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:

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

Class 1 verbs - end in 'j'

Class 2 verbs - end in a consonant

Class 3 verbs - end in a vowel

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

Class 5 verbs - irregular verbs

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

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

Singular, indefinite
Singular, definite
Plural indefinite

Online Etymology Dictionary is useful if in doubt whether a word comes from English or if it a loan word of theirs.

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)

abazhur, -i, -e == un abat-jour == a lampshade
alkool, -i, -e == un alcool == alcohol
ambasadë, -a, -a == une ambassade == an embassy
ansambël, -li, -lë == un ensamble == a (performing) group
avion, -i, -ë == un avion == an airplane
avokat, -i, -e == un avocat == a lawyer
bibliotekë, -a, -a == une bibliothèque - a library
biftek, -u, -ë == un bifteck == a beefsteak
biletë, -a, -a == un billet == a ticket
bluzë, -a, -a == une blouse == a blouse
bursë, -a, -a == une bourse == this word means both, like in French, a stock exchange and a study grant for undergraduates
diskotekë, -a, -a == une discothèque == a diskotheque
dakord == d'accord == agreed, all right
divorc == un divorce == a divorce
ekspozitë, -a, -a == une exposition == an exhibition
emision, -i, -e == une émission == TV/radio show, program, broadcast
galeri, -a, - == une galerie == a gallery
gaz, -i, -e == un gaz == a gas
grevë == une grève == a strike
gri == gris == grey
grip, -i, -e == une grippe == a flu
ide, -ja, - == une idëe == an idea
inkonjito == incognito == incognito
interesant, -e == interesant == interesting
inxhinier, -i, -ë == un ingénieur == an engineer
kabinë, -a, -a == une cabine == a booth
katër == quatre == four
këmishë, -a, -ë == une chemise == a shirt
kimi, -a == chimie == chemistry
kuadër, -ri, -ro == un cadre == frame, setting
kurs, -i, -e == un course == rate, course
kuzhinë, -a, -a == une cuisine == a kitchen
lahutë, -a, -a == un luth == a lute
legjendë, -a, -a == une légende == a legend
librari, -a, - == une librarie == a bookstore
linjë, -a, -a == une ligne == a line
madhësti -a == une majesté == a majesty
maj, -i == maj == May
mandarinë, -a, -a == une mandarine == a mandarin
mars, -i == mars == March
më == me == me, to me (attn. më can be a number of other things to in sentences)
meny, -ja, - == un menu == a menu
menyrë, -a, -a == une manière == manner, way
mesazh -i, -e == un message == a message
miliard, -i, -ë == un milliard == a billion
milion, -i, ë == un million == a million
modë, -a == une mode == fashion
mur, -i, -e == un mur == a wall
muzë, -u - == un musée == a museum
natyrë, -a == une nature == a nature
oriz, -i == riz == rice
paketë, -a, -a == un paquet == a package
park, -u, -qe == un parc == a park
pasion, -i, -e == une passion == a passion
peizazh, -i, -e == un paysage == a scenery
periudhë, -a, -a == une période == a period, time
person, -i, -a == une personne == a person
personalitet, -i, -e == une personnalité == a personality
përqindje, -a, -e == un pourcentage == a percentage
pishinë, -a, -a == une piscine == a swimming pool
pistë, -a, -a == une piste == lane, floor
pjesë, -a, -e == une pièce == a piece
plazh, -i, -e == une plage == a beach
portë, -a, -a == une porte == a gate
pozicion, -i, -e == une position == a position
prezantim == présentation == presentation
principatë, -a, -a == une principauté == a principality, princedom
prozë, -a, -a == une prose == a prose
pulë, -a, -a == un poulet == a chicken
qershi, -a, - == une cerise == a cherry
qiell, -lli, -j == le ciel == the sky.
recepsioniste, -ja, -e == une réceptionniste == a receptionist (fem.)
rezultat, -i, -e == un résultat == a result
rigon, -i == origan == oregano
rol, -i, -e == un rôle == a role
roman, -i, -e == un roman == a novel
sallë, -a, -a == une salle == lobby, auditorium, room
sandale, -ja, -e == une sandale == a sandal
seri, -a, - == une série == a series
shans, -i, -e == une chance == a chance
shef, -i, -a == le chef == a chef, a chief, a boss
shifër, -ra, -ra == un chiffre == a figure, cipher
shofer, -i, -ë == un chauffeur == a driver
shurup, -i, -e == un sirop == a syrup
sistem, -i, -ë == un système == a system
strateg, -u, -ë == un stratège == a strategist
strategjik, -e == stratégique == strategic
studio, -ja, - == un studio == a studio
supë, -a, -a == une soupe == a soup
suvenir, -i, -e == un souvenir == a souvenir
tabelë, -a, -a == une table == (black)board
tarracë, -a, -a == une terrasse == a terrace
teatër, -ri, -ro - un théâtre - a theatre
teatralë, -e == théâtral == theatrical
teknik, -e == technique == technical
teknologji, -a, - == une technologie == a technology
temperaturë, -a, -a == une température == a temperature
transfertë, -a, -a == un transfert == a transfer, transaction
i,e trishtuar - triste - sad
temë, -a, -a == un thème == a theme, topic
tension, -i == une tension (artérielle) == blood pressure
traditë, -a, -a == une tradition == a tradition
trupë, -a, -a == une troupe == a troupe, company, band
universitet, -i, -e == une université == an university
valixhe, -ja, -e == une valise == a suitcase, baggage
vegjetal, -e == végétal == vegetable (adj.)
verandë, -a, -a == une véranda == a terrace, veranda
vitrinë, -a, -a == une vitrine == a shop window
vizë, -a, -a == un visa == a visa
vizitë, -a, -a == une visite == a visit
vizitor, -i, -ë == un visiteur == a visitor
vlerë, -a, -a == une valeur == a value

