The word țigan (the root of țigăncușă ) historically stems from a term meaning "untouchable" or "slave".
In formal, legal, and academic contexts, țigan (and its feminine/diminutive forms) is widely considered offensive or derogatory. Tigancusa
In the territories that are now Romania, Roma people were enslaved for centuries, and "Țigani" was a legal status referring to a slave class rather than just an ethnicity. The word țigan (the root of țigăncușă )
“Ţiganu-i ţigan” - OpenEdition Journals investigates how these "verbal icons" perpetuate social marginalization. For example, the famous painter Nicolae Grigorescu titled
The term "Rromă" (or femeie rromă for a woman) is the official and respectful designation used by international organizations and the Romanian government to promote dignity and combat discrimination.
If you are looking for an "article" or scholarly perspective on this topic, these sources provide critical dissections of the term's impact:
The term has deep roots in Romanian literature, proverbs, and art. For example, the famous painter Nicolae Grigorescu titled one of his works "Tânără țigancă" ( Young Gypsy Girl ). 2. Modern Sensitivity and Terminology