գնչու

Learned borrowing from Old Armenian գնչու (gnčʻu, “stammering, stuttering; lisping, speaking with imperfect articulation”). For the sense development compare Russian не́мец (némec, “German”) and немо́й (nemój).

• (Eastern Armenian) IPA^(key): /ɡənˈt͡ʃʰu/,
• (Western Armenian) IPA^(key): /kənˈt͡ʃu/,

• Audio (Eastern Armenian):

  (file)

գնչու • (gnčʻu)

1. Gypsy (a member of the Romani people)

   Synonym: ցիգան (cʻigan) (colloquial)

This term is an exonym which "came into regular use in the nineteenth century, when the first research about Armenian Gypsies appeared. However, it never entered broad usage in Armenia".^[1]

From գնչեմ (gnčʻem) +‎ -ու (-u).

գնչու • (gnčʻu)

1. stammering, stuttering; lisping, speaking with imperfect articulation

• → Armenian: գնչու (gnčʻu) (learned)

• Awetikʻean, G., Siwrmēlean, X., Awgerean, M. (1836–1837) “գնչու”, in Nor baṙgirkʻ haykazean lezui [New Dictionary of the Armenian Language] (in Old Armenian), Venice: S. Lazarus Armenian Academy
• Ačaṙean, Hračʻeay (1971–1979) “գնչել”, in Hayerēn armatakan baṙaran [Armenian Etymological Dictionary] (in Armenian), 2nd edition, a reprint of the original 1926–1935 seven-volume edition, Yerevan: University Press