Learning Albanian

Revision as of 10:47, 14 September 2018 by Jukeboksi (talk | contribs) (→‎Loan words for English speakers: + fibër, -ra, -ra == a fiber)

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'

 


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

The verbs

  • "jam" == "to be" and
  • "kam" == "to have" are highly irregular, but the present indicative and imperfect indicative, present subjunctive and imperative forms of them are highly similar as you can see from the charts below.

   


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

  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. adhuroj == adorer == to worship
  3. aktualitet, -i, -e == une actualité == an actuality
  4. alkool, -i, -e == un alcool == alcohol
  5. ambasadë, -a, -a == une ambassade == an embassy
  6. ansambël, -li, -lë == un ensamble == a (performing) group
  7. avion, -i, -ë == un avion == an airplane
  8. avokat, -i, -e == un avocat == a lawyer
  9. bibliotekë, -a, -a == une bibliothèque == a library
  10. biftek, -u, -ë == un bifteck == a beefsteak
  11. biletë, -a, -a == un billet == a ticket
  12. bluzë, -a, -a == une blouse == a blouse
  13. bursë, -a, -a == une bourse == this word means both, like in French, a stock exchange and a study grant for undergraduates
  14. diskotekë, -a, -a == une discothèque == a diskotheque
  15. dakord == d'accord == agreed, all right
  16. i disponueshëm, e -me == disponible
  17. divorc == un divorce == a divorce
  18. ekspozitë, -a, -a == une exposition == an exhibition
  19. emision, -i, -e == une émission == TV/radio show, program, broadcast
  20. fill, -i, fije == un fil == a thread
  21. financiar, -e == financier == financial
  22. fizikë, -a == une physique == physics
  23. Francẽ, -a, -a == La France == France
  24. francez, -i, -ë == un français == a French
  25. francez, -e == français, -e == French (adj.)
  26. galeri, -a, - == une galerie == a gallery
  27. gaz, -i, -e == un gaz == a gas
  28. gjeografik, -e == géographique == geographic
  29. grevë == une grève == a strike
  30. gri == gris == grey
  31. grip, -i, -e == une grippe == a flu
  32. ide, -ja, - == une idée == an idea
  33. inkonjito == incognito == incognito
  34. institucion, -i, -e == une institution == an institution
  35. interesant, -e == interesant == interesting
  36. inxhinier, -i, -ë == un ingénieur == an engineer
  37. juridik, -e == juridique == legal, judicial
  38. kabinë, -a, -a == une cabine == a booth
  39. kafe, -ja, -e == un café == a coffee
  40. kanal, -i, -e == un canal == a channel
  41. kanion, -i, -e == un canyon == a canyon
  42. karakter, -i, -e == un caractère == a character, nature
  43. karakteristik, -e == caractéristique == characteristic
  44. karotë, -a, -a == une carotte == a carrot
  45. kartë, -a, -a == une carte == a card (also a paper)
  46. kartë krediti == une carte de crédit == a credit card
  47. katër == quatre == four
  48. katolik, -e == catholique == catholic
  49. këmishë, -a, -ë == une chemise == a shirt
  50. kimi, -a == chimie == chemistry
  51. klient, -i, -ë == un client == a client
  52. koleg, -u, -ë == un collègue == a colleague
  53. komedi, -a, - == une comédie == a comedy
  54. komplikacion, -i, -e == une complication == a complication
  55. kontratë, -a, -a == un contrat == a contract, agreement
  56. kostum, -i, -e == un costume == a costume, a suit
  57. krem karamel == la crème caramel == caramel dessert
  58. krizë, -a, -a == une crise == a crisis
  59. kronikë, -a, -a == une chronique == a chronicle, news
  60. kuadër, -ri, -ro == un cadre == frame, setting
  61. kulturë, -a, -a == une culture == a culture
