Never underestimate how far a simple përshëndetje can take you in Albania, or Kosovo. It means Hello in Albanian, and just by virtue of trying to speak the language with the locals, you will make many new friends, get quite a few cups of coffee or desserts for free, and who knows, even new doors of opportunities will be open for you.
That’s simply because Albanians love it when foreigners try to learn their language and respect their traditions. If you are wondering, the answer is yes. We are fully aware that our language is rare and difficult, especially for first-time learners. Trust me, no one expects you to nail the pronunciation from the go, but everyone will cheer you on for trying. So, here’s how you say hello in Albanian, and a full guide of other greetings, as well. Let’s dive in.
Table Of Contents
Basic Greetings In Albanian
Albanian is an Indo-European language with some Latin roots like German, English, and so on. Albania has only two main dialects: Gheg (spoken in the north) and the tosk dialect (spoken in the south). Shkumbin River is the geographical division of these dialects, which have significant grammatical, phonetic, and lexical differences. That said, when it comes to greetings, the changes are barely there. Rest assured that you will be understood, no matter which part of the Shkumbin River you are. Here’s all you need to know.
Breaking The Ice
First things first. Let’s learn how to start a conversation with the locals. There’s more than just one way to say hello in Albanian, depending on the formality of the event, and if you know the person you are talking to.
May You Live Long – Tungjatjeta!
Tungjatjeta is one of the most common greetings in Albanian, and it is used both formally and informally. The word’s literal translation is “May you live long,” and it is in a wishful form. A shorter version of this word is tung, which is used mostly in Kosovo in an informal way.
Hello – Përshëndetje!
The best choice for a formal event is when you want to impress people not only with your language skills but with your manners as well. Përshëndetje translates as “hello” in English and is the formal way of saying it.
How Are You – Çkemi?
Çkemi translates as how are you in Albanian, and is often used in informal conversation as a greeting that replaces a simple “hello.” If you want to keep the conversation short or don’t have much in common with the person, a simple “fine” (mirë) will do. However, the polite thing is always to ask the other person how they are doing, as well. A simple conversation can go something like the following example:
Çkemi (How are you)
Mirë si je ti? (I am fine, how are you?)
Mirë, faleminderit (Fine, thank you)
Si je?
This brings us to another popular greeting – si je which in English means how are you. Keep in mind that when addressing someone formally, in Albanian we use the plural form. In this case, it will be si jeni? It’s polite to add zotëri (sir) or zonjë (madam), at the end.
It goes like this: Si jeni zonjë/ zotëri? (How are you, madam/sir?)
In case you are meeting several of your Albanian friends at once, si jeni is the correct thing to say because, as mentioned, you are talking in the plural.
However, there’s a catch. Most Albanians use si je instead of “hello” when opening a conversation, whether they know the person or not. This is a cultural thing, because it’s a tradition that you ask others regarding their health, to show empathy and care, especially for pregnant women, people recovering from sickness, and the elderly.
If you want to go the extra mile for a good impression, open the conversation with, Përshëndetje, si je me shëndet? which translates to, “Hello, how your health is doing?” Trust me when I say that Albanian grandparent will treat you better than their favorite grandchild.
Other Important Greetings
- Good morning – Mirëmëngjes
- Good afternoon – Mirdita
- Good evening – Mirëmbrema
- Same as hello when answering the phone – Alo?
This is not Albanian, but rather a French adaptation of the word allô, pronounced in an Albanian accent. It is commonly used when answering the phone.
- Welcome – Mirësevini!
- Cheers – Gëzuar
- Thank you – Faleminderit
- May you have good health – Me shëndet
Shendet means health, and as mentioned above, asking for someone’s health is important in Albanian culture, and so is wishing for it. This is such a versatile expression that it can be used on any occasion – when congratulating someone on their achievements, or when their baby is born, or when buying something new, or even when you want to say cheers during a long night of celebrations. It all depends on the context, of course, but me shëndet is always the right thing to say, even if your Albanian is very limited.
How To Say Goodbye In Albanian
- Goodbye – Mirupafshim
- Good night – Natën e mirë!
This is used both as a bedtime expression and also as a way to greet someone goodbye when it is very late in the evening.
- See you later – Shihemi!
- Talk to you later – Flasim! (this is used for a phone conversation when hanging up)
- Have a good day – Ditën e mirë!
- Farewell – Lamtumirë
That’s a little bit dramatic, so you won’t be hearing it often unless it’s poetry or a heartbreaking breakup. I suggest sticking with mirupafshim, even if you are pretty sure you will never meet that Albanian person again.
| English | Albanian | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Përshëndetje! | Formal |
| Hello | Tungjatjeta | Casual |
| Hi | Tung | Informal / slang |
| How are you? | Si je? | Casual |
| How are you doing? | Çkemi | Informal |
| How is your health? | Si je me shëndet? | Casual |
| Good Morning | Mirëmëngjes | Casual |
| Good Afternoon | Mirdita | Casual |
| Good Evening | Mirëmbrëma | Casual |
| Welcome | Miresevini | Casual |
| Nice to meet you | Gëzohem qe te njoh | Formal |
| Good Bye | Mirupafshim | Casual |
| Have a good day | Ditë të mbarë | Casual |
| Have a good time | Kalofsh mirë | Casual |
| See you soon | Shihemi së shpejti | Casual |
| Bon voyage | Rruge të mbarë | Casual |
| Best regards | Gjithë të mirat | Casual / Formal |
| Cheers | Gëzuar | Casual / Informal |
| Thank you | Faleminderit | Casual |
| That’s so kind of you | Jeni shumë i sjellshëm | Casual / Formal |
Going Beyond The Conventional Greetings In Albanian
Are You Strong?
