nu

From Proto-Albanian *nu, from Proto-Indo-European *nu (“now”). Related to ni. Compare Ancient Greek νῦν (nûn), Old High German nu (“now”).


as

From Proto-Indo-European *(ne) h₂óyu kʷíd (“(not) ever, (not) on your life”). compare Ancient Greek οὐ (ou) and Armenian ոչ (očʻ) -ës


hut

From Proto-Albanian *hut, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ewt- (“downwards”). Cognate with Ancient Greek αὔτως (aútōs, “in vain”), Gothic 𐌰𐌿𐌸𐌴𐌹𐍃 (auþeis).


fell

From Proto-Albanian *spesla, metathesized form of *spelsa, from Proto-Indo-European *pels- (“rock, boulder”), variant of *spel- (“to cleave, break”). Compare Latin hydronym Pelso, Latin Palatium, Pashto پرښه (parša, “rock, rocky ledge”), Ancient Greek πέλλα (pélla, “stone”), German Felsen (“boulder, cliff”). Mostly dialectal, used in Gheg Albanian.


fit

Back-formation from fitoj (“to profit”).


sot

From Proto-Albanian *tˢjādīti, from a Pre-Albanian (post-Proto-Indo-European) *ḱyeh₂ dh₂itéy (dative-locative compound, literally “this day”). Same type of construction as sonte, sivjet. See also ditë, which is related to the second component.


ni

From Proto-Albanian *nū, from Proto-Indo-European *nū (“now”). Cognate to Sanskrit नू (nū, “now”). Often occurs in coordination with other particles, compare tani, nani, nime.


mot

From Proto-Albanian *māti (“time”), from Proto-Indo-European *méh₁tis (“measurement”), deverbative of *meh₁- (“to measure”); compare Old English mǣþ (“measure”), Lithuanian mẽtas (“time”), Ancient Greek μῆτις (mêtis, “plan”). Sense shift from ‘time’ to ‘weather, year, era’ influenced by Latin tempus (“time, weather”) (compare Romanian timp, French temps).


si

Varying reconstructions. Orel
descends it from Proto-Albanian *tšei, Matzinger from Proto-Albanian *čī. Ultimately from instrumental Proto-Indo-European *kwi-h₁. Compare Latin qui (“how, why”), Old English hwȳ, hwī (“why”). An interrogative and relative pronoun, especially in connection with a preposition.

Si janë shokët e tu?

Si e dini, nuk kemi filluar ende.


pis

Borrowed from Ottoman Turkish پیس (pis, “dirty, filthy, foul”).


bash

Borrowed from Serbo-Croatian baš (“exactly, just, right”), present in most Balkan languages. Miklošič argued that the ultimate source is Turkish baş (“head, leader”).

bor

(used for emphasis, or as an intensifier) exactly, precisely, right


tok

A semantic variation of the above mentioned verb.


fare

Ç'farë? ~ Ç'fare?


mos

Union of particles mo (“un-”) and së (“un-”).


gati

From Proto-Albanian *gat-, from Proto-Indo-European *gʷem- (“to go”). Cognate to Sanskrit गति (gáti-, “going, course”), Proto-Slavic *gatь (cf. Russian гать (gatʹ, “road of brushwood, weir”)), Romanian gata (“ready”). For sense development compare Germanic *funsaz "ready, willing", from Proto-Indo-European *pn̥tstós "to tread, to go". Related to ngas.


ani

Cognate to tani (“now, at present, then”), from Proto-Albanian *nū, from Proto-Indo-European *nū (“now”) (cognate to Sanskrit नू (nū, “now”)). Occurs in coordination with other particles, compare nani, nime.
Further related to Arvanitika Albanian αί (e, “yes”) and (Standard) Albanian a (“probably, whether; or, there”).

(conversational) then, later; later (on)

Ani, në rregull.

Gheg examples:
Ani de?
So what?

Ani de...


shah

Borrowed from Ottoman Turkish شاه (shâh), from Persian شاه (šâh).


kot

Theoretically from Proto-Albanian *kākta, of uncertain origin; potentially akin to Lithuanian koktùs (“disgusting”) via Proto-Indo-European. An older hypothesis connects it to Ancient Greek κότος (kótos, “rancor, grudge”).


plot

Inherited from Proto-Indo-European *pleh₁tós (“full”), from the root *pleh₁- (“to fill”). Compare Sanskrit प्रात (prātá), Latin com-plētus.

inh+

me gojën plot

Dhoma ishte plot.

Kopshti ishte plot me lule.

with everything, lacking nothing. complete, full

Është hëna plot.

plot gëzim

plot dy orë


acar

From Proto-Albanian *atsara, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ḱrós, from the root *h₂eḱ- (“sharp”). Compare Old Irish aicher (“sharp, fierce, bitter”), Latin ācer (“pungent, acidic; sharp-minded”), Ancient Greek ἄκρος (ákros, “pointed, sharp; at the edge”), ἄκρον (ákron, “peak, sharp point, edge”).
Alternatively, borrowed from Italian azzaru (“steel”).


hall

Borrowed from Ottoman Turkish حال (hal, “situation; grief”).

bor+

hall kështu, hall ashtu.


pas

From Proto-Albanian *pa ̊, from Proto-Indo-European *pós (“directly to, at, after”). Cognate to Ancient Greek πός (pós, “at, to, by”), Old Church Slavonic по (po, “behind, after”).


ku

From Proto-Albanian *ku, from Proto-Indo-European *kʷu (“where”). Cognate to Proto-Baltic *kur (“where”) (Lithuanian kur̃ (“where”), kur (“where”), Latvian kur), Proto-Slavic *kъde (“where”) (Old Church Slavonic къде (kŭde, “where”), Russian где (gde)) and Sanskrit कुह (kúha, “where”) (cf. also Sanskrit कू (kū́, “where”), Avestan 𐬐𐬎𐬛𐬁 (kudā), 𐬐𐬏 (kū)).
See also Albanian kur (“when”).

i

Ku po shkon?

where (asking about a place, where or towards which direction)

Ku je?

