sex	very elastic verb, disapproving everything
spurkera	fornicator, lover
sraakh	cake
sraapa	string	also saapa
sragaasta	breakfast
sragon	cloth	adjective
sraik	done, finished over
sramal	rob, steal
sramaler	robber
sraskeen	dish
srat	gate
sreedja	wine
sreedug	kingdom, reign
sreego	king	Cx * sreego = queen
sreek	done, finished over
sreelik	wheel
sreentul	friend
sreepa	button
sreesh	week
sreikha	shop-clerk, bookkeeper
srenth	rave, rant, bellow
sringan	drink
srittel	kettle
sroapa	string	sroapa raiglum = "chain" (says Macalaster; "wire rope?" says I)
sroidjan	morning
srothar	key
srowmaid	minute
srug	jug
srunta	pint
srurd	table
staal	stop, cease
staan	tin
stafa	long, far, late	stafa thoaber = "long road" thoaber stafa = "main road"
*	yes, sure, okay	CX and Shelta
*	this is, that is, here is	CX and Shelta
stall	lodgings, motel room
stamera	spit	verb
stchaimon	rat
stcheema(r)	pipe, bagpipe, smoking p.
stcheemera	piper
stcheemon	neck, windpipe
stedi	stand	verb
*	store	CX
*	stay	CX
sthafara	prayer, blessing
sthafaris	blessings, prayers
*	letter, paper	close to CX
*	paper money	close to CX
stiff	paper, writing paper	Gammon
stokha	soft
streepukh	harlot	see reepukh
streihmed	year
stretch	year	Gammon
strides	trousers	Romanichal?
strumble	straw
sturth	in, into, inner	see asturth
suba	babble
subakh	boar
suboal	bottle, flask
sudj	mix	verb
sudjata	company
sugadj	educated, professional?	glokh sugadj = "doctor"
sugoo (2)	sly, fun, witty
sugoo (1)	war, battle	verb and/or noun?
sugoon	bacon
*	doctor	CX
sulyan	baby
sumadj	minute, moment
sumoal	robber, rob	verb and noun
sup	few
surdu	trade	verb and/or noun?
surgon	bargain
surgu (1)	thorn
surgu (3)	market
surgu (2)	sea
surk	hang
surkha	tired
surthul	plow
sushgad	small pot
*	scam, con game	CX
swudal	gentle, refined, noble	Daalyon Swuda = "Almighty God"
swurk	sing
swurkera	singer
swurkin	song, melody
swurth	on, upon, up, above
T	BACK TO TOP
*	ugly	CX
talosk	day	talosk airpa = "another day," stafa talosk = "long day" = "spring"
taryin	rope
tashi	read	from Leland's O.McD. Macalister says doubtful.
*	bad, worthless, temptation?	CX
*	nice, very nice	CX
tawn (1)	full
tawn	tiny, small
tawn (2)	day	I think not "daylight day," but calendar "day"
tchairp	cook, boil
tchairpin	digit (finger or toe)
tchait	thing	similar to Cx *
tchelp	boil	verb
tcherpa	cook
tchini	flame?, fire
tcholi	follow	verb
tchookh	clothes, garments, raiment
*	thing	CX, obviously Cx "the" *
thaadjir	strong, hard
thaadjirath	strength
*	talk, speech, language	noun close to CX
*	talk, speak	verb close to CX
*	speaker	noun close to CX
*	talking, speech, speaking	noun close to CX
*	theirselves, themselves	CX
*	belly, abdomen	CX and Shelta
*	name	CX noun
tharpoan	porridge
*	die, dead, death	verb, noun, adjective. Close to CX. Oldest Shelta word known.
*	die, dead, death	CX
*	day, morning	CX
thawpa	alive, living
*	people	CX (may be pronounced feenee)
thera	fire, fuel?	noun
*	fight, brawl	CX
*	feisty, violent	CX
thirpa	rag
*	road	CX & Shelta
*	arrested	CX
*	big, great, many	CX & Shelta
thoam-gaater	grandfather
thoamaan	much, great, a lot
thomiath	bigness, great size
thoo	you, thou
*	ass, backside, behind	CX and Shelta
thoork	up
*	loud, boisterous	CX
thopa	brave, fine, macho?
threep	sip, drop, bit (to drink)	noun
threepus	fight	verb and noun
thribli	clan, extended family
*	worth, value, cost, price	CX & Shelta
tirpoag	rag
*	come	CX & Shelta See also * Cx
toarog	tramp
toork	time
*	aware, on to, connected	CX
*	cloth in bolts	CX
*	shawl?	close to CX
turan	loaf of bread
*	Romany	CX
U	BACK TO TOP
ugum	to (at) my side
ukh	need, requirement
umpi	away?, linger?, loiter?
V	BACK TO TOP
vonger	money	Romanichal for "coals?"
W	BACK TO TOP
waddler	duck	too easy!
warth	one	see awarth
wedj	money
*	little	CX and Irish?
*	tea	CX
wobbler	goat
*	campground	CX
X	BACK TO TOP
Y	BACK TO TOP
yaidug	lady, gentlewoman
yeerth	again
yergan	tin
yoarum	milk	see alamakh
yoor	clock	Yiddish or Romany root probably
*	yourself	CX
*	penis	CX, see gyoar and Cx *
Z	BACK TO TOP