A je i fortë? is the question that Albanian highlanders have asked each other, for hundreds and hundreds of years, as a form of greeting. This question is often interchangeable with a je burrë? meaning. “Are you a man?”
The historical and anthropological explanation behind this is very complex and nuanced, strongly dependent on the Albanian traditional and oral law. In simpler terms though, it’s a way to remind the other person that he possesses all the high virtues that Albanians idealize, such as bravery, honor, patience, dignity, wisdom, empathy, and the spirit of sacrifice, and he should abide by them. The answer to this question is assumed to always be yes.
This is a greeting suitable even in funerals or other unfortunate situations, as a way to give someone courage and strengthen his spirit.
Do women get to use this greeting? The short answer is yes, but is not as common. All the virtues of a traditional man, a woman can have and is referred to as burrnesha, which does not have a translation in English or any other language. This however is a longer subject for another time.
Albanian highlanders, even today preserve this tradition, in the northern regions. When men meet, they touch twice foreheads, accompanied by a firm handshake, to symbolize mutual respect, trust, and exchange of honor. Nowadays is less common in everyday settings, but the older generation still preserves this custom. It is also practiced during ceremonies and family gatherings.
Tips For Making a good first impression
Albanians are in general very warm and outgoing, which makes foreigners feel welcome. Don’t take my word for it, look up thousands of vlogs and reviews of tourists and travelers that say the same thing. However, Albanians are known for their pride and temper. They don’t fear a confrontation, especially when they feel offended. Some unwritten rules will account to make your stay here much more pleasant.
- Keep eye contact when speaking with the locals. It will make you look more trustworthy and polite. If you have a nice smile, don’t be shy to show it.
- Two kisses on the cheeks for the ladies, but only a handshake for the gentlemen. If you are a man meeting an Albanian woman for the first time or vice versa, offer a handshake, and only lean on for a kiss if she offers it first. It all depends on the situation.
- Don’t call everybody by their name. As friendly as Albanians are, it’s better to maintain some healthy boundaries. Treat elders with respect by addressing them as “zonjë” (madam) or zotëri (sir). The same goes for figures of authority.
- Keep it classy. Learning the bad words in Albanian is funny until someone gets really offended, and suddenly you’ll be having a fight, for no apparent reason.
- Be mindful of personal space and tone of voice. While Albanians are friendly by nature, getting physically too close, unnecessarily raising the voice, or unwanted flirting can be perceived as a threat to others.
Other useful phrases in Albanian
If you scrolled so far, why not learn some other helpful things, for your travel to Albania? Here are a bunch of basic phrases that you will need.
| English | Albanian |
|---|---|
| What’s your name? | Si quhesh? |
| Where are you from? | Nga je? |
| Help | Ndihmë |
| I am sorry | Më fal |
| Where is it? | Ku është? |
| What time is it? | Sa është ora? |
| I need… | Kam nevojë… |
| I am lost | Kam humbur |
| Police | Policia |
| Doctor | Doktori |
| Hospital | Spital |
| Hotel | Hotel |
| Taxi | Taksi |
| Bus | Autobuz |
| How? | Si? |
| When? | Kur? |
| Where? | Ku? |
| How much? | Sa kushton? |
| Money | Para |
| Yes | Po |
| No | Jo |
| Maybe | Ndoshta |
| I don’t understand | Nuk kuptoj |
| Do you speak English? | A flet Anglisht? |
The difference between Albania and Kosovo?
The Republic of Kosovo is the newest country in the world, after proclaiming its independence from Serbia, in 2008. While this is a strongly contested region between native Albanians and Serbs, 94% of the population living in Kosovo are Albanians, who speak in Gheg dialect, the same as the northern regions of Albania. There aren’t any significant language or cultural differences worth mentioning. If you are starting to learn Albanian during your stay in Kosovo, it‘s most likely you’ll be more familiar with the Gheg dialect first, but you’ll be understood all the same, regardless.
Same as in other parts of the Balkans, Albania, and Kosovo both have vibrant minorities, who depending on their ethnic background also speak Serbian, Greek, Bulgarian, Turkish, Roma language, etc. Diversity is one of the best things about the Balkan, so please be respectful towards others’ cultures.
How do you say hello in Albanian?
Pershendetje is the formal way to say hello in Albanian. Tungjatjeta is also commonly used, with slight regional variation of the word, like tung in Kosovo.
FAQs About Hello In Albanian
What are some ways to greet Albanians besides hello?
You can open up a conversation with Çkemi (how are you doing), si je (how are you), or use specific greetings like mirëmëngjes(good morning) or mirëdita (good afternoon), depending on the time of day.
How can I say “Hello, how are you” in Albanian?
“Hello, how are you” translates in Albanian as Përshëndetje, si jeni in a formal setting, or Përshëndetje, si je, informally.
What is the cultural significance of greetings in Albania?
In Albania, greetings are a form of polite exchange, and also a form of showing empathy and care, for others. Albanians are known for having large families and tight-knit communities, so asking about others’ well-being, and wishing them good health is so important that it has shaped the language.
Let’s Summarize Hello In Albanian
To wrap it up, this is everything you need to know about greetings. Learning how to say hello in Albanian tung (informal) and përshëndetje (formal) – is much easier than it looks, and even fun. This is a rich, and multilayered language that showcases the spirit and the history of a very old nation.
If you are interested in learning the language, the Ling app is a great way to practice vocabulary and grammar, on a daily basis.
