Gramatika dhe Fjalor

DotLingo Albanian Notes

by Blair Fraser http://dotlingo.blogspot.com

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Contents
M esimi i p ergatitor The Albanian Alphabet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Greetings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Days of the Week . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Colours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Numbers Zero to Ten . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Subject Pronouns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M esimi i par e Introductions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vocabulary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Denite and Indenite nouns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Numbers 11-29 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Present Indicative of the Verb Jam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Negation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Telling Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M esimi i dyt e Vocabulary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Present Indicative of the Regular -j Verbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Present Indicative of the Verb Kam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . More Numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M esimi i tret e Vocabulary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Denite form of Masculine Singular Nouns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Denite form of Feminine Singular Nouns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Forms of Regular Plural Nouns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M esimi i kat ert Vocabulary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii 1 1 1 2 2 2 3 4 4 4 5 5 6 6 6 8 8 9 9 9 11 11 12 12 12 14 14

iv

CONTENTS Ordinal Numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Possessive Pronouns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Asking Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Forming the Continuous Present with Po . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 15 16 16 17 17 18 19 19 19 21 21 22 23 24 24 26 26 27 28 28 29 30

M esimi i pest e Vocabulary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Adjective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Demonstrative Pronouns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To Have To and To Want To . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Months of the Year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M esimi i gjasht e Vocabulary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Present Conjugations of Five Common Verbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Present Indicative of Verbs of the Second Kind . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To Be Going To . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Possessive (Genitive) Case of the Noun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M esimi i shtat e Vocabulary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Forms of the Noun, Part II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Comparisons of Inequality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Comparisons of Equality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Superlative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Appendix: Supplemental Vocabulary

M esimi i p ergatitor

0.1

The Albanian Alphabet

Albanian is a phonetic language, which makes it much easier to learn from books. The letters dont change sounds depending on the letters that surround them, as happens in English. The only exception to this rule is the e , which is usually not pronounced, or barely pronounced, if it appears at the end of a word.
a b c c d dh e e f g gj h i j k l ll m n nj o p q r rr s sh t th u v z zh y x xh like the a in father like the b in bubbles like the ts in cats like the ch in chime like the d in donut like the hard th in the like the rst e in letter like the u in chug, (usually silent at the end of a word) like the f in freak like the g in goats like the g in badge like the H in Heinikan like the ee in feet like the y in yes like the c in cart like the l in logical same as l like the m in maybe like the n in nooner like the ny in canyon like the o in orbit like the p in perfect like the ch in chase like the r in rug, but shorter trilled like a Scotsman like the s in super like the sh in shake like the t in tent like the soft th in thin like the oo in moon like the v in van like the z in zebra like the s in measure approximatly like the u in ukulele like the ds in feds! like the j in jar

0.2

Greetings
Good morning. Good afternoon.

Mir em engjes. Mir edita.

2
Mir embrema. Nat en e mir e. Dit en e mir e. zoti zonja zonjusha Si jeni? Po ju si jeni? Shum e mir e. Mir e Keq C ka. Mirupafshim. Tungjatjeta. M e falni. ju lutem faleminderit ska gj e, ju lutem po jo Good evening. Good night. Have a nice day. Mr. Mrs. Miss How are you? And how are you? Very well. Good. Bad. So-so. Good bye. See you again. Excuse me. please thank you youre welcome yes no

M esimi i p ergatitor

0.3
e h en e e mart e e m erker e e enjte e premte e shtun e e diel

Days of the Week

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

The days of the week are not capatilized in Albanian, and are always preceeded by e.

0.4

Colours

Albanian adjectives differ based on the gender of the noun. This will be covered later. Here the masculine form is listed rst. i kuq, e kuqe i portokall, e portokalle (i,e) verdh e (i,e) gjelb er (i,e) blu (i,e) vjollc e boj e kaf, boj e kafe i zi, e zez e (i,e) bardh e (i,e) gri red orange yellow green blue purple brown black white grey

0.5
zero

The Numbers Zero to Ten

zero

3
nj e dy tre kat er pes e gjasht e shtat e tet e n ent e dhjet e one two three four ve six seven eight nine ten

0.6

Subject Pronouns

The personal pronoun ti is the familiar form of the second person singular. It is used for addressing family, friends or children. When addressing strangers, or people in authority, use the second person plural ju. un e ti ai ajo ne ju ata ato I you he, it she, it we you (pl.) they (masc.) they (fem.)

M esimi i par e

1.1

Introductions

James: Mir em engjes profesor Cooper. M e quajn e James. Zoti Cooper: Mir em engjes James. Si jeni? James: Shum e mir e, po ju? Zoti Cooper: Mir e falemnderit. James: Si quhet car n e shqip? Zoti Cooper: Car quhet Makin e. James: Falemnderit. Mirupafshim profesor. Zoti Cooper: Mirupafshim James.

