Roma (or the Romani People) are a heterogenic ethnic group commonly referred to in English by the pejorative non-native “Gypsies.” Prosper Mérimée’s conception of the Roma people and their culture is a central focus of Carmen. However, the information and representations portrayed in the novella are inaccurate, often blatantly racist, and more reflective of the common prejudices of the time than the reality of Roma and their culture (“Roma History Factsheets.” Council of Europe). Mérimée based much of his information on English author George Borrow’s The Zincali: An Account of the Gypsies of Spain (1841). The subgroup of Roma from Spain typically self-identify as “Calé.” They have a long history of association with the southern region of Andalusia, as well as traditional Spanish folk music and dance such as the flamenco.

Groups of Roma first migrated to Europe from India around the 10th century, and settled across the continent—particularly in Spain, Germany, and the Balkans. Current estimates place between 10 and 14 million Roma in Europe, with several million more having migrated further afield, primarily to the Americas and the Middle East. Roma share a common language, Romani (or Romanes), an Indo-European language descended from Sanskrit that has diverged into many disparate dialects influenced by different linguistic environments.