  62. kurs, -i, -e == un course == rate, course
  63. kuzhinë, -a, -a == une cuisine == a kitchen
  64. laborator, -i, -ë == un laboratoire == a laboratory
  65. lahutë, -a, -a == un luth == a lute
  66. latin, -e == latin -e
  67. latino-amerkan -e == Latino-américain -e
  68. legjendë, -a, -a == une légende == a legend
  69. librari, -a, - == une librarie == a bookstore
  70. linjë, -a, -a == une ligne == a line
  71. lokal, -i,- e == un local == premises, room
  72. madhësti -a == une majesté == a majesty
  73. maj, -i == maj == May
  74. mandarinë, -a, -a == une mandarine == a mandarin
  75. mars, -i == mars == March
  76. mathematikë, -a, == un mathématique == mathematics
  77. më == me == me, to me (attn. më can be a number of other things to in sentences)
  78. meny, -ja, - == un menu == a menu
  79. menyrë, -a, -a == une manière == manner, way
  80. mesazh -i, -e == un message == a message
  81. miliard, -i, -ë == un milliard == a billion
  82. milion, -i, ë == un million == a million
  83. modë, -a == une mode == fashion
  84. monogami, -a, -a == la monogamie == monogamy
  85. mur, -i, -e == un mur == a wall
  86. muzë, -u - == un musée == a museum
  87. natyrë, -a == une nature == a nature
  88. oriz, -i == riz == rice
  89. paketë, -a, -a == un paquet == a package
  90. park, -u, -qe == un parc == a park
  91. pasion, -i, -e == une passion == a passion
  92. peizazh, -i, -e == un paysage == a scenery
  93. periudhë, -a, -a == une période == a period, time
  94. person, -i, -a == une personne == a person
  95. personalitet, -i, -e == une personnalité == a personality
  96. përqindje, -a, -e == un pourcentage == a percentage
  97. pishinë, -a, -a == une piscine == a swimming pool
  98. pistë, -a, -a == une piste == lane, floor
  99. pjesë, -a, -e == une pièce == a piece
  100. plazh, -i, -e == une plage == a beach
  101. portë, -a, -a == une porte == a gate
  102. pozicion, -i, -e == une position == a position
  103. prezantim == présentation == presentation
  104. principatë, -a, -a == une principauté == a principality, princedom
  105. prozë, -a, -a == une prose == a prose
  106. pulë, -a, -a == un poulet == a chicken
  107. qershi, -a, - == une cerise == a cherry
  108. qiell, -lli, -j == le ciel == the sky.
  109. recepsioniste, -ja, -e == une réceptionniste == a receptionist (fem.)
  110. rezultat, -i, -e == un résultat == a result
  111. rigon, -i == origan == oregano
  112. rol, -i, -e == un rôle == a role
  113. roman, -i, -e == un roman == a novel
  114. sallë, -a, -a == une salle == lobby, auditorium, room
  115. sandale, -ja, -e == une sandale == a sandal
  116. seri, -a, - == une série == a series
  117. shans, -i, -e == une chance == a chance
  118. shef, -i, -a == le chef == a chef, a chief, a boss
  119. shifër, -ra, -ra == un chiffre == a figure, cipher
  120. shofer, -i, -ë == un chauffeur == a driver
  121. shurup, -i, -e == un sirop == a syrup
  122. sistem, -i, -ë == un système == a system
  123. strateg, -u, -ë == un stratège == a strategist
  124. strategjik, -e == stratégique == strategic
  125. studio, -ja, - == un studio == a studio
  126. supë, -a, -a == une soupe == a soup
  127. suvenir, -i, -e == un souvenir == a souvenir
  128. tabelë, -a, -a == une table == (black)board
  129. tarracë, -a, -a == une terrasse == a terrace
  130. teatër, -ri, -ro - un théâtre - a theatre
  131. teatralë, -e == théâtral == theatrical
  132. teknik, -e == technique == technical
  133. teknologji, -a, - == une technologie == a technology
  134. temperaturë, -a, -a == une température == a temperature
  135. transfertë, -a, -a == un transfert == a transfer, transaction
  136. i,e trishtuar - triste - sad