(qysh (Gheg))

Ku e din ai?

Ku më dit unë?

where, whither; there, thither (used to connect repetitive verbs; indicating location, direction)


kuk

From Proto-Albanian *kuka, continuing Indo-European.


ith

From Proto-Albanian *its, from Proto-Indo-European *eǵʰs (“from, out of”). Related to Lithuanian ìš, Latvian iz and Old Prussian is. The change in meaning is a part of the wider sematic shift of prepositions (see nga); the old meaning is preserved in the prefix sh- (partially influenced by a homonymous prefix of Latin origin continuing Latin dis-).


heri

From Proto-Indo-European *h₃eros (“elevated”).


fora

Possibly borrowed from Greek φόρα (fóra, “pace; impetus”), compare the expression παίρνω φόρα (paírno fóra, “gain courage”).


tash

Cognate to Albanian tashti (“now”). A combination of t- + ash (resp. t- + ashi; t- + ashti; t- + esh). Second element (-ash; -ashi; -ashti) of dubious origins.
According to Orel, from Proto-Albanian *to-su (a locative form of the pronominal stem Proto-Albanian *to), derived from Proto-Indo-European *to- (“it”), related to Lithuanian tadà (“then, thereupon”) and Sanskrit तदा (ta-dā́, “then”).

qëtash

right now, immediately, right/straight away

Jo tash.

Tash ajo po thotë se...

now, currently, at present, presently, just now, this moment, from now on; momentarily

(as a particle, interjection) so, well (to attract the attention of others); so, then, hence, thus (conclusion sense)


shqip

According to Vladimir Orel, either a calque of Proto-Slavic *slověne (“Slavs”) using shqipoj (“to speak clearly”), or else from shqipe, shkype, dialectal forms of shkabë (“eagle”), according to a tribal totemic belief linked to the Albanian medieval flag. Replaced the now dialectal (Arbëresh, Arvanitika) arbër, αρbε̰ρ (arbër) ~ arbën.
The first trace of the name "Shqiptar" appears at the end of the XIV century in the town of Drisht (Drivastum) of Northern Albania as a family name (1368 - 1402: Schibudar, Schepuder, Schapudar, Scapuder).
Petar Skok suggested that this word is originated from Scupi (Shkupi), the capital of the Roman province of Dardania (today's Skopje). According to Petar Skok, the Albanian demonym Shkuptar (as in inhabitant of Skopje) changed to Shkiptar, which is still used among Arvanite Albanians in Greece, and later to Shqiptar.

Ia tha shkurt e shqip.

clear, understandable, comprehensive, unequivocally


nes

A compound *ne + *-s, from Proto-Indo-European *nō kwe. From Proto-Albanian *(e)nō ̊, from Proto-Indo-European *(h1)nē̆-, *(h1)nō̆- (“after, behind, next to/after”). Cognate to Ancient Greek ἔνη(ς) (énē(s)), ἔνας (énas, “the day after tomorrow”) and Gothic 𐌽𐌴𐍈 (nēƕ, “after”).


mas

Gheg variant of Tosk pas (“behind, beyond, after”). From mbasi, mbas (“after”). A compound of më (“more, most”) + pas (“behind, after, beyond”) (pas from Proto-Albanian *pa ̊ (see pa), from Proto-Indo-European *pos(t) (“directly to, at, after”). Cognate to Ancient Greek πός (pós, “at, to, by”), Old Church Slavonic по (po, “behind, after”)).


hala

From Ottoman Turkish حالا (hala).
Or from Arabic على (ala, “however; nevertheless; but; still; yet.”)


tej

From Proto-Albanian *tai e, a parallel formation to tëhu.


pak

Borrowed through Vulgar Latin from Latin paucus (“few, little”).

Kuptoj pak shqip.


nuk

From Proto-Albanian *ne uka (“not one”), from Proto-Indo-European *óynos (“one”). Cognates include Latin unicus, Gothic 𐌰𐌹𐌽𐌰𐌷𐌰 (ainaha), Old High German einac, Old Church Slavonic инокъ (inokŭ, “alone, only, single, sole”). Alternatively, Orel proposes *nuka, composed of *nu (< Proto-Indo-European *ne, colored under the influence of the following labiovelar) and *ka (< Proto-Indo-European *kʷo- (*-kʷe), a pronomial stem); thus cognate to Latin neque (“and not”), Sanskrit नच (naca, “and not”), Gothic 𐌽𐌹𐌷 (nih, “and not”), Old Irish nach (“and not”).

cog

Ky film nuk është i mirë.

Ai nuk mban syze.

