Learning Albanian

From Wikistudy.ByJuho.fi
Revision as of 11:25, 2 August 2018 by Jukeboksi (talk | contribs) (→‎Mots d'emprunt pour francophones: + pistë, -a, -a == une piste == lane, floor)

Welcome to Learning Albanian.

Shqiponja është e madhe në Shqipëri. The eagle is big in Albania. është, 3rd pers. sing. for "to be" is a loan word from Latin

The name of the Albanian language in Albanian language is 'shqip' and the name of the country Albania is 'Shqipëri' (indefinite (later indef.)) and 'Shqipëria. (definite (later def.))

Q is the most far-out non-western compliance letter in the Albanian language. It is pronounced a sharp 's' like in chuck.

Both of these could be derived from the word sq.'shqiponja' == en."the eagle" or is it the other way around that shqip is so awesome that the name of the eagle then gotta be shqiponja.

First things to know

Albanian flag is very red and black (kuq e zi) and sq."Shqiponja ka dy kokat!" == en."The eagle has two heads!". ka is the 3rd person singular for 'to have'. dy means two. kokat is definite plural form of kokë, head

Nouns: first things to know

As you may notice the Albanian nouns have their article affixed to the end of the noun and not preceding it. Later-on code like this 'Shqipëri, -a' tells you that the definite form is formed by adding the definite article '-a' to it.

Albanian has 2 grammatical genders: masculine and feminine but worry not, sing. indef. nouns that end in a consonant are masculines and nouns ending in a vowel are feminines. Exceptions are if the noun clearly is of the other gender than the vowel/consonant rule would say.

Verbs: first things to know:

Albanian verbs have no infinite forms so all the dictionaries have them listed by the 1st person singular. This is handy for quickly learning to express what I do or what I would like to do.

Adjectives: first things to know

For those of you who know French you'll feel at home as adjectives and adverbs are placed after the noun also in Albanian.

Nouns and adjectives are connected by an adjectival article. For nominative these are 'i' for masculine and 'e' for feminine.


Verbs

Albanian verbs are divided into 6 classes as follows:

  1. Class 1 - Verbs ending in 'j'
  2. Class 2 - Verbs ending in a consonant
  3. Class 3 - Verbs ending in a vowel
  4. Class 4 - Three verbs ending in 'i'
  5. Class 5 - Irregular verbs
  6. Class 6 - Verbs ending in '(h)em'

Class 1 verbs - end in 'j'

Albanian has quite a few verbs that end in 'j'


Class 2 verbs - end in a consonant

Albanian verbs - Class 2 - ending in a consonant.png


Class 3 verbs - end in a vowel

Albanian verbs - Class 3 - ending in a vowel.png


Class 4 verbs - the three verbs ending in 'i'

Albanian verbs - Class 4 - three verbs ending in 'i'.png


Class 5 verbs - irregular verbs


Class 6 verbs - end in '(h)em'

Albanian verbs - Class 6 - verbs ending in '(h)em'.png


Building up vocabulary

Ë is not pronounced when it is at the end of a word. When inside a word it is like the syllable "uh".

Knowing the first things to know about nouns and adjectives now would be a good time to consider starting to play the Basic Albanian 1 on Memrise. Memrise programs your brain slightly differently than traditional methods, but hey, how harmful can it be?

Albanian has a lot of loan words but they come from a wide variety of languages including but not limited to Latin, English, Italian, French, Slavic, Germanic, Arabic, Swedish etc.

Jamaican shares from Albanian the word 'I ri'. In Albanian 'i ri' means both new and young for masculine nouns. Corresponding form for feminine nouns is 'e re'.

Lists of loan words

The forms given for nouns are

  1. Singular, indefinite
  2. Singular, definite
  3. Plural indefinite

Mots d'emprunt pour francophones

These often come via Italian or are originally from Latin by which the words not so magically happen to often be the same in French. Jukeboksi (talk)