  137. temë, -a, -a == un thème == a theme, topic
  138. tension, -i == une tension (artérielle) == blood pressure
  139. traditë, -a, -a == une tradition == a tradition
  140. trupë, -a, -a == une troupe == a troupe, company, band
  141. universitet, -i, -e == une université == an university
  142. valixhe, -ja, -e == une valise == a suitcase, baggage
  143. vegjetal, -e == végétal == vegetable (adj.)
  144. verandë, -a, -a == une véranda == a terrace, veranda
  145. vitrinë, -a, -a == une vitrine == a shop window
  146. vizë, -a, -a == un visa == a visa
  147. vizitë, -a, -a == une visite == a visit
  148. vizitor, -i, -ë == un visiteur == a visitor
  149. 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. faturë, -a, -a == una fattura == a bill
  12. fitore, -ja, -e == una vittoria == a victory
  13. forum, -i, -e == un forum == a forum
  14. i,e fortë == forte == strong
  15. i,e freskët == fresco == fresh
  16. freskues, -e == rinfrescante == refreshing
  17. garazh, -i, -e == un garage == a garage
  18. gjigand, -i, -ë == un gigante == a giant
  19. gjykatës, -i, - == un giudice == a judge
  20. gusht, -i == agosto == August
  21. higjenë, -a == igiene == hygiene
  22. institucion, -i, -e == un'istituzione == an institution
  23. kakao, -ja, - == un cacao == a cocoa
  24. kallamar, -i, -ë == un calamaro == a calamari
  25. kamarier, -i, -ë == un camriere == a waiter
  26. kamion, -i, -e == un camion == a truck
  27. kapelë, -a, -a == un cappello == a cap (hat)
  28. kapitull, -lli, -j == un capitolo == a chapter
  29. kështjellë, -a, -a == un castello == a castle
  30. klime, -a, -a == un clima == a climate
  31. krap,- i, krep == una carpa == a carp
  32. klimë, -a, -a == un clima == a climate
  33. konkurrencë, -a == concorrenza == a competition
  34. konkurrent, -i, -ë == un concorrente == a competitor
  35. konsum, -i, -e == un consumo == consumption
  36. kontribut, -i, -e == un contributo == a contribution
  37. libër, -ri, -ra == un libro == a book
  38. limon, -i, -ë == un limone == a lemon
  39. makinë, -a, -a == una macchina == a car
  40. mit, -i, -e == un mito == a myth
  41. mobilje, -a, -e == un mobile == furniture
  42. nip, -i, -a == un nipote == a cousin
  43. orë, -a, -ë == un'ora == an hour (or a clock)
  44. origjinë, -a, -a == un'orignine == an origin
  45. pacient, -i, -ë == un paziente == a patient (male)
  46. paqe, -ja == pace == peace
  47. papagall, -lli, -j == un pappagallo == a parrot
  48. pantallona, -t == un pantalone == pants
  49. patate, -ja, -e == una patata == a potato
  50. patatinë, -a, -a == patatine == potato chips
  51. peshk, -u, peshq == un pesce == a fish
  52. peshkatar, -i, -ë == un pescatore == a fisherman
  53. për == per == for, about
  54. peshë, -a, -a == peso == weight
  55. picë, -a, -a == una pizza == a pizza
  56. pikant, -i, -ë == piccante == spicy
  57. piktor, -i, -ë == un pittore == a painter
  58. pjatë, -a, -a == un piatto == a plate, a dish, a course (food)
  59. proshutë, -a, -a == un prosciutto == a ham (also means bacon)
  60. salcë, -ë, -a == una salsa == a sauce
  61. salsiçise, -ja, -e == una salsiccia == a sausage
  62. sallatë, -a, -a == un'insalata == a salad
  63. siguri, -a, - == una sicurezza == a security
  64. skuadër, -ra, -ra == una squadra == a team
  65. stilograf, -i, -ë == una penna stilografica == a fountain pen
  66. tendencë, -a, -a == una tendenza == a tendency, trend
  67. titull, -lli, -j == un titolo == a title
  68. tortë, -a, -a == una torta == a cake
  69. tradicional, -e == tradizionale == traditional
  70. tren, -i, -a == un treno == a train
  71. vazo, -ja, - == un vaso == a vaze
  72. vilë, -a, -a == una villa == a villa