Loan words for Italian speakers

antipastë, -a, -a == un antipasto == an antipasti
argjend, -i == argento == silver
autobus, -i, -ë == un autobus == a bus
ballkon, -i, -e == un balcone == a balcony
biçikletë, -a, -a == una bicicletta == a bicycle
birrë, -a, -a == una birra == a beer
biskotë, -a, -a == un biscotto == a biscuit
bizele, -ja, -e == un pisello == a bean
çokolatë, -a, -a == una cioccolata == a chocolate
divan, -i, -e == un divano == a sofa, a couch
fitore, -ja, -e == una vittoria == a victory
forum, -i, -e == un forum == a forum
i,e fortë == forte == strong
garazh, -i, -e == un garage == a garage
gjigand, -i, -ë == un gigante == a giant
gjykatës, -i, - == un giudice == a judge
gusht, -i == agosto == August
higjenë, -a == igiene == hygiene
kakao, -ja, - == un cacao == a cocoa
kallamar, -i, -ë == un calamaro == a calamari
kamarier, -i, -ë == un camriere == a waiter
kamion, -i, -e == un camion == a truck
kapelë, -a, -a == un cappello == a cap (hat)
kapitull, -lli, -j == un capitolo == a chapter
kështjellë, -a, -a == un castello == a castle
krap,- i, krep == una carpa == a carp
klimë, -a, -a == un clima == a climate
libër, -ri, -ra == un libro == a book
limon, -i, -ë == un limone == a lemon
makinë, -a, -a == una macchina == a car
mit, -i, -e == un mito == a myth
mobilje, -a, -e == un mobile == furniture
nip, -i, -a == un nipote == a cousin
orë, -a, -ë == un'ora == an hour (or a clock)
origjinë, -a, -a == un'orignine == an origin
pacient, -i, -ë == un paziente == a patient (male)
paqe, -ja == pace == peace
papagall, -lli, -j == un pappagallo == a parrot
pantallona, -t == un pantalone == pants
patate, -ja, -e == una patata == a potato
patatinë, -a, -a == patatine == potato chips
peshk, -u, peshq == un pesce == a fish
peshkatar, -i, -ë == un pescatore == a fisherman
për == per == for, about
peshë, -a, -a == peso == weight
picë, -a, -a == una pizza == a pizza
pikant, -i, -ë == piccante == spicy
piktor, -i, -ë == un pittore == a painter
pjatë, -a, -a == un piatto == a plate, a dish, a course (food)
proshutë, -a, -a == un prosciutto == a ham (also means bacon)
salcë, -ë, -a == una salsa == a sauce
salsiçise, -ja, -e == una salsiccia == a sausage
sallatë, -a, -a == un'insalata == a salad
siguri, -a, - == una sicurezza == a security
skuadër, -ra, -ra == una squadra == a team
stilograf, -i, -ë == una penna stilografica == a fountain pen
tendencë, -a, -a == una tendenza == a tendency, trend
titull, -lli, -j == un titolo == a title
tortë, -a, -a == una torta == a cake
tradicional, -e == tradizionale == traditional
tren, -i, -a == un treno == a train
vazo, -ja, - == un vaso == a vaze
vilë, -a, -a == una villa == a villa