1.2

Vocabulary

Sometime accents are used in Albanian dictionaries to indicate the stressed syllable. These accents are only pronunciation hints and should not be used in written Albanian. sot dit/ e, -a, - e, - et (fem.) m engjes, -i, -e, -et (fem.) unversitet, -i, -e, -et (masc.) shkoll/ e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) klas/ e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) student, -i, - e, - et student/e, -ja, -e, -et d erras/ e e zez e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) fshir es/e, -ja, -a, -at (fem.) shkum es, -i, -, -et (masc.) der/ e, -a, dyer, dyert (fem.) drit ar/e, -ja, -e, -et (fem.) mur, -i, -e, -et (masc.) or/ e, -a, - e, - et (fem.) tavolin/ e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) karrig/e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) kompjuter, -i, -e, -et (masc.) let/ er, -ra, -ra, -rat (fem.) laps, -i, -a, -at (masc.) stilolaps, -i, -a, -at (masc.) gom/ e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) et or/e, -ja, -e, -et (fem.) lib/ er, -ri, -ra, -rat (masc.) provim, -i, -e, -et (masc.) tekst, -i, -e, -et (masc.) bibliotek/ e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) raft, -i, -e, -et raft librash vull e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) adres/ e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) today day morning university school class student (masc.) student (fem.) chalkboard chalkbrush chalk door window wall clock desk, table chair computer paper, letter pencil pen eraser notebook book exam textbook library shelf bookcase stamp address

5
kart/ e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) num/ er, -ri, -ra, -rat (masc.) sht ep , -a, -, -t e (fem.) n e n e Anglisht edhe, dhe shum e apo (i,e) af ert (i,e) larg (i,e) leht e (i,e) v eshtir e A isni ju shqip? Si thuhet (ky, kjo) n e... Nuk kuptoj. Nuk marr vesh. card number house, home in in English and many, very or close far easy difcult Do you speak Albanian? How do you say this in... I dont understand.

1.3

Denite and Indenite nouns

In Albanian, the indenite articles a and some are translated as nj e and disa respectively. However, there is no denite article. To create the denite form of a noun, the ending of the noun is modied. In the vocabulary, nouns are listed in the denite and indenite forms of both the singular and plural. The stem of the noun is the word up to the slash character or to the end of the word if there is no slash. All nouns are listed with their endings in the order: indenite singular, denite singular, indenite plural, and denite plural. For example turist/e, -ja, -e, -et lists the four forms of female tourist: nj e turiste = a female tourist, turistja = the female tourist, disa turiste = some female tourists, turistet = the female turists. For each noun where the gender is not obvious, the gender is listed with the noun as well. The gender will become important when we learn about adjectives. There are rules for deriving these forms of the noun which will be covered in later lessons. However, the rules are complicated and have many exceptions. Often it is simpler to memorize the four forms as you memorize each noun. turist, -i, - e, - et turist/e, -ja, -e, -et student, -i, - e, - et student/e, -ja, -e, -et shqiptar, -i, - e, - et shqiptar/e, -ja, -e, -et kanadez, -i, - e, - et kanadez/e, -ja, -e, -et anglez, -i, - e, - et anglez/e, -ja, -e, -et amerikan, -i, - e, - et american/e, -ja -e, -et italian, -i, - e, - et italian/e, -ja, -e, -et francez, -i, - e, - et francez/e, -ja, -e, -et rus, -i, - e, - et rus/e, -ja, -e, -et europian, -i, - e, - et europian/e, -ja, -e, -et tourist (masc.) tourist (fem.) student (masc.) student (fem.) Albanian (masc.) Albanian (fem.) Canadian (masc.) Canadian (fem.) English (masc.) English (fem.) American (masc.) American (fem.) Italian (masc.) Italian (fem.) French (masc.) French (fem.) Russian (masc.) Russian (fem.) European (masc.) European (fem.)

M esimi i par e

1.4

The Numbers 11-29

eleven twelve thirteen fourteen fteen sixteen seventeen eighteen nineteen twenty twenty-one twenty-two twenty-three twenty-four twenty-ve twenty-six twenty-seven twenty-eight twenty-nine

nj emb edhjet e dymb edhjet e tremb edhjet e kat ermb edhjet e pes emb edhjet e gjasht emb edhjet e shtat emb edhjet e tet emb edhjet e n ent emb edhjet e nj ezet nj ezet e nj e nj ezet e dy nj ezet e tre nj ezet e kat er nj ezet e pes e nj ezet e gjasht e nj ezet e shtat e nj ezet e tet e nj ezet e n ent e

1.5

The Present Indicative of the Verb Jam

The verb jam is an irregular verb. Its conjugations should be memorized. The personal pronouns are be used in front of the verb, however, when the subject of the verb is clear, they are often dropped. un e jam ti je ai/ajo e sht e ne jemi ju jeni ata/ato jan e Ai e sht e turist. Ata jan e turist e. Jam kanadez. I am you are he/she is we are you are (pl.) they are (masc./fem) He is a (masc.) turist. They are (masc.) turists. I am Canadian.

1.6

Negation
She does not have the book. She dosnt have the book. I am not Canadian.

To negate a sentance in Albanian, add a nuk or s before the verb. For example: Un e nuk jam amerikan. Ajo nuk kam libri. Ajo skam libri. Nuk jam kanadez.

1.7

Telling Time
What time is it? Its one. Its one thirty. Its two twenty-ve. Its eleven forty.

Sa e sht e ora? Ora e sht e nj e. Ora e sht e nj e e gjysm e. Ora e sht e dy e nj ezetepes e. Ora e sht e nj emb edhjet e e dyzet.

7
e von Esht e (her et). Pas nj e ore. Its late (early). In one hour.

