Learning Albanian

From Wikistudy.ByJuho.fi
Revision as of 14:46, 17 August 2018 by Jukeboksi (talk | contribs) (→‎Loan words for Italian speakers: + i,e freskët == fresco == fresh)

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. alkool, -i, -e == un alcool == alcohol
  3. ambasadë, -a, -a == une ambassade == an embassy
  4. ansambël, -li, -lë == un ensamble == a (performing) group
  5. avion, -i, -ë == un avion == an airplane
  6. avokat, -i, -e == un avocat == a lawyer
  7. bibliotekë, -a, -a == une bibliothèque - a library
  8. biftek, -u, -ë == un bifteck == a beefsteak
  9. biletë, -a, -a == un billet == a ticket
  10. bluzë, -a, -a == une blouse == a blouse
  11. bursë, -a, -a == une bourse == this word means both, like in French, a stock exchange and a study grant for undergraduates
  12. diskotekë, -a, -a == une discothèque == a diskotheque
  13. dakord == d'accord == agreed, all right
  14. divorc == un divorce == a divorce
  15. ekspozitë, -a, -a == une exposition == an exhibition
  16. emision, -i, -e == une émission == TV/radio show, program, broadcast
  17. fill, -i, fije == un fil == a thread
  18. financiar, -e == financier == financial
  19. fizikë, -a == une physique == physics
  20. Francẽ, -a, -a == La France == France
  21. francez, -i, -ë == un français == a French
  22. francez, -e == français, -e == French (adj.)
  23. galeri, -a, - == une galerie == a gallery
  24. gaz, -i, -e == un gaz == a gas
  25. grevë == une grève == a strike
  26. gri == gris == grey
  27. grip, -i, -e == une grippe == a flu
  28. ide, -ja, - == une idëe == an idea
  29. inkonjito == incognito == incognito
  30. interesant, -e == interesant == interesting
  31. inxhinier, -i, -ë == un ingénieur == an engineer
  32. kabinë, -a, -a == une cabine == a booth
  33. katër == quatre == four
  34. këmishë, -a, -ë == une chemise == a shirt
  35. kimi, -a == chimie == chemistry
  36. kuadër, -ri, -ro == un cadre == frame, setting
  37. kurs, -i, -e == un course == rate, course
  38. kuzhinë, -a, -a == une cuisine == a kitchen
  39. lahutë, -a, -a == un luth == a lute
  40. legjendë, -a, -a == une légende == a legend
  41. librari, -a, - == une librarie == a bookstore
  42. linjë, -a, -a == une ligne == a line
  43. madhësti -a == une majesté == a majesty
  44. maj, -i == maj == May
  45. mandarinë, -a, -a == une mandarine == a mandarin
  46. mars, -i == mars == March
  47. më == me == me, to me (attn. më can be a number of other things to in sentences)
  48. meny, -ja, - == un menu == a menu
  49. menyrë, -a, -a == une manière == manner, way
  50. mesazh -i, -e == un message == a message
  51. miliard, -i, -ë == un milliard == a billion
  52. milion, -i, ë == un million == a million
  53. modë, -a == une mode == fashion
  54. mur, -i, -e == un mur == a wall
  55. muzë, -u - == un musée == a museum
  56. natyrë, -a == une nature == a nature
  57. oriz, -i == riz == rice
  58. paketë, -a, -a == un paquet == a package
  59. park, -u, -qe == un parc == a park
  60. pasion, -i, -e == une passion == a passion
  61. peizazh, -i, -e == un paysage == a scenery
  62. periudhë, -a, -a == une période == a period, time
  63. person, -i, -a == une personne == a person
  64. personalitet, -i, -e == une personnalité == a personality
  65. përqindje, -a, -e == un pourcentage == a percentage
  66. pishinë, -a, -a == une piscine == a swimming pool
  67. pistë, -a, -a == une piste == lane, floor
  68. pjesë, -a, -e == une pièce == a piece
  69. plazh, -i, -e == une plage == a beach
  70. portë, -a, -a == une porte == a gate
  71. pozicion, -i, -e == une position == a position
  72. prezantim == présentation == presentation
  73. principatë, -a, -a == une principauté == a principality, princedom
  74. prozë, -a, -a == une prose == a prose
  75. pulë, -a, -a == un poulet == a chicken
  76. qershi, -a, - == une cerise == a cherry
  77. qiell, -lli, -j == le ciel == the sky.
