The Albanian language certainly does not belong to the group of popular languages that are widely known, despite the fact that the country itself is popular for tourists, so it is worth learning at least a few basic phrases in Albanian, the more that English is not very common there.
Albanian language
Albanian is spoken by over 6 million people – in Albania, Kosovo, Northern Macedonia, as well as in Italy and Greece. It is an Indo-European language from the satem group, with a pronunciation reminiscent of rustling. The Albanian language is not similar to virtually any other. In most tourist destinations, usually those stretched along the Albanian coast, menu cards are usually already printed in two languages. Waiters and hotel staff can speak English to a greater or lesser extent, just like the local youth.
Sometimes you can also communicate in other languages, which is mainly due to migration to neighboring countries. For example, in Vlora, we can also communicate in Italian, while in the southern part of the Albanian Riviera – in Dhermi, Himare or Saranda, you can also communicate in Greek.
Older people may also try to speak Russian or German to us.
Greetings in Albanian
- Përshëndetje – bye
- Mirëmëngjes – good morning
- Tungjatjeta – welcome
- Mirëmbrëma – good evening
- Mirupafshim – goodbye
- Natën e mirë – good night
Basic words in Albanian
- Po – yes
- Jo – no
- Faleminderit – thank you
- Ju lutem – please
- Më falni – I’m sorry
- Leke – money
- I shtrenjte – expensive
- I lire – cheap
- Tani – now
- Me vone – later
- Sot – today
- Neser – tomorrow
- Ne mengjes – in the morning
- Ne darke – in the evening
- Naten – at night
- Taxi – a taxi
- Aeroporti – airport
- Stacioni i trenit – train station
- Stacioni i autobuzit – bus station
- Ambasada – embassy
- Dyqani – store
- Hoteli – hotel
- Tualeti, banjo – bathroom
- Mengjes – breakfast
- Dreka – dinner
- Darek – supper
- Gra – women’s toilet
- Burra – men’s toilet
- Zot – Mr.
- Zonja – lady
- Hyrja – entrance
- Dalja – exit
- Hapur – open
- Mbyllur – closed
Numbers in Albanian
- Një – one
- Dy – two
- Tre – three
- Katër – four
- Pesë – five
- Gjashtë – six
- Shtatë – seven
- Tetë – eight
- Nëntë – nine
- Dhjetë – ten
- Njëzetë – twenty
- Pesëdhjetë – fifty
- Njëqind – one hundred
- Njëmijë – a thousand
- Një million – milion
Basic phrases in Albanian, useful when traveling
- Nuk kuptoj – I do not understand
- Nuk flas shqip – I don’t speak Albanian
- Flute anglisht? – do you speak English?
- A me kuptoni? – do you understand me?
- Ckemi – what’s up
- Si e ke emrin? – What is your name?
- Quhem – my name is
- Si je – how are you?
- Ku eshte – where is
- A keni dhoma te lira? – are there free rooms?
- Sa kushton? – How much does it cost?
- Dua – I would like to
- llogarine te lutem – I am asking for an invoice
- Kam humbur rrugën – I’m lost
- Ju lutem më ndihmoni – please help me
- Ndihem keq – I feel bad
- Jam i lënduar – I am injured
- Më duhet një mjek – I need a doctor
Albanian words helpful in the restaurant
- Thikë – a knife
- Lugë – spoon
- Pirun – fork
- Kripë – salt
- Piper – pepper
- Sheqer – sugar
- Vaj ulliri – olive oil
- Gjalpë – butter
- Mish – meat
- Pots – chicken
- Gici – pork
- Vici – beef
- Qengji – Mutton
- Peshk – fish
- Salcin – sausage
- Bukë – bread
- Djathë – cheese
- Veze – eggs
- Pasta – Pasta
- Pilaf – rice
- Supe – soup
- Sallate – Salad
- Perime – vegetables
- Fruta – fruit
- Akullorë – ice cream
- Uji mineral me gas / pa gas – still / sparkling mineral water
- Lëng frutash – fruit juice
- Kafe – coffee
- Qumësht – milk
- Caj – tea
- Birrë – beer
- Verë – wine
What other Albanian words should you know?