M esimi i dyt e

2.1

Vocabulary
to talk to buy to understand to learn to help to work to go to accompany at in or from now today later earlier morning midday midnight afternoon evening night tomorrow breakfast lunch dinner parent mother father son daughter wife husband brother sister man woman dog cat tall short pretty, handsome ugly thin fat expensive cheap

bisedoj blej kuptoj m esoj ndihmoj punoj shkoj shoq eroj n e n e apo nga tani sot m e vone m e her et mengjes -i -e -et (masc.) mesdit e mesnat e pasdit/e -ja -e -et (fem.) mbr emj/e -a -e -et (fem.) nat/ e -a net net et (fem.) nes er m engjes, -i, -e, -et (masc.) drek/ e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) dark/ e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) prind, -e, - er, - erit (masc.) n en/ e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) at/ e, -i, e t er, e t erit (masc.) bi/r, -ri, -j, -jt e (masc.) bij/ e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) gru/a, -ja, gra, grat e (fem.) burr/ e, -i, -a, -at (masc.) v ella, -i, v ellez er, v ellez erit (masc.) mot/ er, -ra, -ra, -rat (fem.) burr/ e, -i, -a, -at (masc.) gru/a, -ja, gra, grat e (fem.) qen, -i, -, -t e (masc.) mac/e, -ja, -e, -et (fem.) (i,e) gjat e (i,e) skurt er (i,e) bukur (i,e) sh emtuar (i,e) holl e (i,e) dhjamur (i,e) shtrenjt e (i,e) lir e

9
(i,e) lumtur (i,e) mir e i keq, e keqe i zeshkan, e zeshkane i biond, e bionde i kok ekuq, e kok ekuqe i k endsh em, e k endsh eme shum e Kuptoj (pak) shqip. M esoj c do dit e. Po ky zot eria kush e sht e? Po kjo zonjusha kush e sht e? Ky/Kjo e sht e ... G ezohem q e u njoh em. G ezohem gjithashtu. M e falni. happy good bad brunette blonde red-headed nice very I understand (a little) Albanian. I study every day. And this gentleman, who is he? And this young woman, who is she? This is (masc./fem.) ... Pleasure to meet you. The pleasure is mine. (Lit. I am pleased also.) I beg your pardon.

2.2

Present Indicative of the Regular -j Verbs

The present indicative is used to translate expressions of action in the present tense. For example, I write, I am writing, or I do write. To form the present indicative, the -j is removed from the root of the verb and the following endings are added. un e b ej ti b en ai/ajo b en ne b ejm e ju b eni ata/ato b ejn e un e shkruaj ti shkruan ai/ajo shkruan ne shkruajm e ju shkruani ata/ato shkruajn e I do you do he/she/it does we do you (pl.) do they does I write you write he/she/it writes we write you (pl.) write they write

2.3

Present Indicative of the Verb Kam

The verb kam means to have. It is an irregular verb, but it can be easily remembered by taking note of how similar its conjugation is to that of the verb jam, with the exception of the third person singular. un e kam ti ke ai/ajo ka ne kemi ju keni ata/ato kan e I have you have he/she/it has we have you (pl.) have they have

2.4

More Numbers
thirty thirty-one

tridhjet e tridhjet e e nj e

10
tridhjet e e dy dyzet dyzet e tre pes edhjet e pes edhjet e e kat er gjasht edhjet e gjasht edhjet e e pes e shatat edhjet e shatat edhjet e e gjasht tet edhjet e n ent edhjet e nj eqind nj eqind e nj e dyqind n ent eqind nj emij e nj emij e e nj e thirty-two forty fourty-three fty fty-four sixty sixty-ve seventy seventy-six eighty ninety one hundred one hundred and one two hundred nine hundred one thousand one thousand and one

M esimi i dyt e

M esimi i tret e

3.1

Vocabulary
to study to visit to accept to dance to celebrate to cook to chat, to converse to desire, to want to teach, to learn to need..., to have need for... to listen to believe to arrive to translate to pay to travel to own, to manage car dance coffee cafeteria street downtown boy girl movie-theatre party hotel light country professor (masc.) theatre vacation, break language ower old intelligent interesting magnicant new a few tonight here with more less really?

studioj visitoj pranoj vall ezoj festoj gatuaj bisedoj d eshiroj m esoj kam nevoj e p er... d egjoj besoj arrij p erkthej paguaj udh etoj zot eroj makin/ e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) vall/e, -ja, -e, -et (fem.) kaf/e, -ja, -e, -et (fem.) mens/ e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) rrug/ e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) qend/ er, -ra, -ra, -rat (fem.) djal/ e, -i, djem, djemt e (masc.) vajz/ e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) kinem a, -ja, -, -t e (fem.) mbr emj/e, -a, -e, -et (fem.) hotel, -i, -e, -et (masc.) drit/ e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) vend, -i, -e, -et (masc.) profesor, -i, - e, - et teat/ er, -ri, -ra, -rat (masc.) pushim, -i, -e, -et (masc.) gjuh/ e, -, - e, - et (fem.) lul/e, -ja, -e, -et (fem.) (i,e) vjet er (i,e) zgjuar i interesant, e interestante i madh eshtor, e madh eshtore i ri, e re disa sonte k etu me m e shum e m e pak vertet?

11

12

M esimi i tret e

3.2

Denite form of Masculine Singular Nouns

Many masculine nouns add a -i or -u to the stem when creating the singular denite form. a student = nj e student the student = studenti The -i form is more often used, but if the stem ends in a k, g, h or a stressed i or e, then the -u form is used. Keep this rule in mind, but also remember that many nouns are irregular. The complete set of rules for creating the denite form are complicated and will be covered in their entirety in later lessons. anglezi zogu m engjesi m esuesi muri parku fshati kamarieri krahu mali peshku the englishman the bird the morning the teacher the wall the park the village (fshat) the waiter (kamarier) the arm (krah) the mountain (mal) the sh (peshk)

3.3

Denite form of Feminine Singular Nouns

Many feminine nouns use a -a or -ja appended to the stem to create the singular denite form. a (female) friend = nj e shoqe the (female) friend = shoqja If the indenite form ends in a - e, then the -a ending is often used. If the indenite form ends in a -e then the ending -ja is often used. Again, many feminine nouns are irregular, in later lessons, more rules will help sort out the complicated mess. dita nata kanadezja drita rruga vallja lulja dera fytyra koha gjuha the day the night the (female) Canadian the light the street the dance ower the door (der/ e) the face (fytyr/ e) the time, the occasion (koh/ e) the language (gjuh/ e)