  1. abazhur, -i, -e == un abat-jour == a lampshade
  2. ambasadë, -a, -a == une ambassade == an embassy
  3. ansambël, -li, -lë == un ensamble == a (performing) group
  4. avion, -i, -ë == un avion == an airplane
  5. avokat, -i, -e == un avocat == a lawyer
  6. bibliotekë, -a, -a == une bibliothèque - a library
  7. biftek, -u, -ë == un bifteck == a beefsteak
  8. biletë, -a, -a == un billet == a ticket
  9. bluzë, -a, -a == une blouse == a blouse
  10. bursë, -a, -a == une bourse == this word means both, like in French, a stock exchange and a study grant for undergraduates
  11. dakord == d'accord == agreed, all right
  12. divorc == un divorce == a divorce
  13. ekspozitë, -a, -a == une exposition == an exhibition
  14. galeri, -a, - == une galerie == a gallery
  15. gaz, -i, -e == un gaz == a gas
  16. grevë == une grève == a strike
  17. gri == gris == grey
  18. grip, -i, -e == une grippe == a flu
  19. ide, -ja, - == une idëe == an idea
  20. inkonjito == incognito == incognito
  21. interesant, -e == interesant == interesting
  22. inxhinier, -i, -ë == un ingénieur == an engineer
  23. kabinë, -a, -a == une cabine == a booth
  24. katër == quatre == four
  25. këmishë, -a, -ë == une chemise == a shirt
  26. kimi, -a == chimie == chemistry
  27. kuadër, -ri, -ro == un cadre == frame, setting
  28. kurs, -i, -e == un course == rate, course
  29. kuzhinë, -a, -a == une cuisine == a kitchen
  30. lahutë, -a, -a == un luth == a lute
  31. legjendë, -a, -a == une légende == a legend
  32. librari, -a, - == une librarie == a bookstore
  33. linjë, -a, -a == une ligne == a line
  34. madhësti -a == une majesté == a majesty
  35. maj, -i == maj == May
  36. mandarinë, -a, -a == une mandarine == a mandarin
  37. mars, -i == mars == March
  38. më == me == me, to me (attn. më can be a number of other things to in sentences)
  39. meny, -ja, - == un menu == a menu
  40. menyrë, -a, -a == une manière == manner, way
  41. mesazh -i, -e == un message == a message
  42. miliard, -i, -ë == un milliard == a billion
  43. milion, -i, ë == un million == a million
  44. modë, -a == une mode == fashion
  45. mur, -i, -e == un mur == a wall
  46. muzë, -u - == un musée == a museum
  47. natyrë, -a == une nature == a nature
  48. oriz, -i == riz == rice
  49. paketë, -a, -a == un paquet == a package
  50. park, -u, -qe == un parc == a park
  51. pasion, -i, -e == une passion == a passion
  52. peizazh, -i, -e == un paysage == a scenery
  53. periudhë, -a, -a == une période == a period, time
  54. person, -i, -a == une personne == a person
  55. personalitet, -i, -e == une personnalité == a personality
  56. përqindje, -a, -e == un pourcentage == a percentage
  57. pishinë, -a, -a == une piscine == a swimming pool
  58. pistë, -a, -a == une piste == lane, floor
  59. pjesë, -a, -e == une pièce == a piece
  60. plazh, -i, -e == une plage == a beach
  61. qiell, -lli, -j == le ciel == the sky.
  62. shans, -i, -e == une chance == a chance
  63. shef, -i, -a == le chef == a chef, a chief, a boss
  64. shofer, -i, -ë == un chauffeur == a driver
  65. teatër, -ri, -ro - un théâtre - a theatre
  66. i,e trishtuar - triste - sad
  67. trupë, -a, -a == une troupe == a troupe, company, band
  68. vlerë, -a, -a == une valeur == a value