  78. recepsioniste, -ja, -e == une réceptionniste == a receptionist (fem.)
  79. rezultat, -i, -e == un résultat == a result
  80. rigon, -i == origan == oregano
  81. rol, -i, -e == un rôle == a role
  82. roman, -i, -e == un roman == a novel
  83. sallë, -a, -a == une salle == lobby, auditorium, room
  84. sandale, -ja, -e == une sandale == a sandal
  85. seri, -a, - == une série == a series
  86. shans, -i, -e == une chance == a chance
  87. shef, -i, -a == le chef == a chef, a chief, a boss
  88. shifër, -ra, -ra == un chiffre == a figure, cipher
  89. shofer, -i, -ë == un chauffeur == a driver
  90. shurup, -i, -e == un sirop == a syrup
  91. sistem, -i, -ë == un système == a system
  92. strateg, -u, -ë == un stratège == a strategist
  93. strategjik, -e == stratégique == strategic
  94. studio, -ja, - == un studio == a studio
  95. supë, -a, -a == une soupe == a soup
  96. suvenir, -i, -e == un souvenir == a souvenir
  97. tabelë, -a, -a == une table == (black)board
  98. tarracë, -a, -a == une terrasse == a terrace
  99. teatër, -ri, -ro - un théâtre - a theatre
  100. teatralë, -e == théâtral == theatrical
  101. teknik, -e == technique == technical
  102. teknologji, -a, - == une technologie == a technology
  103. temperaturë, -a, -a == une température == a temperature
  104. transfertë, -a, -a == un transfert == a transfer, transaction
  105. i,e trishtuar - triste - sad
  106. temë, -a, -a == un thème == a theme, topic
  107. tension, -i == une tension (artérielle) == blood pressure
  108. traditë, -a, -a == une tradition == a tradition
  109. trupë, -a, -a == une troupe == a troupe, company, band
  110. universitet, -i, -e == une université == an university
  111. valixhe, -ja, -e == une valise == a suitcase, baggage
  112. vegjetal, -e == végétal == vegetable (adj.)
  113. verandë, -a, -a == une véranda == a terrace, veranda
  114. vitrinë, -a, -a == une vitrine == a shop window
  115. vizë, -a, -a == un visa == a visa
  116. vizitë, -a, -a == une visite == a visit
  117. vizitor, -i, -ë == un visiteur == a visitor
  118. 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. i,e freskët == fresco == fresh
  15. garazh, -i, -e == un garage == a garage
  16. gjigand, -i, -ë == un gigante == a giant
  17. gjykatës, -i, - == un giudice == a judge
  18. gusht, -i == agosto == August
  19. higjenë, -a == igiene == hygiene
  20. kakao, -ja, - == un cacao == a cocoa
  21. kallamar, -i, -ë == un calamaro == a calamari
  22. kamarier, -i, -ë == un camriere == a waiter
  23. kamion, -i, -e == un camion == a truck
  24. kapelë, -a, -a == un cappello == a cap (hat)
  25. kapitull, -lli, -j == un capitolo == a chapter
  26. kështjellë, -a, -a == un castello == a castle
  27. krap,- i, krep == una carpa == a carp
  28. klimë, -a, -a == un clima == a climate
  29. libër, -ri, -ra == un libro == a book
  30. limon, -i, -ë == un limone == a lemon
  31. makinë, -a, -a == una macchina == a car
  32. mit, -i, -e == un mito == a myth
  33. mobilje, -a, -e == un mobile == furniture
  34. nip, -i, -a == un nipote == a cousin
  35. orë, -a, -ë == un'ora == an hour (or a clock)
  36. origjinë, -a, -a == un'orignine == an origin
  37. pacient, -i, -ë == un paziente == a patient (male)
  38. paqe, -ja == pace == peace
  39. papagall, -lli, -j == un pappagallo == a parrot
  40. pantallona, -t == un pantalone == pants