Negates the meaning of the modified verb: not, don't


tani

From Proto-Albanian *ta ̊, from Proto-Indo-European *to- (“it”). Cognate to Lithuanian tadà (“then, thereupon”) and Sanskrit तदा (ta-dā́, “then”). The second element is from Proto-Albanian *nu, from Proto-Indo-European *nu. Cognate to English now.


akull

Uncertain. Possibly:
# A derivation from Proto-Indo-European *keHl- whence also Proto-Celtic *kaletos (“hard”), Proto-Slavic *kaliti (“to temper, harden”), Latin callum (“hardened skin”).
# Borrowed from Germanic, ultimately from Proto-Germanic *jekulaz (“icicle”).
# Akin Old Armenian ոյծ (oyc, “cold, frost”), suffixed with -ull, though the two terms are phonologically incompatible.


gjysmë

Has been linked to Proto-Indo-European *yemH- (“twin”), although this is problematic both phonologically and semantically.
May reflect Proto-Indo-European *sḗmi-ty-om, compare Ancient Greek ἥμισσον n (hḗmisson, “half”), from *sēmi- (“half”). Original *s regularly yields gj before accented vowels. The original *ē, after becoming *o must have regularly fronted to *e due to the following *i, and afterwards raised to *i because of the preceding palatal occlusive and following nasal, as also happened in qind, gjind. The evolution of an original stressed gji before labials to an oscillating gjy ~ gji ~ gju can also be observed in magjyp. The metathesis of ms may have been reinforced by contamination with -më, compare also kullusmë.
An early form of the term influencing Romanian jumătate, Aromanian giumitati /giumitate, although possible, seems unnecessary. A direct borrowing from Paleo-Balkan into Balkan Romance is even less likely, as the terms simply metathesised outcomes of Latin medietās, the Pan-Romance word for “half”.

gjysma mi gjysma zog


zi

First attested in the 17th century in this form, already 16th in its now obsolete feminine form e zeshkë (“black”). The plural të zinj is recent, built on analogy of other masculine nouns ending in stressed /-ˈi/, and supplanted the earlier të zez. The irregular paradigm may reflect e zezë f sg < *gʷed(ʰ)yā, të zez m pl < *gʷed(ʰ)yoi, zi f (“mourning”, noun) < *gʷed(ʰ)íyā.
Has been compared to Proto-West Germanic *kwād (“filth; evil”), Lithuanian gė́da (“shame”), Proto-Slavic *gàdъ (“reptile”). Also see Lithuanian gẽdulas, geda (“mourning”). Traditionally also linked to Lithuanian žìlas (“grey”). Comparison with Lithuanian júodas (“black”) is difficult to reconcile phonetically.

e ngjeu zi


larg

Borrowed from Vulgar Latin, from Latin largus (“abundant, big”, adjective). Compare Aromanian largu (“far”, adverb).

der

nga larg

mbaj larg

rri larg!

far, far away, afar, away. in space or time


fyell

From Proto-Albanian *spāli, from Proto-Indo-European *spel- (compare Greek σπήλαιο (spílaio, “cave, cavern”)).

e kishte shtatin fyell të drejtë

a lot, lots, very (often with the adjective for straight)


flutur

Orel proposes a back-formation from fluturoj (“to fly; go fast”), from a Vulgar Latin *fluctulāre, from Latin fluctuare.
Alternatively, the word could come from Proto-Albanian *flugtur, forming a group of words together with fletë, flatër, flegër, flugë. The word may have been borrowed into Romanian as fluture.


tek

From Proto-Albanian *tai ̊, from *te ku (< tóy- kʷu-) ‘there where’, from Proto-Indo-European *to- (“it”). Also occurs as a preposition with the meaning ‘ad, apud, prope, versus’. See also te.


ende

Historically identical with edhe. Compare Danish end (“but”), Icelandic enn (“still, yet”).


dej

From Proto-Albanian *duai-au, from Proto-Indo-European *duo-, from the root *du (“two”). Cognate to Old High German zweio (“by, in two, in pairs”). A frozen locative dual form.


aq

Ultimately a formation from Proto-Indo-European *kʷ-. Akin to kaq for which compare Proto-Slavic *jakъ ~ *kakъ.

aq më i madh


avari

A Gheg dialect word. From a-var-i, where 'a' reflects the Albanian privative particle and var (“to hang, depend on”).


mirë

From Proto-Albanian *mīrā- from older Proto-Albanian *meirā Proto-Indo-European *meih₁-ro (“peace”) (compare Proto-Balto-Slavic *meiˀrás (“peace”), Proto-Slavic *milъ (“nice, gentle, mild”)), enlargement of *meih₁- (“soft, mild”) (compare Latin mītis (“soft (not chewy)”)).

S'flas shqip mirë .


përnjëherësh

From për + një + herë + -sh (adverbial suffix), literally 'at one moment'.


menjëherë

From me + një + herë, literally 'with/at one moment'.

Kontaktoni menjëherë mjekun tuaj.


s'

Short for së (“not”) (not to be confused with adjectival article së and conjunction se (“that (as), when”)). This is in turn from Proto-Albanian *tśe, from Proto-Indo-European *kʷíd (“that (relative)”)

der

Unë di. - Unë s'di.

Jam, s'jam. Je, s'je.

negates the meaning of the modified verb: not, don't


qumësht

Uncertain. Possibilities include:
# Borrowed from a dialectal byform of Latin colostra (“beestings”), whence however the regularly derived kulloshtër (“beestings”).
# A derivation from Proto-Indo-European *ḱlewH- (“to clean; to slide”), whence also Latvian slàukt (“to milk”).
Given the heavily pastoralist lifestyle of the ancestors of Albanian speakers, it is likely for the basic term for “milk” to be part of the pre-Roman inherited lexicon. Note, however, the borrowing of grigjë, a quite agricultural term nevertheless borrowed from Latin.

qumësht i pastër


më

From Proto-Albanian *məi̯es with secondary nasalization, from the comparative of Proto-Indo-European *méǵh₂s (“big”). Cognate with Gothic 𐌼𐌰𐌹𐍃 (mais, “more”), Oscan mais (“more”). Related to madh (“big”).

a ka më?

nuk merr më

more, some more, (in negative sentences) any more


kund

From Proto-Albanian *kum to(m); accusative singular of *ku and a pronominal stem *to-.


hiç

Borrowed from Ottoman Turkish هیچ (hiç).


angari

Borrowed from Ottoman Turkish آنغاریه (anğariye).


shurdh

Borrowed from Vulgar Latin, from Latin surdus.

