Albanian phrases: small talk

• Si jeni?

  [see YEH-nee?]

  How are you?

  💡 Formal/plural. Informal: "Si je?".

• Si je?

  [see yeh?]

  How are you? (informal)

  💡 Reply: "Mirë, po ti?".

• Mirë, faleminderit. Po ju?

  [MEE-ruh, fah-leh-meen-DEH-reet. poh yoo?]

  Fine, thanks. And you?

  💡 Here "po" means "and". Informal: "Po ti?".

• Si quheni?

  [see KYOO-heh-nee?]

  What's your name?

  💡 Informal: "Si quhesh?".

• Unë quhem Olena.

  [OO-nuh KYOO-hem oh-LEH-nah.]

  My name is Olena.

  💡 "Unë" (I) is often dropped.

• Gëzohem që u njohëm.

  [guh-ZOH-hem kyuh oo NYOH-hum.]

  Nice to meet you.

  💡 Short form: "Gëzohem!". Reply: "Edhe unë" (me too).

• Nga jeni?

  [ngah YEH-nee?]

  Where are you from?

  💡 Informal: "Nga je?".

• Jam nga Ukraina.

  [yahm ngah oo-krah-EE-nah.]

  I'm from Ukraine.

  💡 "në Ukrainë" = in/to Ukraine.

• Jam ukrainas. / Jam ukrainase.

  [yahm oo-krah-EE-nahs. / yahm oo-krah-EE-nah-seh.]

  I'm Ukrainian (m / f).

  💡 Masculine / feminine.

• Jetoj në Shqipëri prej një viti.

  [yeh-TOY nuh shkyee-puh-REE prey nyuh VEE-tee.]

  I've been living in Albania for a year.

  💡 "prej dy vitesh" — for two years; "prej tre muajsh" — for three months.

• Ku jetoni?

  [koo yeh-TOH-nee?]

  Where do you live?

  💡 Answer: "Jetoj në Tiranë".

• Me çfarë merreni?

  [meh CHFAH-ruh MEH-rreh-nee?]

  What do you do (for a living)?

  💡 Informal: "Me çfarë merresh?".

• Punoj si programist.

  [poo-NOY see proh-grah-MEEST.]

  I work as a programmer.

  💡 Other jobs: "mësues" (teacher), "infermiere" (nurse), "shofer" (driver).

• Keni fëmijë?

  [KEH-nee fuh-MEE-yuh?]

  Do you have children?

  💡 "fëmijë" is both child and children.

• Jam i martuar. / Jam e martuar.

  [yahm ee mahr-TOO-ahr. / yahm eh mahr-TOO-ahr.]

  I'm married (m / f).

  💡 "i" masculine, "e" feminine. Single: "beqar".

• Sa vjeç jeni?

  [sah vyech YEH-nee?]

  How old are you?

  💡 Answer: "Jam tridhjetë vjeç" — I'm thirty.

• Shqipëria është shumë e bukur.

  [shkyee-puh-REE-ah USH-tuh SHOO-muh eh BOO-koor.]

  Albania is very beautiful.

  💡 A great conversation starter.

• Po mësoj shqip.

  [poh muh-SOY shkyeep.]

  I'm learning Albanian.

  💡 "po" + verb = present continuous.

• Shihemi!

  [SHEE-heh-mee!]

  See you!

  💡 Formal: "Mirupafshim".

• Shihemi nesër!

  [SHEE-heh-mee NEH-sur!]

  See you tomorrow!

  💡 Also: "Shihemi më vonë" — see you later.

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