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| | '''Albanian''' is the national language of [[Albania]]. It is an official language of [[Kosovo]] and spoken by the majority of the population as a native tongue. Albanian also enjoys regional status in the [[Republic of Macedonia]]. | | '''Albanian''' is the national language of [[Albania]]. It is an official language of [[Kosovo]] and spoken by the majority of the population as a native tongue. Albanian also enjoys regional status in the [[Republic of Macedonia]]. |
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| − | Albanian is an easy language to know and learn since most of their letters does not change sounds as other languages do so you'll get the same sounds all the time. | + | Albanian has two main dialects, '''Gheg''' and '''Tosk''', or the northern and southern dialects. The official standard is based on Tosk dialect since 1940s (both in Albania and in Kosovo, though the latter completely falls within the borders of northern dialect), which is reported to be a "softer" version of the language by native speakers. While the two dialects are mutually intelligible, a number of differences between each other exist. |
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| | + | Albanian is an easy language to know and learn since most of their letters do not change sounds as they do in many other languages. |
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| | ==Pronunciation guide== | | ==Pronunciation guide== |
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| − | Albanian is written as it's pronunced. The Albanian alphabet consists of 36 letters of the Latin script. The alphabet was standardized in 1909. Albanian is a branch of Indo-European and considered to be the only language derived from the extinct Illyrian language. Albanian also is spoken in Greece, Italy, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, South Serbia, and Turkey. | + | Albanian is written as it is pronounced. The Albanian alphabet consists of 36 letters of the Latin script. The alphabet was standardised in 1909. Albanian is a branch of Indo-European and is considered to be the only language derived from the extinct Illyrian language. Albanian also is spoken in Greece, Italy, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, South Serbia, and Turkey. |
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| | ===Stress=== | | ===Stress=== |
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| − | For the vast majority of words, the main '''stress''' falls on the last word of a phrase, on the last stem of a compound word and on the last syllable of a word. | + | For the vast majority of words, the main '''stress''' falls on the last word of a phrase, on the last stem of a compound word, and on the last syllable of a word. |
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| | ===Vowels=== | | ===Vowels=== |
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| | ; Uu : 'oo' as in "moon" | | ; Uu : 'oo' as in "moon" |
| | ; Ëë : 'u' as in "up" or 'a' in "above" (it is silent at times at the end of a word) | | ; Ëë : 'u' as in "up" or 'a' in "above" (it is silent at times at the end of a word) |
| − | ; Yy : 'y' as the French 'u' or the German 'ü'. To pronounce the sound, place your mouth in the position you would when you say 'oo' as in "moon", but say 'ee' as in "feet" instead. The closest sound in English as is 'ue' in "blue" or 'ew' as in "flew". | + | ; Yy : 'y' as the French 'u' or the German 'ü'. To pronounce the sound, place your mouth in the position you would when you say 'oo' as in "moon", but say 'ee' as in "feet" instead. The closest sound in British English as is 'ue' in "blue" or 'ew' as in "flew". |