3.4

Forms of Regular Plural Nouns

Plural forms of the regular indenite, for both masculine and feminine nouns, are formed by appending a - e or -e to the noun stem. The plural forms of the regular denite, for both masculine and feminine nouns, are formed by appending a -t or sometimes a t e to the indenite plural form. nj e kanadez, disa kanadez e a (masc.) Canadian, some (masc.) Canadians

13
nj e kanadeze, disa kanadeze nj e student, disa student e nj e studente, disa studente nj e mbr emje, disa mbr emje (fem.) nj e mengjes, disa mengjese (masc.) kanadez et kanadezet student et studentet mbr emjet mengjeset a (fem.) Canadian, some (fem.) Canadians a (masc.) student, some (masc.) students a (fem.) student, some (fem.) students an evening, evenings a morning, some mornings the (masc.) Canadians the (fem.) Canadians the (masc.) students the (fem.) students the evenings the mornings

M esimi i kat ert

4.1

Vocabulary
I dont know. believe I (dont) have to + verb I (dont) want to + verb to call (on the phone) to declare to receive to solicit to take (irreg.) occupation profession beer mail building specialty signature photo government left right mountain world other beach top village telephone television job train wine excellent famous generally free (of cost) busy small big perfect rich Its a pity. because always without Lets go! sometimes while

Se di. besoj un e (nuk) duhet t e + verb un e (nuk) dua t e + verb telefonoj deklaroj pranoj k erkoj marr pun esim zanat, -i, -e, -et (masc.) birr/ e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) post/ e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) nd ertes/ e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) specialitet, -i, -e, -et (masc.) rm/ e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) fotogra, -a, -, -t e (fem.) qeveri, -a, -, -t e (fem.) majtas djathtas mal, -i, -e, -et (masc.) bot/ e, -a, - e, - et tjet er plazh, -i, -e, -et (masc.) bakshish, -i, -e, -et (masc.) katund, -i, -e, -et (masc.) telefon, -i, -a, -at (masc.) televizor, -i, - e, - et (masc.) pun/ e, -a, - e, - et (fem.) tren, -i, -a, -at (masc.) ver/ e, -a (fem.) (i,e) shk elqyer (i,e) famsh em n e p ergjith esi falas (i,e) z en e (i,e) vog el (i,e) madh (i,e) p erkryer (i,e) pasur e i keq (e keqe). Esht sepse gjithmon e pa Ikim! nganj eher e nd ers a

14

15
nes er dje dit e pushimi dit e pun e jav/ e, -a, - e - et (fem.) muaj, -i, -, -t (masc.) vit, -i, -e, -et (masc.) Kush? C far e? C ? Kur? Ku? Pse? Si? tomorrow yesterday holiday workday week month year Who? What? What? (short for c far e?) When? Where? Why? How?

4.2

Ordinal Numbers

Ordinal numbers are adjectives. You will see adjectives in the next lesson. However, as a preview, adjectives are usually preceeded by either a i or a e. The i form is used when the adjective modies masculine nouns, and the e form is used when it modies feminine nouns. The denite form can be formed by relacing the nal - e with a -i or an -a for masculine and feminine nouns respectively. (i,e) par e (i,e) dyt e (i,e) tret e (i,e) kat ert (i,e) pest e (i,e) gjasht e (i,e) shtat e (i,e) tet e (i,e) n ent e (i,e) djet e (i,e) nj emb edhjet e (i,e) dymb edhjet e (i,e) nj ezet i pari, e para i dyti, e dyta i treti, e treta rst second third fourth fth sixth seventh eighth ninth tenth eleventh twelfth twentieth the rst (masc.)fem the second (masc.)fem the third (masc.)fem

4.3

Possessive Pronouns

Possesive prounouns function as adjectives to denote ownership. The form of the possesive pronoun changes based on the gender and number of the noun representing the owned object. The use of the possesive pronouns will be demonstrated with examples using the masculine noun lib er and the feminine noun birr e. Just to refresh your memory: libri = the book librat = the books birra = the beer birrat = the beers libri im, librat e mi birra ime, birrat e mia libri yt, librat e tu my book, my books my beer, my beers your book, your books

16
birra jote, birrat e tua libri i tij, librat e tij birra e tij, birrat e tij libri e saj, librat e saj birra e saj, birrat e saj libri yn e, librat tan e birra jon e, birrat tona libri juaj, librat tuaj birra juaj, birrat tuaja libri i tyre, librat e tyre birra e tyre, birrat e tyre your beer, your beers his book, his books his beer, his beers her book, her books her beer, her beers our book, our books our beer, our beers your (pl.) book, your (pl.) books your (pl.) beer, your (pl.) beers their book, their books their beer, their beers

M esimi i kat ert

4.4

Asking Questions

Questions can be formed by placing the subject after the verb. Many questions of the form Is ... ? use A ...? in Albanian with the subject after the verb. Of course many questions are formed using the interrogative pronouns Kush...?, C far e...?, Ku...?, Kur...?, Pse...?. C far e b en ti? Ku e sht e topi im? Kush e sht e ai? A ke ti librin? Kur e sht e shkolla? What are you doing? Where is my ball? Who is he? Do you have the book? Where is the school?

4.5

Forming the Continuous Present with Po

The continuous present is used to express actions that are in the process of happening now. For example, I am eating. You are cleaning. What are you doing. In Albanian, the continuous present is formed with the help of the word po. When po is added before the verb, it changes the meaning of the verb from the present to the continuous present. C far e po b en Beni? Ku po shkoni? Po shkruaj nj e let er. What is Beni doing? Where are you going? I am writing a letter.