(figuratively) alone, abandoned, deserted


lakuriq

(Adj., verb, adverb & noun) suffixed form of dialectal lakur, from Proto-Albanian *laukura, from Proto-Indo-European *lewk- (“light, shine”). Related to loqe, gloq.

der

E la lakuriq (dikë).

Ia tha të vërtetën lakuriq.

(figurative) frankly, openly, honestly, truly, plainly


ndoshta

Possibly from ndosh (“to happen”), a secondary formation based on ndodh, + -ta. Alternatively from Serbo-Croatian dȍista /до̏иста (“truly, indeed”).

ref

Konica, Faik (1938 January 14) Dielli<ref name=Çabej/>

bor

dȍista//до̏иста


nga

From Proto-Albanian *en-ka and related to the preposition ka (“from, out, out of, to”). Cognate with Old Church Slavonic къ (kŭ, “to”).


ndonjëherë

From ndonjë (“any”) + herë (“time”), literally 'happening at any time'.

Ndonjëherë nuk të kuptoj.


për shembull

/pəɹˈʃɛmbuɫ/


rehat

Borrowed from Ottoman Turkish راحت (rahat).

bor+

Rri rehat!

Fli rehat!

rroj rehat

well-off, in good conditions, comfortably


tutje

From Proto-Albanian *tu (as in këtu), and the second element tje (as in atje), from Proto-Albanian *te, of unclear origin.


lashtë

From (lashë (le(f)t behind) + -të) Proto-Albanian *lauša. According to Jokl (& Slavia Praha) from Proto-Indo-European *h₁lewdʰ- (“to grow; people”). A similar developement can be seen in Proto-Germanic *aldaz (“old”) (release → let grow → grow old). Related to Gothic 𐌻𐌰𐌿𐍃 (laus, “loosen, set free, empty”), further related to Ancient Greek λύω (lúō, “to loose, release”).
Feist, Frisk, Haarmann, Kluge, Liukkonen and Pokorny favour(ed) a relation to Lithuanian ìlgas (“long”).
According to Çabej a derivative of lag (“I wet, moisten”) and to Meyer a loan from Latin lassus (“faint, languid”)
Cf. Albanian lasht m (“ancient time”).

cog

early, anciently, long ago, once (time; era in the past)

past, beyond, back then, at that time, in those days (further back of our time/era)


keq

* From Proto-Albanian *kakja, from Proto-Indo-European *kaw- (compare Ancient Greek κακός (kakós, “bad”), Lithuanian keñti (“to be evil”).
* From Proto-Albanian *kakii̯a / *kakii̯ā, compare Ancient Greek κακός (kakós, “bad”).


gjithashtu

From gjithë (“whole”) + ashtu (“like that”).


bashkë

From Proto-Albanian *baskā, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰask- (“bundle”). Cognate to Ancient Greek φάσκωλος (pháskōlos, “leathern bag, sack”), Ancient Macedonian βάσκιοι (báskioi, “fasces, bundle”), Latin fascis (“band, bundle”), Middle Irish basc (“collar, neck chain”).


baraz

Unclear. Compare Latin par. It probably developed as an adverb from earlier *bar or *bas (compare adverb shkaraz (“diagonally”) from shkas (“to slip”)).

unk

Unclear


për kokë

Calque of English per capita, a phrase borrowed from Latin.


që

From Proto-Albanian *kai. Alternatively from Latin quī.

Që i ri...


së

See alternative form s' (“not, don't”) for adverb së for etymology.

Unë di. Unë s'di.

A jam e bukur a s'jam?

S'je!

A s'është ai...?

Negates the meaning of the modified verb.


shumë

Unë jam shumë i lumtur që ti je këtu me ne.

I'm really happy that you're here with us.


parë

më parë


qysh

Qysh je?


gjeologjikisht

[ɟʑɛɔlɔɟʑiˈkiʃt]


sonte

Syncope of Old Albanian sonëte, from Proto-Albanian *tˢjānaktāi, from Pre-Albanian (post-Proto-Indo-European) *ḱyeh₂ nékʷtey, dative-locative compound, literally ‘this night’. Cognate to Lithuanian šiąnakt and Latvian šonakt (“today”). Same type of construction as sot, sivjet. More at natë.


jashtë

From Proto-Albanian *e(k)šta, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₁eǵʰs-to- (compare Ancient Greek ἐκτός (ektós, “outside”)), suffixed form of *h₁eǵʰs, whence Latin ex (compare also extra, exter from *h₁eǵʰs-tro-, *h₁eǵʰs-ter), Ancient Greek ἐξ (ex), Old Church Slavonic из (iz). Compare the now obsolete Albanian ith, probably from *h₁eǵʰs, and ish derived from a variant form *eḱs.


mjaft

According to Çabej a prefixal derivative in me (“with”) of aft.

Kjo shtëpi është mjaft e madhe për familjen tonë.

This house is big enough for our family.


drejtpërdrejt

Nuk i pëlqen të harxhojë kohën me broçkull. Ai parapëlqen të flasë drejtpërdrejt.