  41. patate, -ja, -e == una patata == a potato
  42. patatinë, -a, -a == patatine == potato chips
  43. peshk, -u, peshq == un pesce == a fish
  44. peshkatar, -i, -ë == un pescatore == a fisherman
  45. për == per == for, about
  46. peshë, -a, -a == peso == weight
  47. picë, -a, -a == una pizza == a pizza
  48. pikant, -i, -ë == piccante == spicy
  49. piktor, -i, -ë == un pittore == a painter
  50. pjatë, -a, -a == un piatto == a plate, a dish, a course (food)
  51. proshutë, -a, -a == un prosciutto == a ham (also means bacon)
  52. salcë, -ë, -a == una salsa == a sauce
  53. salsiçise, -ja, -e == una salsiccia == a sausage
  54. sallatë, -a, -a == un'insalata == a salad
  55. siguri, -a, - == una sicurezza == a security
  56. skuadër, -ra, -ra == una squadra == a team
  57. stilograf, -i, -ë == una penna stilografica == a fountain pen
  58. tendencë, -a, -a == una tendenza == a tendency, trend
  59. titull, -lli, -j == un titolo == a title
  60. tortë, -a, -a == una torta == a cake
  61. tradicional, -e == tradizionale == traditional
  62. tren, -i, -a == un treno == a train
  63. vazo, -ja, - == un vaso == a vaze
  64. 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. artikull, -lli, -j == an article
  22. artist, -i, -ë == an artist
  23. artistik, -e == artistic
  24. atmosferë, -a, -a == an atmosphere
  25. audiencë, -a, -a == an audience
  26. autoritet, -i, -ë == an authority
  27. balet, -i, -e == a ballet
  28. banane, -ia, -e == a banana
  29. bankë, -a, -a == a bank
  30. banknotë, -a, -a == a banknote
  31. basketboll, -i == basketball
  32. basketbollist, -i, -ë == a baskeball player
  33. bazë, -ë, -a == a base
  34. blu == blue
  35. botanik, -e == botanical
  36. brokoli == broccoli
  37. celular, -e == cellular
  38. ceremoni, -a, - == a ceremony
  39. çek, -ku, -qe == a check (payment instrument)
  40. datë, -a, -a == a date (time)
  41. datoj == to date (time)
  42. debat, -i, -e == a debate
  43. dentar, -e == dental
  44. dentist, -i, -ë == a dentist
  45. derë, -a, dyer == a door
  46. deshirë, -a, -a == a desire
  47. deshiroj == to desire
  48. dialekt, -i, -e == a dialect
  49. dietë, -a, -a == a diet
  50. diplomat, -i, -ë == a diplomat
  51. diskutoj == to discuss
  52. dixhital == digital
  53. dizanoj == to design
  54. dokument, -i, -e == a document
  55. dokumentar, -i, -ë == a documentary
  56. domate, -ja, -e == a tomato
  57. edukatë, -a == an education
  58. egoist, -i, -ë == an egoist
  59. ekonomi, -a == economics
  60. ekonomik, -e == economical
  61. ekonomist, -i, -ë == an economist
  62. ekskursion, -i, -e == an excursion
  63. ekzekutues, -e == executive
  64. elegant, -e == elegant
  65. elektricitet, -i == electricity
  66. elektronik, -e == electronic
  67. i famshëm, e famshme == famous
  68. fazë, -a, -a == a phase
  69. firmë, -a, -a == a firm (business)
  70. estetik, -e == aesthetic
  71. fakt, -i, -e == a fact
  72. fanellë, -a, -a == a flannel shirt, undershirt
  73. i favorishëm, e -me == favourable
  74. festival, -i, -e == a festival
  75. filëte, -a, -a == a fillet
  76. film, -i, -a == a film
  77. financier, -i, -ë == a finacier
  78. formë, -a, -a == a form, shape (paper or digital form is formular)
  79. formoj == to form
  80. fotografi, -a, - == a photograph
  81. galeri, -a, - == a gallery