M esimi i pest e

5.1

Vocabulary
to tell, to say to ll out to request to ask a question to nish to try baby boy girl agent aparatus camera city capital city climate garden club food document taxi weather trip life apartment bank company age station ID card, passport list literature place key name hair sofa earth towel suit utensil fork knife spoon glass plate water bread

tregoj plot esoj k erkoj b ej pyetje mbaroj provoj beb/e -ka -e -et (fem.) djal/ e, -i, djem, djemt e (masc.) vajz/ e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) agjent, -i, - e - et aparat, -i, -e, -et (masc.) aparat fotograk qutet, -i, -e, -et (masc.) kryeqytet klim/ e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) kopsht, -i, -e, -et (masc.) klub, -i, -e, -et (masc.) ushqim, -i, -e, -et (masc.) dokument, -i, -e, -et (masc.) taksi, -a, -, -t e (masc.) mot, -i, -e, -et (masc.) udh etim, -i, -e, -et (masc.) jet/ e, -a (fem.) apartament, -i, -e, -et (masc.) bank/ e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) kompan , -a, -, -t e (fem.) mosh/ e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) stacion, -i, -e, -et (masc.) let ernjoftim, -i, -e, -et (masc.) list/ e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) let ersi, -a, -, -t e vend, -i, -e, -et (masc.) c el es, -i, -a, -at (masc.) em/ er, -ri, -ra, -rat (masc.) ok, -u, - e, - et (masc.) divan, -i, -e, -et (masc.) tok/ e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) peshqir, -e, - e, - et (masc.) kostum, -i, -e, -et (masc.) en/ e, -a, - e, - et (fem.) pirun, -i, - e, - et (masc.) thik/ e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) lug/ e, -a, - e, - et (fem.) got/ e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) pjat/ e, -a, -a, -at uj/ e, -i, - era, - erat (masc.) buk/ e, -a, - e, - et (fem.)

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18
shkret etir/ e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) c aj, -i (masc.) rrush, -i (masc.) i activ, e active i m erzitsh em, e m erzitshme (i,e) ngopur i nevojsh em, e nevojshme i privat, e private sigurisht rishtas p er m e tep er Ua! ngjitur mbi gjithashtu desert tea grape active boring lled, stuffed necessary private surely recently furthermore Golly! next to over also, too

M esimi i pest e

5.2

The Adjective

Adjectives are placed after the noun the modify, and they agree with the noun in number and gender. Adjectives are often pluralized by changing the ending - e to a -a, or changing the ending - e+(consonant) to (consonant)+a. This change usually happens only in the feminine plural forms. As usual, there are many irregular adjectives and exceptions to the rules. Most adjectives are preceeded by a connective article. This connective article is important, and should be considered as part of the word, which is why we have been including it in the vocabulary. The connective article for singular masculine nouns, both in the denite and indenite form is i. For feminine singular nouns, both the denite and indenite forms use the connective article e. In the plural form, t e is used for indenite plural nouns and e is used for denite plural nouns. nj e lib er i gjelb er nj e lule e gjelb er libri i gjelb er lulja e gjelb er disa libra t e gjelb er disa lule t e gjelbra librat e gjelb er lulet e gjelbra nj e lib er i verdh e nj e lule e verdh e libri i verdh e lulja e verdh e disa libra t e verdh e disa lule t e verdha librat e verdh e lulet e verdha nj e djal e i vog el nj e vajz e e vog el djali i vog el vajza e vog el disa djem t e vegj el disa vajza t e vogla djemt e e vegj el vajzat e vogla nj e djal e i ri nj e vajz e e re djali i ri vajza e re disa djem t e re a green book a green ower the green book the green ower some green books some green books the green books the green owers a yellow book a yellow ower the yellow book the yellow ower some yellow books some yellow owers the yellow books the yellow owers a small boy a small girl the small boy the small girl some small boys some small girls the small boys the small girls a small boy a small girl the small boy the small girl some small boys

19
disa vajza t e ri djemt e e ri vajzat e reja some small girls the small boys the small girls

5.3

Demonstrative Pronouns

The demonstrative pronouns can be used to replace regular nouns for things that are nearby or far away. You have to choose the correct demonstrative pronoun based on the gender and number of the noun it replaces. ky kjo ai ajo k eta k eto ata ato ky student kjo studente ky k etu kjo k etu k eta k etu k eto k etu ai atje ajo atje ata atje ato atje this (masc. sing.) this (fem. sing.) that (masc. sing.) that (fem. sing.) these (masc. pl.) these (fem. pl.) those (masc. pl.) those (fem. pl.) this student (masc.) this student (fem.) this one (masc.) this one (fem.) these ones (masc.) these ones (fem.) that one (masc.) that one (fem.) those ones (masc.) those ones (fem.)