Loan words for English speakers

  1. administrativ, -e == administrative
  2. admirim, -i == admiration
  3. aeroplan, -i, -ë == an airplane
  4. aeroport, -i, -e == an airport
  5. akademi, -a, - == an academy
  6. aksident, -i, -e == an accident
  7. aktiv, -e == active
  8. aktivitet, -i, -e == an activity
  9. aktor, -i, -ë == an actor
  10. aleancë, -a, -a == an alliance
  11. amerikan, -i, -ë == an American
  12. amfiteatër, -ri, -ro == an amphitheater
  13. antik, -e == antique
  14. antikitet, -i == antiquity
  15. antologji == an anthology
  16. apartament, -i, -e == an apartment
  17. arkeolog, -u, -ë == an archaeologist
  18. arkeologjik, -e == archaeological
  19. arkitekturor, -e == architectural
  20. aromë, -a, -a == an aroma
  21. arrestim, -i, -e == an arrest
  22. arrestoj == to arrest
  23. arrogant, -e == arrogant
  24. artikull, -lli, -j == an article
  25. artist, -i, -ë == an artist
  26. artistik, -e == artistic
  27. atmosferë, -a, -a == an atmosphere
  28. audiencë, -a, -a == an audience
  29. autoritet, -i, -ë == an authority
  30. balet, -i, -e == a ballet
  31. banane, -ia, -e == a banana
  32. bankë, -a, -a == a bank
  33. banknotë, -a, -a == a banknote
  34. basketboll, -i == basketball
  35. basketbollist, -i, -ë == a baskeball player
  36. bazë, -ë, -a == a base
  37. blu == blue
  38. bojkot, -i, -e == a boycott
  39. botanik, -e == botanical
  40. brokoli == broccoli
  41. celular, -e == cellular
  42. ceremoni, -a, - == a ceremony
  43. çek, -ku, -qe == a check (payment instrument)
  44. datë, -a, -a == a date (time)
  45. datoj == to date (time)
  46. debat, -i, -e == a debate
  47. dentar, -e == dental
  48. dentist, -i, -ë == a dentist
  49. derë, -a, dyer == a door
  50. desertor, -i ,-ë == a deserter
  51. deshirë, -a, -a == a desire
  52. deshiroj == to desire
  53. dialekt, -i, -e == a dialect
  54. dietë, -a, -a == a diet
  55. diplomat, -i, -ë == a diplomat
  56. diskutim, -i, -e == a discussion
  57. diskutoj == to discuss
  58. dixhital == digital
  59. dizanoj == to design
  60. dokument, -i, -e == a document
  61. dokumentar, -i, -ë == a documentary
  62. domate, -ja, -e == a tomato
  63. edukatë, -a == an education
  64. egoist, -i, -ë == an egoist
  65. ekonomi, -a == economics
  66. ekonomik, -e == economical
  67. ekonomist, -i, -ë == an economist
  68. ekskursion, -i, -e == an excursion
  69. ekzekutues, -e == executive
  70. elegant, -e == elegant
  71. elektricitet, -i == electricity
  72. elektronik, -e == electronic
  73. estetik, -e == aesthetic
  74. i famshëm, e famshme == famous
  75. fazë, -a, -a == a phase
  76. firmë, -a, -a == a firm (business)
  77. fakt, -i, -e == a fact
  78. fanellë, -a, -a == a flannel shirt, undershirt
  79. i favorishëm, e -me == favourable
  80. fenomen, -i, -e == a phenomenon
  81. festival, -i, -e == a festival
  82. fibër, -ra, -ra == a fiber
  83. filëte, -a, -a == a fillet
  84. film, -i, -a == a film
  85. financier, -i, -ë == a finacier
  86. formë, -a, -a == a form, shape (paper or digital form is formular)
  87. formoj == to form
  88. fotogjenik, -e == photogenic
  89. fotografi, -a, - == a photograph
  90. frutë, -a, -a == a fruit
  91. furnizim, -i, -e == furnishing, supplies
  92. futboll, -i == football (soccer)
  93. galeri, -a, - == a gallery
  94. gest, -i, -e == a gesture
  95. gjerman, -i, -ë == German (nationality)
  96. gjerman, -e == German (adj.)
  97. global, -e == global
  98. gradë, -a, -a == a grade, quality
  99. gjimnastikor, -i == gymnastic (adj.)
  100. grup, -i, -e == a group
  101. hamburger, -i, -ë == a hamburger
  102. harmonik, -e == harmonic
  103. hero, -i, -nj == a hero
  104. hezitoj == to hesitate
  105. himn, -i, -e == a hymn
  106. historik, -e == historical
  107. holl, -i, -e == a hall
  108. hotel, -i, -e == a hotel
  109. identifikim, -i, -e == an identification
  110. ikonografik, -e == iconographic
  111. imejl == email (also postë elektronike, email or e-mail)
  112. individual, -e == individual (adj.)
  113. industri, -a, -a == an industry
  114. infeksion, -i, -e == an infection
  115. informativ, -e == informative
  116. instrument, -i, -e == an instrument
  117. intensivisht == intensively
  118. intergritet == integrity
  119. interes, -i, -a == an interest
  120. internet, -i == the Internet
  121. interpretim, -i, -e == an interpretation
  122. interpretoj == to interpret
  123. Itali, -a == Italy
  124. italian, -e == Italian (adj.)
  125. italian, -i, -ë == Italian (nationality
  126. itinerar, -i, -e == an itinerary
  127. janar, -i == January