  82. gradë, -a, -a == a grade, quality
  83. hero, -i, -nj == a hero
  84. imejl == email (also postë elektronike, email or e-mail)
  85. intergritet == integrity
  86. itinerar, -i, -e == an itinerary
  87. informativ == informative
  88. janar, -i == January
  89. ju == you
  90. katastrofë, -a, -a == a catastrophe
  91. klub, -i, -e == a club
  92. kopjoj == to copy
  93. kupë, -a, -a == a cup
  94. letër, -ra, -ra == a letter, a card
  95. lider == a leader
  96. menaxher, -i, -ë == a manager
  97. mineral == mineral
  98. muzikë, -a == music
  99. oksigjen, -i, -e == oxygen
  100. pako, -ja, - == a pack, packet, parcel
  101. park, -ku, -qe == a park
  102. periudhë, -a, -a == a period
  103. ping-pong == ping-pong, table tennis
  104. piper, -i == pepper (table spice)
  105. pjek == to bake
  106. plan, -i, -e == a plan
  107. poet, -i, -ë == a poet
  108. polifoni, -a, - == a polyphony
  109. popullor, -e == popular
  110. porcelan, -i == porcelain
  111. postë, -a, -a == mail, post office post
  112. prill, -i == April
  113. qendër, -a, -a == a center
  114. radio, -ja, - == a radio
  115. recital, -i, -e == a recital
  116. restorant, -i, -e == a restaurant
  117. reumatizëm, -mi, -ma == rheumatism
  118. i,e saktë == exact
  119. sandale == sandals
  120. sanduiç, -i, -ë == a sandwich
  121. sekret, -i, -e == a secret
  122. sekretar, -i, -ë == a secretary
  123. sekt, -i, -e == a sect
  124. semestër, -ri, -ra == a semester
  125. seminar, -i, -e == a seminar
  126. sezon, -i, -e == a season
  127. shkollë, -a, -a == a school
  128. shtet, -i, -e == a state, country
  129. simbolik, -e == symbolic, very cheap
  130. simptomë, -a, -a == a symptom
  131. sinjal, -i, -e == a signal
  132. i,e sinqertë == sincere
  133. situatë, -a, -a == a situation, condition
  134. social, -e == social
  135. solemn, -e == solemn, gala
  136. specifikë, -a, -a == a specific feature
  137. spektakël, -li, -le == a spectacle
  138. spektator, -i, -ë == a spectator
  139. spinaq, -i == spinach
  140. spital, -i, -e == a hospital
  141. sporadik, -e == sporadic
  142. statut, -i, -e == a statute
  143. sukses, -i, -e == success
  144. stomak, -u, -ë == a stomach
  145. stres, -i == stress
  146. studioj == to study
  147. taksi, -a, - == a taxi
  148. tekst, -i, -e == a text
  149. telefon, -i, -a == a telephone
  150. telefon celular == a cell phone
  151. tempull, -lli, -j == a temple
  152. transferim, -i, -e == a transfer
  153. turist, -i, -ë == a tourist
  154. turistik, -e == touristic
  155. vaksinë, -a, -a == a vaccine
  156. vanilje, -a == vanilla
  157. variant, -i, -e == a variant, variation
  158. vëllim, -i, -e == volume
  159. vitaminë, -a, -a == a vitamin
  160. vizitoj == to visit
  161. volejboll, -i == volleyball
  162. xhaketë, -a, -a == a jacket
  163. xhinse == jeans, denim
  164. zero == zero
  165. 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. 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. pallto, -ja, - == пальто == a coat
  9. shah, -u == шах == chess
  10. televizor, -i, -ë == телевизор == television set
  11. ti == ты == you (singular)

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
  6. sulltan, -i, -ë == sultan == a sultan
  7. sheqer, -i == şeker == sugar
  8. shishe, -ja, -e == şişe == a bottle
  9. 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.