Loan words for English speakers

administrativ, -e == administrative
admirim, -i == admiration
aeroplan, -i, -ë == an airplane
aeroport, -i, -e == an airport
akademi, -a, - == an academy
aksident, -i, -e == an accident
aktiv, -e == active
aktivitet, -i, -e == an activity
aktor, -i, -ë == an actor
aleancë, -a, -a == an alliance
amerikan, -i, -ë == an American
amfiteatër, -ri, -ro == an amphitheater
antik, -e == antique
antikitet, -i == antiquity
antologji == an anthology
apartament, -i, -e == an apartment
arkeolog, -u, -ë == an archaeologist
arkeologjik, -e == archaeological
arkitekturor, -e == architectural
aromë, -a, -a == an aroma
artikull, -lli, -j == an article
artist, -i, -ë == an artist
artistik, -e == artistic
atmosferë, -a, -a == an atmosphere
audiencë, -a, -a == an audience
autoritet, -i, -ë == an authority
balet, -i, -e == a ballet
banane, -ia, -e == a banana
bankë, -a, -a == a bank
banknotë, -a, -a == a banknote
basketboll, -i == basketball
basketbollist, -i, -ë == a baskeball player
bazë, -ë, -a == a base
blu == blue
botanik, -e == botanical
brokoli == broccoli
celular, -e == cellular
ceremoni, -a, - == a ceremony
çek, -ku, -qe == a check (payment instrument)
datë, -a, -a == a date (time)
datoj == to date (time)
debat, -i, -e == a debate
dentar, -e == dental
dentist, -i, -ë == a dentist
derë, -a, dyer == a door
deshirë, -a, -a == a desire
deshiroj == to desire
dialekt, -i, -e == a dialect
dietë, -a, -a == a diet
diplomat, -i, -ë == a diplomat
diskutoj == to discuss
dixhital == digital
dizanoj == to design
dokument, -i, -e == a document
dokumentar, -i, -ë == a documentary
domate, -ja, -e == a tomato
edukatë, -a == an education
egoist, -i, -ë == an egoist
ekonomi, -a == economics
ekonomik, -e == economical
ekonomist, -i, -ë == an economist
ekskursion, -i, -e == an excursion
ekzekutues, -e == executive
elegant, -e == elegant
elektricitet, -i == electricity
elektronik, -e == electronic
i famshëm, e famshme == famous
fazë, -a, -a == a phase
estetik, -e == aesthetic
fakt, -i, -e == a fact
fanellë, -a, -a == a flannel shirt, undershirt
i favorishëm, e -me == favourable
festival, -i, -e == a festival
filëte, -a, -a == a fillet
film, -i, -a == a film
financier, -i, -ë == a finacier
formë, -a, -a == a form, shape (paper or digital form is formular)
formoj == to form
galeri, -a, - == a gallery
gradë, -a, -a == a grade, quality
hero, -i, -nj == a hero
imejl == email (also postë elektronike, email or e-mail)
intergritet == integrity
itinerar, -i, -e == an itinerary
informativ == informative
janar, -i == January
ju == you
katastrofë, -a, -a == a catastrophe
klub, -i, -e == a club
kopjoj == to copy
kupë, -a, -a == a cup
letër, -ra, -ra == a letter, a card
lider == a leader
menaxher, -i, -ë == a manager
mineral == mineral
muzikë, -a == music
oksigjen, -i, -e == oxygen
pako, -ja, - == a pack, packet, parcel
park, -ku, -qe == a park
periudhë, -a, -a == a period
ping-pong == ping-pong, table tennis
piper, -i == pepper (table spice)
pjek == to bake
plan, -i, -e == a plan
poet, -i, -ë == a poet
polifoni, -a, - == a polyphony
popullor, -e == popular
porcelan, -i == porcelain
postë, -a, -a == mail, post office post
prill, -i == April
qendër, -a, -a == a center
radio, -ja, - == a radio
recital, -i, -e == a recital
restorant, -i, -e == a restaurant
reumatizëm, -mi, -ma == rheumatism
i,e saktë == exact
sandale == sandals
sanduiç, -i, -ë == a sandwich
sekret, -i, -e == a secret
sekretar, -i, -ë == a secretary
sekt, -i, -e == a sect
semestër, -ri, -ra == a semester
seminar, -i, -e == a seminar
sezon, -i, -e == a season
shkollë, -a, -a == a school
shtet, -i, -e == a state, country
simbolik, -e == symbolic, very cheap
simptomë, -a, -a == a symptom
sinjal, -i, -e == a signal
i,e sinqertë == sincere
situatë, -a, -a == a situation, condition
social, -e == social
solemn, -e == solemn, gala
specifikë, -a, -a == a specific feature
spektakël, -li, -le == a spectacle
spektator, -i, -ë == a spectator
spinaq, -i == spinach
spital, -i, -e == a hospital
sporadik, -e == sporadic
statut, -i, -e == a statute
sukses, -i, -e == success
stomak, -u, -ë == a stomach
stres, -i == stress
studioj == to study
taksi, -a, - == a taxi
tekst, -i, -e == a text
telefon, -i, -a == a telephone
telefon celular == a cell phone
tempull, -lli, -j == a temple
transferim, -i, -e == a transfer
turist, -i, -ë == a tourist
turistik, -e == touristic
vaksinë, -a, -a == a vaccine
vanilje, -a == vanilla
variant, -i, -e == a variant, variation
vëllim, -i, -e == volume
vitaminë, -a, -a == a vitamin
vizitoj == to visit
volejboll, -i == volleyball
xhaketë, -a, -a == a jacket
xhinse == jeans, denim
zero == zero
zonë, -a, -a == zone, area, region