  128. ju == you
  129. kamp, -i, -e == a a camp
  130. katalog, -u, -ë == a catalogue
  131. katastrofë, -a, -a == a catastrophe
  132. kategori, -a, - == a category
  133. kështjellë, -a, -a == a castle, fortress
  134. kilogram, -i, -ë == a kilogram
  135. kilometër, -ri, -ra == a kilometer
  136. kivi == a kiwi (fruit)
  137. klinikë, -a, -a == a clinic
  138. klub, -i, -e == a club
  139. kopjoj == to copy
  140. kolesterol, -i == a cholesterol
  141. kombinim, -i, -e == a combination
  142. kompani, -a, - == a company
  143. kompjuter, -i, -a == a computer
  144. kompresë, -a, -a == a compress
  145. komunitet, -i, -e == a community
  146. konferencë, -a, -a == a conference
  147. konfirmoj == to confirm
  148. konfuzion, -i, -e == a confusion
  149. konfirmim, -i, -e == a confirmation
  150. kongres, -i, -e == a congress
  151. konsideroj == to consider
  152. konsull, -lli, -j == a consul
  153. konsumoj == to consume
  154. kontaktoj == to contact
  155. kontrolloj == to control, inspect, examine
  156. kontroll, -i, -e == a control, check
  157. kopje, -a, -e == a copy
  158. korrigjoj == to correct
  159. krap, -i, krep == a carp
  160. krim, -i, -e == a crime
  161. kult, -i, -e == a cult
  162. kupë, -a, -a == a cup
  163. letër, -ra, -ra == a letter, a card
  164. lider == a leader
  165. litër, -ri, -ra == a liter
  166. magnet == a magnet
  167. material, -i, -e == material
  168. menaxher, -i, -ë == a manager
  169. madhësti, -a == majesty, grandiosity
  170. menaxhoj == to manage
  171. meritoj == to merit
  172. mineral == mineral
  173. ministër, -ri, -ra = a minister
  174. Ministri, -a, - == a ministry
  175. mister, -i, -e == a mystery
  176. modern, -e == modern
  177. moment, -i, -e == a moment
  178. monument, -i, -e == a monument
  179. mozaik, -i, -ë == a mosaic
  180. muzikë, -a == music
  181. oksigjen, -i, -e == oxygen
  182. opozitë, -a, -a == an opposition
  183. pako, -ja, - == a pack, packet, parcel
  184. parlament, -i, -e == a parliament
  185. park, -ku, -qe == a park
  186. periudhë, -a, -a == a period
  187. ping-pong == ping-pong, table tennis
  188. piper, -i == pepper (table spice)
  189. pjek == to bake
  190. plan, -i, -e == a plan
  191. planet, -i, -e == a planet
  192. poet, -i, -ë == a poet
  193. polifoni, -a, - == a polyphony
  194. popullor, -e == popular
  195. porcelan, -i == porcelain
  196. postë, -a, -a == mail, post office post
  197. prill, -i == April
  198. proces, -i, -e == a process
  199. puloverë, -a, -a == a pullover, a sweater
  200. qendër, -a, -a == a center
  201. radio, -ja, - == a radio
  202. recital, -i, -e == a recital
  203. restorant, -i, -e == a restaurant
  204. reumatizëm, -mi, -ma == rheumatism
  205. i,e saktë == exact
  206. sandale == sandals
  207. sanduiç, -i, -ë == a sandwich
  208. sekret, -i, -e == a secret
  209. sekretar, -i, -ë == a secretary
  210. sekt, -i, -e == a sect
  211. semestër, -ri, -ra == a semester
  212. seminar, -i, -e == a seminar
  213. sezon, -i, -e == a season
  214. shkollë, -a, -a == a school
  215. shtet, -i, -e == a state, country
  216. simbolik, -e == symbolic, very cheap
  217. simptomë, -a, -a == a symptom
  218. sinjal, -i, -e == a signal
  219. i,e sinqertë == sincere
  220. situatë, -a, -a == a situation, condition
  221. skemë, -a, -a == a scheme
  222. social, -e == social
  223. solemn, -e == solemn, gala
  224. specifikë, -a, -a == a specific feature
  225. spektakël, -li, -le == a spectacle
  226. spektator, -i, -ë == a spectator
  227. spinaq, -i == spinach
  228. spital, -i, -e == a hospital
  229. sporadik, -e == sporadic
  230. statut, -i, -e == a statute
  231. sukses, -i, -e == success
  232. stomak, -u, -ë == a stomach
  233. stres, -i == stress
  234. studioj == to study
  235. taksi, -a, - == a taxi
  236. tekst, -i, -e == a text
  237. telefon, -i, -a == a telephone
  238. telefon celular == a cell phone
  239. tempull, -lli, -j == a temple
  240. terapi == a therapy
  241. trajtim, -i, -e == a treatment
  242. transferim, -i, -e == a transfer
  243. turist, -i, -ë == a tourist
  244. turistik, -e == touristic
  245. unik, -e == unique
  246. vaksinë, -a, -a == a vaccine
  247. vanilje, -a == vanilla
  248. variant, -i, -e == a variant, variation
  249. vëllim, -i, -e == volume
  250. vitaminë, -a, -a == a vitamin
  251. vizitoj == to visit
  252. volejboll, -i == volleyball
  253. votë, -a, -a == a vote
  254. votim, -i, -e == a voting
  255. xhaketë, -a, -a == a jacket
  256. xhinse == jeans, denim
  257. zero == zero
  258. zonë, -a, -a == zone, area, region

