Quinqui is the language of a semi-nomadic group in Spain known as quinquilleros ("tinkers"), although they prefer to be called mercheros. The language is an old form of Castilian, and is said to be related to dialects of other marginalized Spanish groups such as Caló and Germania, but unrelated to the Gypsy language Rom. The term apparently comes from the word quincallería — ironmongery , from the group of ironmongers who originated the language. Because they are frequently blamed, like the Rom, for petty crime, in modern Spanish the word can also mean delinquent , petty thief , or hoodlum .
ISO 639-2 code: mis
See also
Caló