Loan words for Swedish speakers / Lån ord för svensktalande

fabrikë == en fabrik - a factory
konkurrencë == en konkurrens - competition (market)
natë, -e, net == en natt - a night.
provë, -a, -a == ett prov == a test, experiment, fitting
provoj == prova == to try
radhë -a, -ë == en rad == a row
shkumë == en skum == a foam

Loan words for Russian speakers

banjë, -a, -a == ванная == bathroom
bankomat, -i, -e == Банкомат == an ATM
çaj, -i == чай == tea
diabet, -i == диабет == diabetes
gazetë, -a,- a == газета == a newspaper
jug == юг == south
kukull, -a, -a == кукла == a doll
pallto, -ja, - == пальто == a coat
shah, -u == шах == chess
televizor, -i, -ë == телевизор == television set
ti == ты == you (singular)

Loan words for Turkish speakers

bakllava, -ja, - == baklava == baklava
byrek, -u, -ë == börek == a savory pie
hamam == hamam == Turkish bath
kolltuk, -u, kolltuqe == koltuk == armchair, seat
osman, -e == Osmanlı == ottoman
sulltan, -i, -ë == sultan == a sultan
sheqer, -i == şeker == sugar
shishe, -ja, -e == şişe == a bottle
shisqebap, -i, -e == şiş kebap == shish kebab

Loan words for German speakers

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

Loan words for Latin speakers

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

Loan words for Spanish speakers

telenovelë, -a, -a == una telenovela == a soap opera

False friends

i,e habitur == surprised, astonished
konvikt, -i, -e == a dormitory
koran, -i, -ë == a trout
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

Some flashcard software may be useful for learning specialized vocabulary. See the Wikipedia list of flashcard software for options.

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.