Albanian phrases: politeness

• Përshëndetje!

  [pur-shun-DET-yeh!]

  Hello!

  💡 Neutral greeting. In everyday life people more often say "Mirëdita".

• Mirëdita!

  [mee-ruh-DEE-tah!]

  Good day! / Hello!

  💡 The most common polite greeting, used most of the day. The reply is the same.

• Mirëmëngjes!

  [mee-ruh-mun-GYES!]

  Good morning!

  💡 Until around noon; after that use "Mirëdita".

• Mirëmbrëma!

  [mee-rum-BRUH-mah!]

  Good evening!

  💡 Evening greeting. When leaving at night say "Natën e mirë!".

• Natën e mirë!

  [NAH-tun eh MEE-ruh!]

  Good night!

  💡 Reply the same or "Po ashtu" (likewise).

• Mirupafshim!

  [mee-roo-PAHF-sheem!]

  Goodbye!

  💡 Literally "may we see each other well". Informally: "Çao" or "Shihemi!".

• Ç'kemi?

  [ch-KEH-mee?]

  Hi! What's up?

  💡 Very common informal greeting among friends. Reply "Mirë" (fine) or "Ç'kemi" back.

• Po.

  [poh.]

  Yes.

  💡 Also marks an ongoing action before a verb: "Po vij" — "I'm coming".

• Jo.

  [yoh.]

  No.

  💡 Politely: "Jo, faleminderit" — "No, thank you".

• Faleminderit!

  [fah-leh-meen-DEH-reet!]

  Thank you!

  💡 Stress on "-DEH-". Stronger: "Shumë faleminderit!".

• Shumë faleminderit!

  [SHOO-muh fah-leh-meen-DEH-reet!]

  Thank you very much!

• Ju lutem.

  [yoo LOO-tem.]

  Please. / You're welcome.

  💡 Both "please" and "you're welcome". Informal: "të lutem".

• S'ka përse.

  [skah pur-SEH.]

  You're welcome.

  💡 Typical reply to "Faleminderit". Colloquial alternative: "S'ka gjë".

• Më falni!

  [muh FAHL-nee!]

  Excuse me! / Sorry!

  💡 Formal/plural. Informal: "Më fal!".

• Më vjen keq.

  [muh vyen kehky.]

  I'm sorry.

  💡 Expresses regret. To get attention or pass by, use "Më falni".

• Nuk kuptoj.

  [nook koop-TOY.]

  I don't understand.

  💡 Add "Nuk kuptoj mirë shqip" — "I don't understand Albanian well".

• A flisni anglisht?

  [ah FLEES-nee ahn-GLEESHT?]

  Do you speak English?

  💡 "A" just marks a question. Italian ("italisht") is widely understood in Albania.

• Flas pak shqip.

  [flahs pahk shkyeep.]

  I speak a little Albanian.

  💡 "Shqip" = Albanian (language), "Shqipëri" = Albania.

• Mund ta përsëritni, ju lutem?

  [moond tah pur-suh-REET-nee, yoo LOO-tem?]

  Could you repeat that, please?

  💡 Informal: "Mund ta përsëritësh?".

• Flisni më ngadalë, ju lutem.

  [FLEES-nee muh ngah-DAH-luh, yoo LOO-tem.]

  Please speak more slowly.

  💡 "Më" before an adjective/adverb makes a comparative.

• Si thuhet shqip…?

  [see THOO-het shkyeep…?]

  How do you say … in Albanian?

  💡 "th" as in "think".

• Nuk e di.

  [nook eh dee.]

  I don't know.

  💡 "Nuk jam i sigurt" — I'm not sure.

• Në rregull.

  [nuh RREH-gool.]

  OK. / All right.

  💡 Also: "S'ka problem" (no problem), "Dakord" (agreed).

• Ku është tualeti?

  [koo USH-tuh too-ah-LEH-tee?]

  Where is the toilet?

  💡 People also say "Ku është banja?". "Ku është…?" = "Where is…?".

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