The Sinti are a distinct people with roots in the Indian subcontinent's northern regions

Countries & Cities · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Often conflated with other Romani groups, the Sinti are a unique community with a complex history of migration and identity. From their origins in northern India to their centuries-long presence in Europe, the Sinti have maintained a distinct cultural heritage, despite facing systemic persecution and attempts at forced assimilation.

The Sinti are a subgroup of the Romani people, numbering approximately 200,000 individuals primarily located in Germany, France, Italy, and Central Europe. While their exact origins remain a subject of scholarly debate, research points to the northern Indian subcontinent as their ancestral home. Genetic studies conducted in 2012 have identified similarities between European Romani men and Indian men, supporting the theory of a South Asian origin. The name 'Sinti' itself is contested; some scholars and community members link it to the Sindh region of medieval India, while others suggest it is a later European loanword, potentially derived from the German word for 'travellers'.

Arriving in Germany and Austria by the early 15th century, the Sinti eventually split into two primary groups: the Eftavagarja, or 'Seven Caravans', and the Estraxarja. These groups further diversified, with the Eftavagarja expanding into France and Portugal as the 'Manouche', and the Estraxarja settling across Central Europe. Throughout their history, the Sinti have been subject to marginalization, including police registration in 1899 and brutal persecution during the Nazi era. Under the Nuremberg Laws of 1935, they were interned in 'Gypsy camps' and later deported or murdered in concentration camps like Auschwitz-Birkenau, where thousands were killed in the gas chambers.

Beyond the horrors of the Holocaust, the Sinti have faced modern systemic abuses. In Switzerland, the 'Children of the Open Road' project saw authorities forcibly remove Sinti, Manouche, and Yenish children from their families between 1926 and 1973 to force assimilation into sedentary society. It was not until February 2025 that the Swiss government formally acknowledged these actions as crimes against humanity. Today, the Sinti maintain a vibrant culture where music, such as 'Gypsy jazz', plays a central role in identity, even as they continue to navigate the complexities of their history and their status as a distinct ethnic group.

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