Ways to say it
| Albanian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| shqip | /ʃcip/ (Tosk) /ʃcip/ (Northern, Tosk) |
|
| T'arbrisht | ||
| (gjuha) shqipe | feminine | |
| arbërisht | Old Albanian | |
| Arbërishtja | feminine |
shqip is the standard modern term for the Albanian language. It can be used as an adjective meaning "Albanian" or as an adverb meaning "in Albanian". For example, to say "I speak Albanian", you would say flas shqip. To refer to a person from Albania, you use the noun shqiptar or shqiptare. Other related adjectives for things pertaining to Albania include shqip, shkyp and Sccyp, while the term arbën can refer to a person from Albania.
Which one should you use?
In contrast, arbërisht refers to the archaic or Old Albanian language. While shqip is often used alone, you may also see the phrase (gjuha) shqipe used when referring to the language as a noun phrase.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The word shqip functions as both an adjective and an adverb. When using the language as a noun phrase with the word for language, gjuha, you must use the feminine adjective form shqipe to ensure agreement, resulting in gjuha shqipe.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʃcip/
When do people say it?
Speakers may also refer to the language as Gjuha jonë, which means "our language".
Did you know?
- The word shqip functions as an adverb, meaning that the phrase for 'I speak Albanian' essentially translates to 'I speak clearly'.
- The earliest known record of the name Shqiptar appears not as a nationality, but as a family name in the town of Drisht between 1368 and 1402.
Examples in context
- Gratë shqiptare nuk kanë të dashur.Albanian women do not have boyfriends.This sentence is useful for seeing the use of the adjective shqip to describe women.Tatoeba #10003020 by QAzaqQA, translation #10003021 by QAzaqQA
- Gratë shqiptare veshin Niqab të lirshme.Albanian women wear loose Niqab.This sentence shows the adjective shqip used in a description of women.Tatoeba #10003015 by QAzaqQA, translation #10003016 by QAzaqQA
- Gratë shqiptare veshin Niqab kur dalin jashtë.Albanian women wear Niqab when they go outside.This sentence demonstrates the adjective shqip within a sentence about women's habits.Tatoeba #10003012 by QAzaqQA, translation #10003014 by QAzaqQA
- Jam shqiptar dhe flas gjuhën shqipe.I am Albanian and I speak the Albanian language.
- Po mësoj shqip për të komunikuar me shokët e mi shqiptarë.I'm learning Albanian to communicate with my Albanian friends.
- Kulturat tona janë të pasura dhe gjuha jonë është shqipja.Our cultures are rich, and our language is Albanian.
- Mësoj gjuhën shqipe në universitetin tim në Tiranë.I'm learning Albanian at my university in Tirana.
- Ishte e rëndësishme për mua të mësoja gjuhën shqipe në Prishtinë.It was important for me to learn Albanian in Pristina.
- 10 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Dritan and Majlinda are discussing their language studies.
- DritanA mësoj shqip në shkollë.I am learning Albanian at school.
- MajlindaA është e vështirë gjuha shqip?Is the Albanian language difficult?
- DritanPo, por është shumë e bukur.Yes, but it is very beautiful.
- MajlindaUnë gjithashtu dua të mësoj shqip.I also want to learn Albanian.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “albanian” translations and entries shqip, arbërisht, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries arbërisht, shqip, shqipe, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
