Lithuanian language inspector defends use of “čigonas” and “negras” as acceptable terms

A dispute over the name of a plant shop in Kaunas, “Čigono daržas” (Gypsy Garden), has reignited debate about whether the word “čigonas” (gypsy) is offensive to the Roma community, reports LRT.lt. While the Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson’s Office urges avoidance of stigmatising language, Audrius Valotka, head of the State Language Inspectorate, argues that both “čigonas” and “negras” (a term historically used for Black people) are valid words.

“Roma people should not regulate the Lithuanian language,” Valotka stated, defending the use of the terms.

The controversy began when Konsuela Mačiulevičiūtė, director of the Roma Integration Centre in Šiauliai, noticed the shop’s name on Facebook and criticised it as discriminatory. “Once, Afro-Americans asked to be called Black instead of the n-word, and we complied. Asians asked to be addressed respectfully, and we stopped using slurs. Now we, the Roma, ask to be called Roma, because ‘čigonas’ is Hitler’s word,” she told LRT.lt.

Mačiulevičiūtė said she contacted the shop to ask why it chose the name but received only a dismissive response. She expressed concern that the term could normalise derogatory language, asking, “If someone called you ‘čigonė Karolina,’ would you like it?” The Roma community refers to itself as rom or rom manuš (Roma person), she explained, and many find “čigonas” hurtful.

The shop’s founder told LRT.lt there was no intent to offend, and the name has been officially registered without prior complaints. Mačiulevičiūtė has reported the issue to the Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson’s Office and is considering a police complaint over abusive comments she received after raising the issue publicly.

Dainius Babilas, head of the National Minorities Department, acknowledged that while “čigonas” may be linguistically correct, its impact on the Roma community must be considered. Mindaugas Kukaitis, president of the Lithuanian Bar Association, emphasised that context matters in assessing whether language is discriminatory.