He doesn't like to waste time with nonsense. He prefers to speak frankly.

in a direct, frank or straightforward manner


tërësisht

From tërësi (“entirety, integrity”) + -sht (“-ly”).

completely, entirely, wholly, totally, fully, thoroughly


dje

From Proto-Albanian *de, from Proto-Indo-European *dʰǵʰyés.


sivjet

From Proto-Albanian *tˢjiwéte, from Pre-Albanian (post-Proto-Indo-European) *ḱyey wétes, dative-locative compound, literally ‘this year’. Same type of construction as sot, sonte. More at vit, vjet.


vjet

From Proto-Albanian *wetās, from *wétōs, from Proto-Indo-European *wétos (“year”). More at vit.


shkurt

According to Guillaume Bonnet, possibly from Proto-Germanic *skurtaz.
Alternatively borrowed from reconstructed Vulgar Latin *excurtus (cf. Italian scurto, Romanian scurt, Aromanian shcurtu), derivative of Latin curtus. The Albanian, (reconstructed) Latin, and Germanic terms developed in the same way. A borrowing theory does not explain the sense developement and progression of the Albanian root itself.


shëndoshë

[ʃɜnˈdɔʃ(ɜ)]

Borrowed from Vulgar Latin *sānitōsus (“healthy, sane”), with adjectival -ë.

bor+

Jam shëndoshë.

U kthefsh shëndoshë!


rrallë

Borrowed through Vulgar Latin from Latin rārus.


gargull

From Proto-Albanian *gargula; akin to Lithuanian gar̃galas (“knot, knotted thread”), gargõlas (“lump, clump”).

cog

up to the brim, full to the brim, brimful


kurrë

Compound of Proto-Albanian *kur + *ne/o- negative particle. More at kur.


epër

From Proto-Albanian *apir, from Proto-Indo-European *h₁epi (“on, upon”). Cognate with Ancient Greek ἐπί (epí, “on top of”). Alternatively, Orel constructs Proto-Albanian *eupera, a secondary analogical ablaut variant of Proto-Indo-European *upér.

high, up, upward, above, overhead, upwards, aboard


mbas

Continues a Proto-Albanian *en apa tši, from Proto-Indo-European *h₁én h₂epó kʷíd.


djerr

From Proto-Albanian *dersa, from Proto-Indo-European *ĝhersos, from *ǵʰers-. Compare Ancient Greek χέρσος (khérsos, “dry land”). Alternatively from earlier *ndjerr, Proto-Albanian *ən-tersa, from Proto-Indo-European *ters- (“to dry (up)”). Compare Latin torreo (“to dry”), Gothic 𐌸𐌰𐌿𐍂𐍃𐌿𐍃 (þaursus), Old High German durri (“arid, dry”).


prapë

A combination of two contiguous particles, from Proto-Albanian *pər apə. Compare Proto-Albanian *pər-parə-a > modern përpara (> para).


hollë

From Proto-Albanian *hā̆ul-, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂eu-lo- (“hollow”). Cognate to Ancient Greek αὐλός (aulós, “oblong, hollow”) and Old Norse (huann-)jóli (“hollow stalk, stem”).
According to Orel from Proto-Albanian *skāla (compared to Proto-Indo-European *skel- (“to cut”)). Cognate to Lithuanian skeliù and Lithuanian skélti (“to split, devide”).

cog

sparsely (when associated with clothing)

finely, thinly (consistence) (of particles, granules)

(figurative) masterfully, sharply, precisely, cleverly

(figurative) barely distinguishable, smally, thinly

See also: hall

(colloquial) poorly, difficultly, badly, weakly, faintly (condition of health, finance, economy)


mizë

Ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *mewH- (“fly, midge”), whence also Old Norse mý (reflecting Proto-Indo-European *méwH-ih₂ ~ *muH-yéh₂-s) and more distantly to Ancient Greek μυῖᾰ (muîă), Latin musca and Proto-Slavic *mùxa (all from Proto-Indo-European *mews-). Suffixed with feminine diminutive suffix -zë.
Although in the modern standard the term consistently means “fly”, its earliest attestation is glossed as “ant”, and judging from its compound derivate terms the term may originally refer to any small insect in general.

cog

Sheshi ishte mizë me njerëz.


mjet

From Proto-Albanian *met-, from Proto-Indo-European *me-t- (“with, in the midst/middle of, between”). Cognate to Ancient Greek μετά, μέτα (metá, méta, “in the midst/middle of, between, behind”).


nashti

Variant of nani, to be analyzed as na-sh-ti.


leh

Earlier attested as ljeh, cognate with Romanian lehăi, supported as Dacian, or substrate. Alternatively, from Proto-Albanian *laja, from Proto-Indo-European *leh₂-. Cognate to Ancient Greek λάσκω (láskō, “to cry, roar”). Present leh occurs almost exclusively in the 2nd and 3rd person, the -a- of which has usually been subject to umlaut.


rrufe

bg:Иван Дуриданов

Likely closely related to Thracian ῥομφαία (rhomphaía, “spear, javelin; sword”) and Bulgarian рофия (rofija, “lightning”).


tepër

A formation from epër, with mobile t- (compare tetë, tjetër, tambël etc).


hë

From Proto-Albanian *skainai. Compare Gothic 𐍃𐌺𐌴𐌹𐌽𐌰𐌽 (skeinan), Old High German skinan (“to shine”), with a similar sense development to that of English 'in a twinkling'.


vonë

Inherited from Proto-Albanian *wānti, a participle in *-nti, or from *wānā, reflecting Proto-Indo-European *h₁weh₂- (“to lack, be empty; to strive, to wish for, to love”). Compare Ancient Greek εὖνις (eûnis, “stolen; looted, lack, be short of”), Armenian ունայն (unayn, “empty, bare, lacking”), Latin vanus (“bare, lacking, empty, void, vacant”), Old Norse vanr (“lacking”).


poshtë

A formation in -shtë > *-est, from posh, from Proto-Indo-European *pṓds. Compare Hittite [script needed] (pata), Ancient Greek πούς, ποδός (poús, podós), Old English fōt (“foot”). Orel suggests a borrowing from Latin post, poste (“behind, back”), but phonetic problems and a radical change in meaning makes it unlikely.


vrangull

From Proto-Albanian *awa-rangula from Proto-Indo-European *(s)krengh- (“to turn, bend”). Compare Umbrian krenkatrum, cringatro (“belt”), Proto-Slavic *krǫgъ (“circle”) (Russian круг (krug)), Old English hrung (“cross-bar, spoke”), hring (“ring”).


shesh

Borrowed from Vulgar Latin, from sessum (“seated”). Compare Romanian șes (“plain”).

rri shesh


ushtarak

Rol të rëndësishëm në vendosjen e regjimit ushtarak, shtypjen rezistencës dhe në mobilizimin ushtarak të popullsisë shqiptare në Kosovë, luajtën divizionet dhe brigadat e Ushtrisë Nacionalçlirimtare të Shqipërisë.