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| | ===Consonants=== | | ===Consonants=== |
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| | ; Ff : 'f' as in "film" | | ; Ff : 'f' as in "film" |
| | ; Gg : 'g' as in "great" (sometimes giving off a throaty sound) | | ; Gg : 'g' as in "great" (sometimes giving off a throaty sound) |
| − | ; Gjgj : 'dge' as in "dodge" | + | ; Gjgj : 'dge' as in "dodge" or 'j' in "jet" |
| | ; Hh : 'h' as in "helicopter" (slightly aspirated] | | ; Hh : 'h' as in "helicopter" (slightly aspirated] |
| | ; Jj : 'y' as in "year" | | ; Jj : 'y' as in "year" |
| | ; Kk : 'k' as in "bank" | | ; Kk : 'k' as in "bank" |
| | ; Ll : 'l' as in "milk" | | ; Ll : 'l' as in "milk" |
| − | ; Llll : 'll' as in "mill" (as pronounced in [[Great Britain]]) | + | ; Llll : 'll' as in "balloon" or "mill" (as pronounced in [[Great Britain]]) |
| | ; Mm : 'm' as in "mother" | | ; Mm : 'm' as in "mother" |
| | ; Nn : 'n' as in "nest" | | ; Nn : 'n' as in "nest" |
| | ; Njnj : 'ni' as in "onion" (same as the Spanish 'ñ' sound) | | ; Njnj : 'ni' as in "onion" (same as the Spanish 'ñ' sound) |
| | ; Pp : 'p' as in "problem" | | ; Pp : 'p' as in "problem" |
| − | ; Qq : 'ch' as in "chat" (as in "quick" only for foreign words) | + | ; Qq : hard 'ch' as in "a'''ctu'''ally" (as in "quick" only for foreign words) |
| | ; Rr : 'r' as in "rico" (trilled) | | ; Rr : 'r' as in "rico" (trilled) |
| − | ; Rrrr : 'rr' as in "perro" (strongly trilled) | + | ; Rrrr : 'rr' as in Spanish "perro" (strongly trilled) |
| | ; Ss : 's' as in "hospital" | | ; Ss : 's' as in "hospital" |
| | ; Shsh : 'sh' as in "ship" | | ; Shsh : 'sh' as in "ship" |
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| | ===Common diphthongs=== | | ===Common diphthongs=== |
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| − | ; io : the 'io' in "million" | + | ; io : 'io' as in "million" |
| | + | ; ua : 'ua' as in 'iguana' |
| | + | |
| | + | ===Other Sounds=== |
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| − | ====Other Sounds====
| + | ; oj : 'oy' as in "boy" |
| | + | ; aj : 'i' as in "night" |
| | + | ; ej : 'ay' as in "play" |
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| | ; tje : [tyeh] like the Spanish word 'tie' in "tiesto" | | ; tje : [tyeh] like the Spanish word 'tie' in "tiesto" |
| − | ; nju : [nyoo] similar to the word "new" | + | ; nje : [nyeh] like the Spanish word 'ñe' in "muñeco" |
| | + | ; nju : [nyoo] like the English word "new" |
| | ; njo : [nyoh] like the Spanish word "moño" | | ; njo : [nyoh] like the Spanish word "moño" |
| | ; aja : [ayah]/[aia] like the Italian word 'aia' in "baia" | | ; aja : [ayah]/[aia] like the Italian word 'aia' in "baia" |
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| | ; lje : [lyeh] like the Italian word "moglie" | | ; lje : [lyeh] like the Italian word "moglie" |
| | ; dja : [dyah] like the Spanish word "día" | | ; dja : [dyah] like the Spanish word "día" |
| | + | ; rja : [ryah] like the 'ria' in "Maria" |
| | | | |
| | ==Phrase list== | | ==Phrase list== |
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| | {{infobox|Common signs| | | {{infobox|Common signs| |
| − | ; OPEN : HAPUR (''hah-POOR'') | + | ; OPEN : HAPUR (''HAH-poor'') |
| − | ; CLOSED : MBYLLUR (''mbew-LLOOR'') | + | ; CLOSED : MBYLLUR (''MBEW-lloor'') |
| − | ; ENTRANCE : HYRJA (''hewr-YAH'') | + | ; ENTRANCE : HYRJA (''HEWR-yah'') |
| − | ; EXIT : DALJE (''dah-LYEH'') | + | ; EXIT : DALJE (''DAH-lyeh'') |
| − | ; PUSH : SHTYJE (''shtew-YEH'') | + | ; PUSH : SHTYJE (''SHTEW-yeh'') |