5.4

To Have To and To Want To

The construction to have to + verb can be formed by preceeding the verb with duhet t e. The verb is conjugated slightly differently for the second and third persons singular when used in this form. Listed is the forms for the regular -oj verbs. The construction to want to + verb is formed by preceeding the verb with the cojugated form of d eshiroj t e. Again, when used this way the verb is conjugated slightly differently with the forms for the regular -oj verbs listed. un e duhet t e shkoj ti duhet t e shkosh aj/ajo duhet t e shkoj n e duhet t e shkojm e ju duhet t e shkoni ata/ato duhet t e shkojn e un e d eshiroj t e shkoj ti d eshiron t e shkosh aj/ajo d eshiron t e shkoj n e d eshirojm e t e shkojm e ju d eshironi t e shkoni ata/ato d eshirojn e t e shkojn e I have to go you have to go he/she has to go we have to go you (pl.) have to go they have to go I want to go you want to go he/she wants to go we want to go you (pl.) want to go they want to go

5.5
janar

The Months of the Year

January

20
shkurt mars prill maj qershor korrik gusht shtator tetor n entor djetor Febuary March April May June July August September October November December

M esimi i pest e

M esimi i gjasht e

6.1

Vocabulary
museum painting theatre play river bridge building downtown, center ruins beach sea ocean lake mountain cinema, movie theatre movie hotel single room double room money hospital station bus station train station airport taxi subway advertisement application magazine cheque travellers cheque credit card suitcase luggage expensive cheap sport team football (soccer) team avenue corner street corner city block street light close to far from

muze, -u, -, -t e (masc.) piktur/ e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) teat/ er, -ri, -ra, -rat (masc.) loj/ e, -a, - era - erat (fem.) lum/ e, -i, -enj, -enjt e (masc.) ur/ e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) nd ertes/ e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) qend/ er, -ra, -ra, -rat (fem.) rr enim, -i, -e, -et (masc.) plazh, -i, -e, -et (masc.) det, -i, -e, -et (masc.) oqean, -iu, -e, -et (masc.) liqen, -i, -e, -et (masc.) mal, -i, -e, -et (masc.) kinema, -ja, -, -t e (fem.) lm, -i, -a, -at (masc.) hotel, -i, -e, -et (masc.) dhome njeshe dhome dyshe par/e, -ja, -, -et (fem.) spital, -i, -e, -et (masc.) stacion, -i, -e, -et (masc.) stacion autobusi stacion treni aeroport, -, -e, -et (masc.) taksi, -a, -, -t e (fem.) metro, -ja, -, -t e (fem.) reklam/ e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) zbatim, -i, -e, -et (masc.), aplikim (masc.) revist/ e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) c e/k, -ku, -qe, -qet (masc.) c ek i udh etuesit kart krediti valixh/e, -ja, -e, -et (fem.) bagazh, -i, -e, -et (masc.) (i,e) shtrenjt e (i,e) lir e sport, -i, -e, -et (masc.) ekip, -i, -e, -et (masc.) skuad er futbolli rrug e e gjer e qosh/e, -ja, -e, -et (fem.) qoshe rruge bllok qyteti semafor, -i, - e, - et (masc.) af er larg

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(i,e) djatht e (i,e) majt e djathtas majtas perball e ngjitur me (i,e) rrethuar nga nd er, midis mesnat e (fem.) mesdit e (fem.) thek buk e lloj, nis d egjoj udh etoj ndjek drejtoj praktikoj shoh, shikoj kaloj koh en Ku ke lindur? dita e par e g ezohem sonte at eher e secili, secila akoma kurrgj e, asgj e gjithc ka gjithashtu deri, derisa, gjersa m e von e, pastaj pun etor dembel/dembele (i,e) lumtur jo i lumtur/jo e lumtur (i,e) nj ejt e kurr e, asnj eher e si pasoj e bazuar n e, sipas n e qoft e se right left on the right on the left across from next to surrounded by among midnight midday, noon to toast, to break bread to begin, to start to listen to travel to attend to drive to practice to see to spend time Where were you born? the rst day charmed tonight then, in that case each still nothing everything also until later hardworking lazy happy unhappy same never therefore according to if

M esimi i gjasht e

6.2

Present Conjugations of Five Common Verbs

I say you say he/she says we say you (pl.)/you (fam.) say they say I see you see he/she sees we see you (pl.)/you (fam.) see they see I receive you receive

un e them ti thua ai/ajo thot e ne themi ju thoni ata/ato thuajn e un e shoh ti sheh ai/ajo sheh ne shohim ju shihni ata/ato shohin un e marr ti merr

23
ai/ajo merr ne marrim ju merrni ata/ato marrin un e pi ti pi ai/ajo pi ne pim e ju pini ata/ato pin e un e ha ti ha ai/ajo ha ne ham e ju hani ata/ato han e he/she receives we receive you (pl.)/you (fam.) receive they receive I drink you drink he/she drinks we drink you (pl.), you (form.) drink they drink I eat you eat he/she eats we eat you (pl.), you (form.) eat they eat

6.3

Present Indicative of Verbs of the Second Kind

Verbs that end in a consonant comprise the second group of verbs in Albanian. Examples are: jap = to give, hap = to open, vendos = to put, and mbyll = to close. The endings for the Present Indicative of regular verbs of the second kind are given below. The present indicative of many verbs in Albanian have the same endings as verbs of the second kind, but have stem charges as well. Some examples of those verbs are given above (shoh, marr) others are pres and p ers eris, in which the nal s changes to a t in the second and third person singular. un e jap ti jap ai/ajo jap ne japim ju japni ata/ato japin un e vendos ti vendos ai/ajo vendos ne vendosim ju vendosni ata/ato vendosin un e hap ti hap ai/ajo hap ne hapim ju hapni ata/ato hapin un e mbyll ti mbyll ai/ajo mbyll ne mbyllim ju mbyllni ata/ato mbyllin un e p ers eris ti p ers erit ai/ajo p ers erit ne p ers erisim ju p ers erisni ata/ato p ers erisin I give you give he/she gives we give you (pl.)/you (fam.) give they give I put you put he/she puts we put you (pl.), you (form.) put they put I open you open he/she opens we open you (pl.)/you (fam.) open they open I close you close he/she closes we close you (pl.)/you (fam.) close they close I repeat you repeat he/she repeats we repeat you (pl.)/you (fam.) repeat they repeat

24
un e pres ti pret ai/ajo pret ne presim ju presni ata/ato presin I wait you wait he/she wait we wait you (pl.)/you (fam.) wait they wait

M esimi i gjasht e

6.4

To Be Going To

Albanian has a very similar expression to the English construction to be going to. It is the simplest way of expressing future action as it only requires that do t e be placed in front of the verb. Do t e shkoj ... Do t e shkojm e ... Do t e blejn e ... Ju do t e merrni Do t e shikoj ... Ajo do t e ka ... Im going to go ... Were going to go ... They are going to buy ... You (pl.) are going to take ... Im going to watch ... Shes going to have ...

