vëlla
/vəˈɫa/
The English term 'bro' can be translated into Albanian as vëlla.
vëlla is used to refer to a male friend or a brother.
What does it mean word for word?
The word vëlla literally means 'brother'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
While vëlla is the standard word for brother, it is used informally among male friends similarly to 'bro' in English.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of vëlla is vëllezër. You can also form the definite version, meaning 'the brother', by adding the suffix '-i' to create vëllai.
How do you pronounce it?
/vəˈɫa/
Did you know?
- Some early researchers bizarrely attempted to link the word vëlla to the Albanian words avull, meaning 'steam', and valë, meaning 'extremely hot'.
- The plural form vëllezër is so deeply rooted in the language that it is used to form the noun vëllazëri, which refers to the concept of brotherhood or fraternity.
Examples in context
- Si je, vëlla?How are you, bro?
- Tregomë pak, vëlla.Tell us something, bro.
- Çfarë bën ti, vëlla?What are you doing, bro?
Example conversation
Arjana is greeting her friend Alban on the street.
- ArjanaPërshëndetje, vëlla! Si kalove?Hi, bro! How did it go?
- AlbanMirë, Arjana. Po ti?Good, Arjana. And you?
- ArjanaShumë mirë, faleminderit.Very well, thank you.
- AlbanHajde të shkojmë për një kafe.Let's go for a coffee.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry vëlla, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries vëlla, CC BY-SA 4.0.