| − | ; PULL : NDUKJE (''ndoo-KYEH'') | + | ; PULL : NDUKJE (''NDOO-kyeh'') |
| | ; TOILET : TUALET (''twah-LEHT'') | | ; TOILET : TUALET (''twah-LEHT'') |
| − | ; MEN : BURRA (''boo-RRAH'') | + | ; MEN : BURRA (''BOO-rrah'') |
| − | ; WOMEN : GRATË (''grah-TUH'') | + | ; WOMEN : GRATË (''GRA-tuh'') |
| − | ; FORBIDDEN : NDALUAR (''ndah-LWAHR'')}} | + | ; FORBIDDEN : NDALUAR (''ndah-LOO-ahr'')}} |
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| − | ; Hello. : Tungjatjeta. (''toon-jah-tyeh-TAH'') | + | ; Hello. : Tungjatjeta. (''toon-jah-TYEH-tah'') |
| − | ; Hello. (''informal'') : Tung. (''toong'') | + | ; Hello. (''informal'') : Tung. (''TOONG'') |
| − | ; How are you? : Si jeni? (''see yeh-NEE?'') | + | ; How are you? : Si jeni? (''see YEH-nee?'') |
| − | ; Well, thanks. : Jam mirë, faleminderit. (''yahm-MEER, fah-lehm-meen-deh-REET'') | + | ; Well, thanks. : Jam mirë, faleminderit. (''yahm-MEER, fah-lehm-meen-DEH-reet'') |
| − | ; Mrs./Madam : Zonjë (''zoh-NYAH'') | + | ; Mrs./Madam : Zonjë (''ZOH-nyuh'') |
| | ; Mr./Sir : Zotëri (''zoh-teh-REE'') | | ; Mr./Sir : Zotëri (''zoh-teh-REE'') |
| − | ; Miss : Zonjushë (''zoh-nyoo-SHAH'') | + | ; Miss : Zonjushë (''zoh-NYOO-shuh'') |
| − | ; What is your name? : Si e ke emrin? (''see keh ahm-REEN?'') | + | ; What is your name? : Si e ke emrin? (''see keh EHM-reen?'') |
| − | ; My name is ______ . : Quhem______ . (''choo-HEHM_____ .'') | + | ; My name is ______ . : Quhem______ . (''CHYOO-hem_____ .'') |
| − | ; Pleased to meet you. : Më vjen mirë. (''muh vyehn meer'') | + | ; Pleased to meet you. : Më vjen mirë. (''muh VYEHN MEER'') |
| − | ; Please. : Ju lutem. (''yoo loo-TEHM'') | + | ; Please. : Ju lutem. (''yoo LOO-tehm'') |
| − | ; Thank you. : Faleminderit. (''fah-lehm-meen-deh-REET'') | + | ; Thank you. : Faleminderit. (''fah-lehm-meen-DEH-reet'') |
| − | ; You're welcome. : S'ka përse. (''suh'kah puhrs'') | + | ; You're welcome. : S'ka përse. (''skah purr-SEH'') |
| | ; Yes. : Po. (''poh'') | | ; Yes. : Po. (''poh'') |
| − | ; No. : Jo. (''yah'') | + | ; No. : Jo. (''yoh'') |
| − | ; Excuse me. (''getting attention'') : Më falni. (''mah fahl-NEE'') | + | ; Excuse me. (''getting attention'') : Më falni. (''mah FAHL-nee'') |
| − | ; Excuse me. (''begging pardon'') : Më falni. (''mah fahl-NEE'') | + | ; Excuse me. (''begging pardon'') : Më falni. (''mah FAHL-nee'') |
| − | ; Forgive (me). : Falni (''fahl-NEE'') | + | ; Forgive (me). : Falni (''FAHL-nee'') |
| − | ; I'm sorry. : Më vjen keq. (''mah vyehn ketch'') | + | ; I'm sorry. : Më vjen keq. (''mah VYEHN ketch'') |
| − | ; Goodbye : Mirupafshim. (''mee-roo-pahf-SHEEM'') | + | ; Goodbye : Mirupafshim. (''mee-roo-PAHF-sheem'') |
| − | ; Goodbye (''informal'') : Shëndet. (''shahn-DEHT'') | + | ; Goodbye (''informal'') : Shëndet. (''shuhn-DEHT'') |
| − | ; Do you speak English? : A flisni Anglisht? (''ah flees-NEE ahn-GLEESHT'') | + | ; Do you speak English? : A flisni Anglisht? (''ah FLEES-nee ahn-GLEESHT'') |
| − | ; Does anyone speak English? : A flet njeri anglisht? (''ah fleht nyeh-REE ahn-GLEESHT?'') | + | ; Does anyone speak English? : A flet njeri anglisht? (''ah FLEHT NYEH-ree ahn-GLEESHT?'') |
| | ; Help! : Ndihmë! (''ndeem!'') | | ; Help! : Ndihmë! (''ndeem!'') |
| − | ; Good morning. : Mirëmëngjes. (''myehr-mehn-JEHS'') | + | ; Good morning. : Mirëmëngjes. (''meer-muhn-JEHS'') |
| − | ; Good afternoon/Good day. : Mirëdita. (''myehr-dee-TAH'') | + | ; Good afternoon/Good day. : Mirëdita. (''meer-DEE-tah'') |
| − | ; Good evening. : Mirëmbrëma. (''myehrm-breh-MAH'') | + | ; Good evening. : Mirëmbrëma. (''meerm-BRUH-mah'') |