6.5

The Possessive (Genitive) Case of the Noun

Albanian, unlike English, has several conjugations of the noun. The Genitive case of the noun is analogous to the English possessive case, it is used to denote the possessor of an object or the performer of an action. Johns car Dianas sister The form of the genitive case depends both on the gender of the owner, and the object that is owned. The general form is object that is owned + connective article + genitive case of owner. For masculine owners, the genitive is formed by an -it or -ut to the indenite form of the noun, usually depending on whether the denite form of the noun ends in a i or u. For feminine owners, the genitive case is formed by adding -s or not. For plural nouns, the genitive case is formed by or -s e, usually depending on whether the indenite noun ends e adding -ve to the noun, irregardless of gender. The connective article depends on the gender of the object that is owned, i if masculine, e if feminine, and e if plural of either gender. libri i Agimit v ellai i Gjergjit motra e Agimit dhoma e muzeut kafazi i zogut libri i El es vendi i kinemas e burri i gruas e motra e El es revista e vajz es kafja e profesoresh es libri e shokve librat e shokve motra e shokve motrat e shokve libri e shoqeve librat e shoqeve motra e shoqeve Agims book Georges brother Agims sister the museums room the birds cage Elas book the cinemas seat the womans husband Elas sister the girls magazine the (fem.) professors coffee the friends book the friends books the friends sister the friends sisters the friends book the friends books the friends sister

25
motrat e shoqeve kafazi e zogjve dhomat e muzeve the friends sisters the birds cage the museums rooms

M esimi i shtat e

7.1

Vocabulary
tourism vacation trip airport ight ticket (for a plane, bus, etc.) one way ticket return ticket reservation aisle seat window seat delay room key elevator soap room service towel overlooking, with a view of ... postcard ofce ofce of tourism passport customs embassy information inspector (masc.) inspector (fem.) to register place places of interest to happen, to take place kiss truth ready together long What is the exchange rate. waiting list video camera something anything before nothing more per, for around here to cancel

turiz em, -i, - e, - et (masc.) pushim, -i, -e, -et (masc.) udh etim, -i, -e, -et (masc.) aeroport, -i, -e, -et (masc.) uturim, -i, -e, -et (masc.) bilet/ e, -a, -, -at (fem.) bilet e p er nj e rrug e bilet e p er dy rrug e reservim (masc.) karriga af er koridorit karriga af er dritarit vones e (fem.) dhome e (fem.) c el es (masc.) ashensor (masc.) sapun (masc.) sh erbim dhome peshqir (masc.) m e bamje nga ... kartolin e (fem.) zyr e (fem.) zyra e turismet pasaport e (fem.) dogan e (fem.) ambasad e (fem.) infomacion (masc.) inspektor inspektore regjistroj vend (masc.) vende interesante q elloj buthje (fem.) e v erteta (fem.) gati bashk e (i,e) gjat e Sa e sht e k embini list pritje kamera (fem.) dic ka ndonj e gj e para, p erpara se asgj e tjet er p er rreth e rrotull anulloj

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pohoj, konrmoj kam dic ka p er t e deklaruar kaloj koh en kaloj pranoj blej deklaroj rmos arrij, mb errij tregoj marr sh enoj l e pas paguaj kushtoj b ej pyetje imi/imja, timi/timja to conrm to have something to declare to spend time to pass by to accept to buy to declare to sign to arrive to show to take to write down, to note to leave behind to pay to cost to ask a question mine

7.2

The Forms of the Noun, Part II

As mentioned before, the rules for creating the denite singular, indenite and denite plural forms of the noun are complicated. The rules that follow serve as a good guide for creating these forms, however, as with any language, there are exceptions to watch out for. Some regular nouns and exceptions are included in the examples here. If the noun is masculine and ends with ... ... a consonant, but not a -k, -g, -h, - er or - el: bir, -i, -e, -et. ... an - e: djath/ e, -i, -enj, -enjte. ... -a (but not -ua): xhaxh/a, -ai, -ez er -ez erit. ... -ua: kru/a, -i, -nj, -njt e. ... - er: lib/ er, -ri, -ra, -rat. ... - el: cik/ el, -li, -la, -lat. ... -k: shok, -u, - e, - et. ... -g: zo/g, -gu, -gje, -gjet. ... -h: krah, -u, - e, - et. ... - e or - a: dhe, -u, -ra, -rat. ... - : ari, -u, -nj, -njt e. ... an accent on the last vowel: gj u, -ri, -nj, -njt e. There are many exceptions within this class. If the noun denotes a person or type of person: optim st, -i, - e, - et If the noun is feminine and ends with ... ... - e: pun/ e, -a, -a, -at. ... -e or -o: dritar/e, -ja, -e, -et. ... a stressed vowel: sht ep , -a, -, -t e. ... a consonant, but not - el or - er: kumbull, -a, -a, -at. ... - el: veg/ el, -la, -la, -lat. ... - er or -r e: qend/ er, -ra, -ra, rat. ... -ua: gr/ua, -uaja, -a, -at e. If the noun denotes a person or type of person: optim ste, -ja, -e, -et stacion, -i, -e, -et (masc.) njoft m, -i, -e, -et (masc.) pjep er (masc.) perimet er (masc.) num/ er, -ri, -ra, -rat (masc.) sem est/ er, -ri, -rat (masc.) c irak, -u, - e, - et (masc.) njerk, -u, - e, - et (masc.) tre/g, -gu, -gje, -gjet (masc.) station notice, information cantaloupe circumference number semester apprentice stepfather market