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, -a, -a == ett prov == a test, experiment, fitting
  5. provoj == prova == to try
  6. radhë -a, -ë == en rad == a row
  7. redaktor, -, -ë == en redaktör == an editor
  8. shkumë == en skum == a foam

Loan words for Russian speakers

  1. banjë, -a, -a == ванная == bathroom
  2. bankomat, -i, -e == Банкомат == an ATM
  3. çaj, -i == чай == tea
  4. diabet, -i == диабет == diabetes
  5. gazetë, -a,- a == газета == a newspaper
  6. jug == юг == south
  7. kukull, -a, -a == кукла == a doll
  8. leksion, -i, -e == лекция == a lecture
  9. pallto, -ja, - == пальто == a coat
  10. reklamë, -a, -a == реклама == an ad
  11. shah, -u == шах == chess
  12. televizor, -i, -ë == телевизор == television set
  13. ti == ты == you (singular)

Loan words for Turkish speakers

  1. bakllava, -ja, - == baklava == baklava
  2. byrek, -u, -ë == börek == a savory pie
  3. çorapë, -, -e == çorap == a sock
  4. hamam == hamam == Turkish bath
  5. kolltuk, -u, kolltuqe == koltuk == armchair, seat
  6. osman, -e == Osmanlı == ottoman
  7. sulltan, -i, -ë == sultan == a sultan
  8. sheqer, -i == şeker == sugar
  9. shishe, -ja, -e == şişe == a bottle
  10. 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

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

Loan words for Spanish speakers

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

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.