Loan words for Italian speakers

  1. antipastë, -a, -a == un antipasto == an antipasti
  2. argjend, -i == argento == silver
  3. autobus, -i, -ë == un autobus == a bus
  4. ballkon, -i, -e == un balcone == a balcony
  5. biçikletë, -a, -a == una bicicletta == a bicycle
  6. birrë, -a, -a == una birra == a beer
  7. biskotë, -a, -a == un biscotto == a biscuit
  8. bizele, -ja, -e == un pisello == a bean
  9. çokolatë, -a, -a == una cioccolata == a chocolate
  10. divan, -i, -e == un divano == a sofa, a couch
  11. fitore, -ja, -e == una vittoria == a victory
  12. forum, -i, -e == un forum == a forum
  13. i,e fortë == forte == strong
  14. garazh, -i, -e == un garage == a garage
  15. gjigand, -i, -ë == un gigante == a giant
  16. gjykatës, -i, - == un giudice == a judge
  17. gusht, -i == agosto == August
  18. higjenë, -a == igiene == hygiene
  19. kakao, -ja, - == un cacao == a cocoa
  20. kallamar, -i, -ë == un calamaro == a calamari
  21. kamarier, -i, -ë == un camriere == a waiter
  22. kamion, -i, -e == un camion == a truck
  23. kapelë, -a, -a == un cappello == a cap (hat)
  24. kapitull, -lli, -j == un capitolo == a chapter
  25. kështjellë, -a, -a == un castello == a castle
  26. krap,- i, krep == una carpa == a carp
  27. klimë, -a, -a == un clima == a climate
  28. libër, -ri, -ra == un libro == a book
  29. limon, -i, -ë == un limone == a lemon
  30. makinë, -a, -a == una macchina == a car
  31. mit, -i, -e == un mito == a myth
  32. mobilje, -a, -e == un mobile == furniture
  33. nip, -i, -a == un nipote == a cousin
  34. orë, -a, -ë == un'ora == an hour (or a clock)
  35. origjinë, -a, -a == un'orignine == an origin
  36. pacient, -i, -ë == un paziente == a patient (male)
  37. paqe, -ja == pace == peace
  38. papagall, -lli, -j == un pappagallo == a parrot
  39. pantallona, -t == un pantalone == pants
  40. patate, -ja, -e == una patata == a potato
  41. patatinë, -a, -a == patatine == potato chips
  42. peshk, -u, peshq == un pesce == a fish
  43. peshkatar, -i, -ë == un pescatore == a fisherman
  44. për == per == for, about
  45. peshë, -a, -a == peso == weight
  46. picë, -a, -a == una pizza == a pizza
  47. pikant, -i, -ë == piccante == spicy
  48. piktor, -i, -ë == un pittore == a painter
  49. proshutë, -a, -a == un prosciutto == a ham (also means bacon)
  50. salcë, -ë, -a == una salsa == a sauce

Loan words for English speakers

  1. antologji == an anthology
  2. atmosferë, -a, -a == an atmosphere
  3. audiencë, -a, -a == an audience
  4. bazë, -ë, -a == a base
  5. blu == blue
  6. çek, -ku, -qe == a check (payment instrument)
  7. dentist, -i, -ë == a dentist
  8. dixhital == digital
  9. festival, -i, -e - a == festival
  10. financier, -i, -ë == a finacier
  11. formë, -a, -a == a form, shape (paper or digital form is formular)
  12. galeri, -a, - == a gallery
  13. gradë, -a, -a == a grade, quality
  14. hero, -i, -nj == a hero
  15. imejl == email (also postë elektronike, email or e-mail)
  16. itinerar, -i, -e == an itinerary
  17. informativ == informative
  18. janar, -i == January
  19. ju == you
  20. klub, -i, -e == a club
  21. kupë, -a, -a == a cup
  22. letër, -ra, -ra == a letter, a card
  23. lider == a leader
  24. menaxher, -i, -ë == a manager
  25. mineral == mineral
  26. muzikë, -a == music
  27. oksigjen, -i, -e == oxygen
  28. pako, -ja, - == a pack, packet, parcel
  29. park, -ku, -qe == a park
  30. periudhë, -a, -a == a period
  31. ping-pong == ping-pong, table tennis
  32. piper, -i == pepper (table spice)
  33. qendër, -a, -a == a center
  34. sandale == sandals
  35. sekret, -i, -e == a secret
  36. semestër, -ri, -ra == a semester
  37. sinjal, -i, -e == a signal
  38. statut, -i, -e == a statute
  39. sukses, -i, -e == success
  40. tempull, -lli, -j == a temple
  41. transferim, -i, -e == a transfer
  42. vëllim, -i, -e == volume
  43. xhinse == jeans, denim
  44. zero == zero

Loan words for Swedish speakers / Lån ord för svensktalande

  1. fabrikë == en fabrik - a factory
  2. konkurrencë == en konkurrens - competition (market)
  3. natë, -e, net == en natt - a night.
  4. provë == ett prov == a test
  5. radhë == en rad == a row
  6. shkumë == en skum == a foam

Loan words for Russian speakers

  1. banjë, -a, -a == ванная == bathroom
  2. çaj, -i == чай == tea
  3. gazetë, -a,- a == газета == a newspaper
  4. jug == юг == south
  5. kukull, -a, -a == кукла == a doll
  6. pallto, -ja, - == пальто == a coat
  7. televizor, -i, -ë == телевизор == television set

Loan words for Turkish speakers

  1. bakllava, -ja, - == baklava == baklava
  2. byrek, -u, -ë == börek == a savory pie
  3. hamam == hamam == Turkish bath
  4. kolltuk, -u, kolltuqe == koltuk == armchair, seat
  5. osman, -e == Osmanlı == ottoman