2014, Uran Butka, Masakra e Tivarit dhe Pergjegjesia e Shtetit Shqiptar:


kruspull

From Proto-Indo-European *grews- (“to crackle, crush”). Compare Old High German krospel, German Kruspel (“gristle”), Gothic kriustan (“gnash”), Lithuanian grukšė́ti (“gnash, rustle, crackle, of sand”).


fjolla-fjolla

A reduplication form of fjollë. Compare Old Norse mjoll (“id”).


zvarrë

A z-prefixed form of varrë, from Proto-Albanian *varsa, from Proto-Indo-European *wers- (“to drag on the ground”). Compare Hittite [Term?] (/u̯arš-/, “pluck, reap”), Ancient Greek ἔρρω (érrhō, “to move slowly, limp; go away, disappear”), Latin verrō (“to drag, to sweep”), Old Norse vǫrr (“stroke”), Latvian vârsms (“heap of corn, grain”).


pezull

Borrowed through Vulgar Latin from Latin pendulus, from pendere (“to hang, suspend”).


gegërisht

From gegër + -isht, gegër from gegë. See gegë (“Gheg”) for more.

(Tosk, Standard Albanian) Gheg, Gheg Albanian


gegnisht

From gegën + -isht; gegën (“Gheg (acc. form)”) derived from gegë (“Gheg (nom. form)”).
* Pokorny connects gegë with Ancient Greek (Attic) γίγας (gígas, “giant”), from the Homeric mythology (the giants of the Acroceraunian mountains), probably denoting originally war-like invading tribes descending from Epirus. Compare gjatë, glatë, gat (“tall, long”), gatë (“heron”) and Latin gigas (“giant”). See gegë for more.
* Possibly from Ancient Greek γέγειος (gégeios, “primitive, antique, old, ancient.”) (ion.), Ancient Greek γεγωνός (gegōnós, “loud-sounding, sonorous, bright, clear sound ; loud of voice.”), γεγωνιστής (gegōnistḗs)…


esëll

From Proto-Albanian *a-tšilna or *a-čila-, a compound equivalent to a privative e- (from *a-, from Proto-Indo-European *n̥-) + sillë (“breakfast”). Interpretible as e- + sille (“breakfast”)
A similar formation to egjëll.


gand

Competing etymologies. Possibly:
# from Proto-Albanian *ganda, close to Lithuanian gañdas (“rumor”), gañdinti (“to frighten”), Latvian gañdêt (“to spoil”),
# identical with ganë, participle of gas, ngas.


gangull

From Proto-Albanian *gangula, suffixed form of *ganga, close to Lithuanian gangá (“movement”), gángytis (“to move”).


përpjetë

From për + pjetë, literally 'for the sky'. From Proto-Indo-European *pro-peth₂-o-. It corresponds accurately to Greek προπετής (propetís, “falling forwards”).


tëhu

From Proto-Albanian *toi ksu, the second component being equal to Ancient Greek ξύν (xún, “with, at the same time”).


egjëll

From Proto-Albanian *a-salwa, a compound equivalent to a privative e- (from *a-, from Proto-Indo-European *n̥-) + gjellë, literally "without food". Modern reinterpretation as simply e- + gjëlle (“starving”).


ungji

Univerbation of u në gji, literally 'itself in its totality'.


troç

Uncertain. A formation in -ç, maybe a derivative of tru (“brain”), through an intermediate sense development of 'to speak intelligently, wittily', litt. 'using the brains'.


gjithmonë

Compound formation of gjithë (“whole, every”) + monë, the old accusative of mot (“weather, time”) (mot-në > monë; compare fshat > fshanë), literally meaning "the whole time".


tërmonë

Compound formation of tër-, from tërë (“whole”) + monë, the old accusative of mot (“weather, time”) (mot-në > monë; compare fshat > fshanë), literally meaning "the whole time".


teposhtë

Prefixed derivative of poshtë; te- + poshtë.


shpesh

From Latin spissus (“thick”) (cf. Italian spesso (“id.”)). Also compare Aromanian spes (“id.”).


grimcë

një grimcë pasigurie


pështjerë

An obsolete Albanian form representing a deverbative *për shtjerë, from shtie.


grimë

Prit një grimë!

asnjë grimë

asnjë grimë erë


qefull

(figurative) fit as a fiddle, hale and hearty


rëposh

From a phonetic transformation of përposh.


trashë

From Proto-Albanian *trauša. Close to Lithuanian trąšùs (“fat, fertile (soil)”) (cf. Albanian trashi (“fertile soil”)). May reflect ultimate origin in Proto-Indo-European *treu- (“to destroy”), but this is not certain.

inh

(figurative) harshly, heavily, coarsely (way of speech, behavior)

Synoyms: shumë, boll, mjaft

abundantly, in large quantities, plentifully (condition, wealth, resources, food, money)


ndorje

From dorë (“hand”), same sense development in Latin manus (“hand, protection”) and Proto-Germanic *munduz (“hand, protection”) (cf. English mound).


angësht

Enlargement of ang, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂enǵʰ- (“narrow”). Compare Latin angustus (“narrow”), German Angst (“fear”). Doublet to Latin-borrowed ngushtë.


kaps

From kap (“seize, hold, grab”) + -s (“adverb suffix”).

suffix

(a human or animal) affected by constipation, unable to empty the bowels (hardened feces)

E bëri kaps.

