The word "gypsy" traditionally refers to a member of the Romani people, a culturally diverse ethnic group with a nomadic lifestyle that originated from northern India and migrated to Europe. The term has often been used pejoratively and is also associated with stereotypes about a free-spirited lifestyle, fortune-telling, and living outside conventional societal norms. It is important to approach the use of this term with care, as it can be seen as offensive to those belonging to the Romani community.
The term "gypsy" is believed to have originated from the early 16th century and comes from the word "Egyptian," as people mistakenly thought that the Romani people originated from Egypt. The Romani themselves refer to their ethnicity as "Rom" or "Roma."