Loan words for German speakers

  • mensë, -a, -a == die Mensa == a school cafeteria, a cantine

Loan words for Latin speakers

  1. e mërkurë, -a, -a == Mercurii == Wednesday
  2. monedhë, -a, -a == monetæ == coin, coinage, small change

False friends

  1. i,e habitur == surprised, astonished
  2. konvikt, -i, -e == a dormitory
  3. koran, -i, -ë == a trout
  4. verdhë == yellow

Resources for learning Albanian

Books for learning Albanian

  • Colloquial Albanian (2012) is an excellent book for anglophones by Linda Mëniku and Héctor Campos. It is concise and well organized. The learning curve gets steeper towards the end. Routledge, the publisher has kindly made audio for all text passages downloadable for free from the book's homepage. As of 2018 the vocabulary of this excellent book have not yet been made to a memrise. A previous edition in the same Colloquial series from the early 90's does have a memrise of the vocabulary.
  • Discovering Albanian 1 (2011) is also by Linda Mëniku and Héctor Campos and it consists of a textbook and workbook. As of 2018 there is no Discovering Albanian 2. The audio for the textbook can be accessed only via 2 CD's. Who has CD-players these days? Let's hope The University of Wisconsin Press wakes up and provides streaming and download at no extra charge.

Albanian radio

  • There are various streaming apps available in the app stores.
  • Live Online Radio is a radio streaming service for the web. It has one of the largest selections of Albanian radios.
  • Radio.garden has a beautiful user interface where you tune into radios by spinning a globe to the desired location of transmission.

Albanian TV

  • https://albanian.tv/ offers streaming of many of the popular Albanian TV channels. It often works but occasionally the streams have trouble playing out without intermittent interruptions.
  • The RTSH Tani app is available for Android and iOS Apple phones. With the app you can access all the channels broadcast by RTSH including RTSH Film. The app does not have ads (excellent) whereas the RTSH channels do have ads. RTSH Tani app also features a VOD archive where you can watch recent programs up-to-2-days into the broadcasting history and a handy integrated EPG.

Films with Albanian subtitles

  • These you can find on Youtube by searching for 'filma me titra shqip'. Watching movies spoken in a language you understand while reading the subtitles in the language you want to learn is an excellent way to learn and refresh in a low-effort manner.
  • There are also Albanian films. These are unfortunately not subtitled and the speech is often really rapid. French do subtitle some of their own films on TV5MONDE to aid the non-natives tackle the 5 words per second pace.

Wiki literature

  • Wikibooks.org, Albanian version may be useful after you have gained the basics. Reading wikibooks of subjects and fields you already know may fast-forward your ability to read some text.
  • Albanian Wikipedia Same advice, select subjects this way you have a clear idea of what it is likely to say. Wikipedia writing is less predictable than a textbook.

Online texts

  • Foreign Services Institute (FSI) (1965) .pdf book on Albanian. From this I can recommend the history introduction of this text aimed mostly for US armed forces personel though naturally the FSI's work helps also non-military government workers to gain knowledge too. Albanian language has changed so much since 1965 that this cannot really be used to learn contemporary albanian but the intro is good if you are a history and culture puff.

Learning games

  • https://memrise.com is a spaced repetition flashcard and beyond language learning game and it has various memrises of varying quality. Memrise programs your brain slightly differently than traditional methods of vocabulary acquisition.
  • Basic Albanian 1 (~170 things to learn) and
  • Basic Albanian 2 (~210 things to learn) are of high quality, simple intros to the basic building blocks made by BaaS, an apparent memrise genius if you look at his productivity, scope and quality of his work.
  • (No typing) Albanian Menu (~110 things to learn). " For people intending to travel to Albania this memrise obviously highly recommendable as we all gotta eat. No typing"-courses are fun because they are faster to play so you also get points faster.
  • Discovering Albanian 1 (~1800 things to learn) a professional quality memrise based on the vocabulary lists of the book of the same name. This memrise contains audio in high quality, consistency and precision for practically all words and phrases to be learned. This memrise has over 1800 things to learn so it is the biggest available. The makers of this memrise have used sensible notation: For nouns indefinite and definite singular and indefinite plural are given etc. etc.
  • Albanian Verbs (~480 things to learn). Teaches you the 1st person singular form of verbs (Albanian has no infinitives) with the exception of "to be" and "to have" where all present tense forms are taught in the last level.