(figurative, regional) stiff, rigid, hard(ly), dead(ly), petrified


krejt

From kreit, the definite ablative of krye (“head”).


hjima

Probably from Ancient Greek χαμαί (khamaí).


kosdej

Unknown kos + dej (“day after tomorrow”).


fjur

Unclear. Might be related to Proto-Hellenic *āwḗr (“morning mist”) as Proto-Albanian *awuòr, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂weh₁- (“to blow”). See Ancient Greek ᾱ̓ήρ (āḗr) for more.

unk

Unclear


abonsina

It seems to be a complicated compound *a-bonus-ina, a derivation of Latin bonus with a similar development as Romanian pa bune "for real", creating the prefix a- and with an adverbial suffix -ina (Standard -irë), often used in Archaic Gheg.


kalecë

From an original form *ka-leht-az, from the prefix ka- + *leht-az, derived from lehtë.


tashti

Compound of tash (moment (now)) + ti (-arily), cognate to Albanian tash (“now”), tashi (“id”), tesh (“id”) and ndashti (“at/in this moment”). From Proto-Albanian *to-su, locative form of pronominal stem Proto-Albanian *to- (resp. Proto-Albanian *ta ̊). From Proto-Indo-European *to- (“it”). Cognate to Lithuanian tadà (“then, thereupon”) and Sanskrit तदा (ta-dā́, “then”).
See Albanian tash for more.

now, currently, at present, presently, just now, this moment, from now on; momentarily

so, well (to attract the attention of others); so, then, hence, thus (conclusion sense)


osh

A fossilized form of a rare osh (“harrow”), thus the original meaning was "trailing as a harrow".

(colloquial) trailing (along the ground), crawlingly


ashtu

Compound a- (“that”) + Proto-Albanian *este, cognate to Latin iste (“that”), and Lepontic 𐌉𐌑𐌏𐌔 (iśos).


kështu

Compound kë- (“this”) + Proto-Albanian *este, cognate to Latin iste (“that”).


burinë

Unknown. Perhaps from the same root as Proto-Iranian *būri- (“many; multitude”) and Sanskrit भूरि (bhū́ri, “much, many, abundant, numerous, great”).


lartë

From Proto-Albanian *laudra, from Proto-Indo-European *h₁lewdʰ- (“to grow”).


betë

Unclear. Possibly a contraction of an earlier *bedhtë, with -të adjectival suffix, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰed-rós, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰed- (“to improve, make better”). Cognate with English better, Sanskrit भद्र (bhadra, “blessed; good; excellent”), Avestan 𐬵𐬎𐬠𐬀𐬜𐬭𐬀 (hubaδra, “fortunate”). Alternatively to be compared with Lydian 𐤡𐤠𐤯𐤯𐤬𐤳 (pattoš, “king”)), Ancient Greek Ancient Greek βᾰσῐλεύς (băsĭleús), Illyrian Bato, and Proto-Indo-European *bʰéh₂ti (“to speak”).

cog

Krejt bet(ë).


drejt

Borrowed through Vulgar Latin from Latin dirēctus.


nejse

From Ottoman Turkish [script needed] (ne ise, neyse), whence Turkish neyse.


afërisht

afër (“close, nearby”) + -isht (adverb suffix)


përafrisht

për (“for”) + afër (“close, nearby”) + isht (adverb suffix)


përafërsisht

për (“for”) + afër (“close, nearby”) + s + isht (adverb suffix)


krejtësisht

completely, entirely, fundamentally, purely, utterly


plotësisht

fully, completely, entirely, totally, thoroughly, wholly


krahas

From krah (“arm, side”) + -a (“-s (plural marker)”) + -s (“(adverb suffix)”).


ulët

low, below, under, down (at low altitudes from the ground)

Ai flet ulët.

Ajo këndon ulët.

(voice, volume) softly, quietly, lightly, silently


shqim

Loss of /b/ in Standard Albanian shqim and Gheg Albanian shkym.
From Old Albanian shqymb, from Proto-Albanian *skūmba. Cognate to Gothic *𐍃𐌺𐌹𐌿𐌱𐌰𐌽 (*skiuban, “cast, shove”) and 𐌰𐍆𐍃𐌺𐌹𐌿𐌱𐌰𐌽 (afskiuban, “cast away, shove off”), Lithuanian skumbù and skùbti (“to hurry up”) and Proto-Slavic *skuti.
See shqymb for more.

cog

all, fully, totally, entirely, completely


përdhe

underfoot, down, downwards, underneath, beneath


ngaldaltë

head

i ngaldaltë (feminine e ngadáltë, masculine plural të ngadálta, feminine plural të ngadálta)

i ngaldaltë (canonical)
e ngadáltë (feminine)
të ngadálta (masculine plural)
të ngadálta (feminine plural)


dalë

Participle of Albanian dal (“I exit, go out”). From Proto-Albanian *dala. See Albanian dal (“I exit, go out”) for more.

Ia la dalë.