| − | ; Good night. : Natën e mirë. (''nah-TEHN eh meer'') | + | ; Good night. : Natën e mirë. (''NAH-tehn eh MEER'') |
| | ; I don't understand. : Nuk kuptoj. (''nook koop-TOY'') | | ; I don't understand. : Nuk kuptoj. (''nook koop-TOY'') |
| | ; I understand. : Kuptoj. (''koop-TOY'') | | ; I understand. : Kuptoj. (''koop-TOY'') |
| − | ; Where are the toilets? : Ku është Nevetorja? (''koo ahsht neh-veh-toh-RYAH?'') | + | ; Where are the toilets? : Ku është nevojtorja? (''koo uhsht neh-voy-TOHR-yah?'') |
| | | | |
| | ===Problems=== | | ===Problems=== |
| | | | |
| | ; Help! : Ndihmë! (''ndeem!'') | | ; Help! : Ndihmë! (''ndeem!'') |
| − | ; Go away! : Largohu! (''lahr-goh-HOO!'') | + | ; Go away! : Largohu! (''lahr-GOH-hoo!'') |
| − | ; Thief! : Hajdut! (''hai-DOOT!'') | + | ; Thief! : Hajdut! (''hi-DOOT!'') |
| − | ; Stop! Thief! : Ndalimi! Hajdut! (''ndah-lee-MEE hai-DOOT'') | + | ; Stop! Thief! : Ndalimi! Hajdut! (''ndah-LOO-nee hi-DOOT'') |
| | ; I'm lost. : Kam humbur rrugën. (''kam HOOM-boor RROO-guhn'') | | ; I'm lost. : Kam humbur rrugën. (''kam HOOM-boor RROO-guhn'') |
| − | ; Could you help me please? : A mund të më ndihmoni ju lutem? (''ah moond tuh muh NDEE-moh-nee yoo LOO-tehm?'') | + | ; Could you help me please? : A mund të më ndihmoni ju lutem? (''ah MOOND tuh muh ndee-MOH-nee yoo LOO-tehm?'') |
| − | ; Leave me alone! : Më lini të qetë! (''mah lee-NEE tah cheht'') | + | ; Leave me alone! : Më lini të qetë! (''muh LEE-nee tuh CHEHT'') |
| − | ; Don't touch me! : Mos më prek! (''mohs mah prehk'') | + | ; Don't touch me! : Mos më prek! (''moss muh prehk'') |
| − | ; Call the police! : Tërhiqni vëmendjen e policisë! (''tahr-hee-CHNEE vah-mehn-JEHN eh poh-lee-TSEES'') | + | ; Call the police! : Tërhiqni vëmendjen e policisë! (''tuhr-HEECH-nee vuh-MEND-yen eh poh-lee-TSEES'') |
| − | ; Police! : Policia! (''poh-lee-SYAH'') | + | ; Police! : Policia! (''poh-lee-TSEE-yah'') |
| − | ; I need your help. : Unë kam nevojë për ndihmën tuaj. (''oon kahm neh-VOY pehr ndih-MAN tway'') | + | ; I need your help. : Unë kam nevojë për ndihmën tuaj. (''oon kahm neh-VOY puhr NDEE-uhn TOO-eye'') |
| − | ; It's an emergency. : Është një rast urgjent. (''ahsht nyah rahst oor-JEHNT'') | + | ; It's an emergency. : Është një rast urgjent. (''uhsht nyuh RAHST oor-JEHNT'') |
| − | ; I'm lost. : Unë jam i humbur. (''oon yahm ee hoom-BOOR'') | + | ; I'm lost. : Unë jam i humbur. (''oon yahm ee HOOM-boor'') |
| − | ; I lost my bag. : Kam humbur çanta ime. (''kahm hoom-BOOR chahn-TAH ee-MEH'') | + | ; I lost my bag. : Kam humbur çanten time. (''kahm HOOM-boor CHAHN-ten TEE-meh'') |
| − | ; I lost my wallet. : Kam humbur portofolin tim. (''kahm hoom-BOOR pohr-toh-foh-LEEN teem'') | + | ; I lost my wallet. : Kam humbur portofolin tim. (''kahm HOOM-boor pohr-toh-FOH-leen teem'') |
| − | ; I'm sick/ill. : Unë jam i sëmurë. (''yahm ee smoor'') | + | ; I'm sick/ill. : Unë jam i sëmurë. (''oon yahm ee suh-MOOR'') |
| − | ; I've been injured. : Unë kam qenë plagosur. (''oon kahm chehn plah-goh-SOOR'') | + | ; I've been injured. : Unë kam qenë plagosur. (''oon kahm chehn plah-GOH-soor'') |
| − | ; I need a doctor. : Unë kam nevojë për një doktor. (''oon kahm neh-VOY pehr nyeh dohk-TOHR'') | + | ; I need a doctor. : Unë kam nevojë për një doktor. (''oon kahm neh-VOY puhr nyuh dohk-TOHR'') |
| − | ; Can I use your phone? : Mund të përdorni telefonin tuaj? (''moond teh puhr-dohr-NEE teh-leh-foh-NEEN twai?'') | + | ; Can I use your phone? : Mund të përdorni telefonin tuaj? (''moond teh puhr-DOHR-nee teh-leh-FOH-nee TOO-eye?'') |
| | | | |
| | ===Numbers=== | | ===Numbers=== |
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| | ; 1000 : njëmijë (''NYUH-mee-yuh'') | | ; 1000 : njëmijë (''NYUH-mee-yuh'') |