28
var/g, -gu, -gje, -gjet (masc.) c ilim , -u, -nj, -njt e (masc.) statuj/ e, -a, -a, -at stuf/ e, -a, -a, -at pr esj/e, -a, -e, -et (fem.) rr okj/e, -a, -e, -et (fem.) energj , -a, -, -t e (fem.) histor , -a, -, -t e (fem.) v etull, -a, -a, -at (fem.) kukull, -a, -a, -at (fem.) qershig el (fem.) xhung/ el, -la, -la, -lat (fem.) bo/r e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) lak/ er, -ra, -ra, -rat (fem.) c ikl st, -i, - e, - et (masc.) c ikl ste, -ja, -e, -et (fem.) novel st, -i, - e, - et (masc.) novel st, -ja -e, -et (fem.) b erryl, -i, -a, -at (masc.) c el /k, -ku, -qe, -qet (masc.) h ua, -ja, -, -t (fem.) sy, -ri, -, -t e (masc.) ngj t es, -i, -, -it (masc.) vend es, -i, -, -it (masc.) prind, -i, - er, - erit (masc.) semaf or, -i, - e, - et (masc.) string child statue stove comma syllable energy history eye-brow doll, pupet blueberry jungle snow cabbage cyclist (masc.) cyclist (fem.) novelist (masc.) novelist (fem.) elbow steel loan eye glue native parent stoplight

M esimi i shtat e

7.3

Comparisons of Inequality

Using an adjective, we can make a comparison of inequality by using the form m e + (i,e) + (adjective) + sesa = more + (adjective) + than. To make a similar comparison using adverbs use m e + (adverb) + sesa = more + (adverb) + than To compare quantities of a noun use m e shum e/pak + (noun) + sesa = more/less + (noun) + than m e (i,e) mir e m e (i,e) keq m e (i,e) gjate Jam m e i gjate sesa Marini. Vallezoj m e mir e sesa Marini. Kam m e shum e pare sesa Marini. better worse taller I am taller than Marin. I dance better than Marin. I have more money than Marin.

7.4

Comparisons of Equality

To make comparisons of equality, use the forms aq + (i,e) + (adjective) + sesa = as + (adjective) + as aq + (adjective) + sesa = as + (adverb) + as aq + (noun) + sesa = as much + (noun) + as e aq mir Esht e sesa ... Ai e sht e aq i gjate sesa ajo. Its as good as Hes as tall as her.

29
Ajo meson aq shpejt sesa ai. Kam aq pare sesa Marini. She learns as quickly as him. I have as much money as Marin.

7.5

The Superlative

The superlative is the form of the adjective used to express the tallest, the best, the worst, etc. To form the superlative in Albanian, the adjective is preceeded by m e (i,e) and the superlative form of the noun is used. The choice of (i,e) depends on the gender of the object described. The superlative form of the adjective usually only requires the adjective end in -i or -a depending again on the gender of the object. If the adjective ends in a - e, remove it before adding the -i or -a. m e + (i/e) + (superlative form of adjective) + ... m e i miri m e i gjati m e e gjata m e shum e + (noun) + sesa t e gjith e the most + (adjective) + ... best (masc.) tallest (masc.) tallest (fem.) more + (noun) + than anyone

Appendix: Supplemental Vocabulary

A.1

The Weather
mot, -i, ie, -et (masc.) klim/ e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) die/ll, -lli (masc.) qie/ll, -lli, -j, -jt (masc.) i tejduksh em, e tejdukshme re, -ja, -, -t e me re (i,e) ftoht e (i,e) fresk et (i,e) ngroht e (i,e) nxeht e aj/ er, -ri (masc.) er/ e, -a, - era, - erat (fem.) (i,e) that e (i,e) lag esht mjegull/ e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) me mjegull/ e pik/ e, -a, -a, -at pik e shiu aku/ll, -lli, -j, -jt (masc.) ngrij (i,e) ngrir e tufan, -i, - e, - et (masc.) stuh , -a, -a, -at (fem.) hij/e, -a, -e, -et (fem.) (i,e) err et h en/ e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) h en e e plot e h en ee h en e e re ylber, -i, - e, - et (masc.) bor/ e, -a, - era, - erat (masc.) bie d ebor e bresh/ er, -ri (masc.) bie bresh er shi, -u, -ra, -rat (masc.) bie shi vetetim/ e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) shkrept vetetim e bubullim/ e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) bubullij Si e sht e mot? A t e pelqen klima? e ftoft Esht e. e fresk Esht et. e mir Esht e. e nxeht Esht e.

weather climate sun sky clear cloud cloudy cold cool warm hot air wind dry humid fog foggy drop raindrop ice freeze frozen hurricane storm shade dark moon full moon half moon new moon rainbow snow to snow hail to hail rain to rain lightning to lightning thunder to thunder How is the weather? How do you like the weather? Its cold. Its cool. Its nice. Its hot.

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Its humid. Its a sunny day. Its windy. Its cloudy. Its raining. Its snowing. e lag Esht esht. e dit Esht e me diell. Ka er e. Ka re. Bie shi. Bie d ebor e.