U kthye dalë.
He/she truned back(wards).


mbarë

From mbar (“I bring (back), return”) (from Proto-Albanian *en-bara; further related to Albanian mbart (“I bear, carry”), mbaroj (“I finish, complete, end, fulfill, comply”), mbaj (“I carry, hold”)).
Orel disagrees with Meyer; proposed it as a tabooistically used loanword for Latin impar (“uneven, unequal”).

favourably, propitiously; felicitously; frontally

doli mbarë

veshur mbarë

properly, right, well, as it should be; right

pyeti mbarë e mbrapsht

entirely, completely, wholly, all, fully; in full, to the full


marramendthi

marrë (taken) + mend (mind) + -thi (-ily)


marrëzisht

madly, foolishly, ludicrously, idiotically


gafil

Borrowed from Ottoman Turkish غافل (gafil).
from Arabic غَافِل (ḡāfil)

bor+

më gjeti gafil


sonëte

Albanian: sonte

From Proto-Albanian *tˢjānaktāi, from Pre-Albanian (post-Proto-Indo-European *ḱyeh₂ nékʷtey, dative-locative compound, literally ‘this night’. Cognate to Lithuanian šiąnakt and Latvian šonakt (“today”).


açik

From Ottoman Turkish آچق (açık), from Proto-Turkic *ač- (“to open”).


matanë

Univerbation of më (“at”) + atë (“that”) + anë (“side”).

univ

Shko matanë!


përmbas

qëndronte përmbas


posaçe

A compound of posa (“just, hardly, scarcely”) + çe.


mënjanë

Univerbation of më (“at”) + një (“one”) + anë (“side”).


mbërdhe

A compound of mbë (“in, at”) + dhe (“ground”) with an epethetic r.


mbrapa

Alternative form of prapa (“behind, back”)


gjerë e gjatë

Një prej bërrylave të këtillë do të ishte, bie fjala, episodi kur lehonat e spitalit e tregojnë gjerë e gjatë dashurinë e tyre të posaçme ndaj disa llojeve të posaçme të luleve.

1973, Rexhep Qosja, “Hallet e vjetra dhe zgjidhjet e tyre ë reja”, in Panteoni i rralluar:

ata biseduan gjerë e gjatë


miqësisht

in a friendly manner, amicably, kindly, warmly


avash

Borrowed from Ottoman Turkish یواش (yavaş).


avash-avash

Borrowed from Ottoman Turkish یواش یواش (yavaş yavaş). By surface analysis, reduplication of avash (“slowly”).

surf

Avash-avash bëhet shelegu dash.

(literally, “Little by little the lamb becomes a ram.”)

Little strokes fell great oaks. (proverb)

little by little, very slowly, gradually


vërdallë

Kristoforidhi and Çabej descend it from South Slavic. Alternatively from Turkish vidalı (“threaded, screwed”).

i vjen vërdallë

to go at it by a circuitous route, approach the matter indirectly; speak indirectly


kacagjel

From kaca- + gjel (“rooster, cock”). Given that boastfulness is a characteristic usually ascribed to roosters rather than ants, it seems that sense 2 developed parallelly from the original meaning of gjel rather than from sense 1.

rri kacagjel

ecën kacagjel


kastile

Borrowed from Ottoman Turkish [script needed] (kasdiyle, “with the intention (of)”).

bor+

(colloquial) on purpose, deliberately, intentionally


pjesërisht

From pjesë (“piece, part”) + -ri + -sht.


në të zezë

Literally, “in black”, likely a calque of Italian in nero.

punoj në të zezë

off the books, under the counter (unofficially, to avoid tax payment)


pishman

Borrowed from Ottoman Turkish پشیمان (peşiman), پشمان (pişman).

bëhem pishman


vetëm

mbetur vetëm


gjoja

Borrowed from Ottoman Turkish [script needed] (göya/gûya, “as if, supposedly”)


tatëpjetë

With assimilation of occlusives, continues *katëpjetë, an antonym of përpjetë, with katë from Proto-Albanian *kata related to Greek κάτα (káta, “down”). It also occurs in Greek κατα-πΐπτω (kata-pḯpto, “fall down”).


ashiqare

Borrowed from Ottoman Turkish آشكاره (aşikâre).


sterrë

Disputed. Possibilities include:
# An expressive prefixal derivative of terr (“darkness”).
# Identical to sterrë /sterë /sternë (“underground cistern”). The factor that links the two is its darkness for someone looking from above.
# Metathesis of an unattested *cerrë /*cernë, borrowed from Serbo-Croatian crn /црн (“black”).


fugë

Borrowed from Italian fuga. For sense 3 compare its taxonomic name Gyrinus, from Latin gȳrus (“circular motion”), as well as French tourniquet, English whirligig, German Taumelkäfer.


curril

shkon curril


hajnisht

From hajn (“robber, thief”) + -isht (adverb-forming suffix).


karshi

Borrowed from Ottoman Turkish قارشو (karşı, karşu, “opposite”), from Proto-Turkic *kar-.

bor+

(colloquial) in front, opposite, facing across, against


përballë

From për- (prepositional prefix) + ballë (“front, forehead”).

af

(figurative) facing, countering something


andej-këtej

hither and thither, here and there, hither and yon


ndopak

From ndo (“or, whether, if”) + pak (“little, a few”).


qëmoti

From që (“when, where”) + mot (“era, times”) + -i.

(noun, definite, singular only) ancient, old times, antiquity

once upon a time, formerly, of yore, anciently


shyqyr

Borrowed from Ottoman Turkish شكر (şükr, vulg. şükür, “thankfulness, gratitude”), itself derived from Arabic شُكْر (šukr).


peshin

From Ottoman Turkish پشین (peşin), from Persian پیشین (pišin, “previous”).


kaliboç

Compound of expressive prefix kali- + boçë.


kaliqafë

From kali- (expressive prefix) + qafë (“neck”).


pastaj

From pas, mbas (“after”) + ndaj (“towards”), without the n-.

pëstana

pastaja, pastajna, pastajte, pastajza — dialectal

pasandajë

pasandaj — colloquial or dialectal, originally Tosk


pardje

day before yesterday
day before yesterday