| | ; one million : një milion (''nyeh mee-LYOHN'') | | ; one million : një milion (''nyeh mee-LYOHN'') |
| | + | ; 1,000,000,000 milliard (''MILL-YARD'') one billion in UK, one trillion in USA |
| | | | |
| | ===Time=== | | ===Time=== |
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| | ; van : furgon (''foor-GOHN'') | | ; van : furgon (''foor-GOHN'') |
| | ; truck : kamion (''kah-MYOHN'') | | ; truck : kamion (''kah-MYOHN'') |
| − | ; trolley : karrocë (''kahr-ROHTS'') | + | ; trolley bus : trolejbus (''troh-lay-BOOS'') |
| | ; tram : tramvaji (''trahm-VAI'') | | ; tram : tramvaji (''trahm-VAI'') |
| | ; train : treni (''treh-NEE'') | | ; train : treni (''treh-NEE'') |
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| | ; bicycle : biçikletë (''bee-chee-KLEHT'') | | ; bicycle : biçikletë (''bee-chee-KLEHT'') |
| | ; motorcycle : motor/motorçikletë (''moh-TOHR/moh-tohr-chee-KLEHT'') | | ; motorcycle : motor/motorçikletë (''moh-TOHR/moh-tohr-chee-KLEHT'') |
| − | ; carriage : topi (''toh-PEE'') | + | ; carriage : karrocë (''kahr-ROHTS'') |
| | ; Could I rent a______? : Mund të marr me qira një______? (''moond teh mahrr meh gee-RAH nyeh...?'') | | ; Could I rent a______? : Mund të marr me qira një______? (''moond teh mahrr meh gee-RAH nyeh...?'') |
| | ; How much are your rates? : Sa janë tarifat tuaja? (''sah yahn tah-ree-FAHT twah-YAH?'') | | ; How much are your rates? : Sa janë tarifat tuaja? (''sah yahn tah-ree-FAHT twah-YAH?'') |
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| | '''A pint, please.''' | | '''A pint, please.''' |
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| − | Një birre, ju lutem). | + | Një pintë, ju lutem (''nyah peen-TUH, yoo loo-TEHM'') |
| | | | |
| | '''A bottle, please'''. | | '''A bottle, please'''. |
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| | * [http://www.albanianlanguage.net/ Robert Elsie Albanian Language] | | * [http://www.albanianlanguage.net/ Robert Elsie Albanian Language] |
| − | * [http://learnalbanianlanguage.com/default.aspx International Albanian Language Course] | + | * [http://learnalbanianlanguage.com/ International Albanian Language Course] |
| | * [http://www.albanian.com/main/culture/language/index.html Albanian Language] | | * [http://www.albanian.com/main/culture/language/index.html Albanian Language] |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| − | | + | [[nl:Taalgids Albanees]] |
| | [[sv:Albansk parlör]] | | [[sv:Albansk parlör]] |
| | + | |
| | + | {{guidephrasebook}} |
| | + | {{phrasebookguide}} |
Albanian is an easy language to know and learn since most of their letters do not change sounds as they do in many other languages.
Albanian is written as it is pronounced. The Albanian alphabet consists of 36 letters of the Latin script. The alphabet was standardised in 1909. Albanian is a branch of Indo-European and is considered to be the only language derived from the extinct Illyrian language. Albanian also is spoken in Greece, Italy, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, South Serbia, and Turkey.
Albania uses the 24 hour clock.
Një birre/dy birra , ju lutem. (nyah beer-RAH/dew beer-RAH, yoo loo-TEHM)
Një shishe, ju lutem. (nyah shee-SHEH, yoo loo-TEHM)
Një tjeter, ju lutem. (nyah tyeh-TEHR, yoo loo-TEHM)
Një tjetër raund, ju lutem. (nyah tyeh-TAHR round, yoo loo-TEHM)
You need to remember that most of the road signs are in picture form and not by words like they do in America. Some such as the common 'STOP' sign shall be seen in major cities in Albania. But get a European road guide that would show which road signs you wish to know.