Ways to say it
| Albanian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| shqiponjë | /ʃciˈpɔɲə/ | Tosk, feminine |
| orr | ||
| shqipe | Gheg, feminine | |
| shkabë | feminine |
shqiponjë is the everyday word for the large bird of prey. It is also the word behind the eagle on the Albanian flag and coat of arms.
Which one should you use?
shqiponjë is the standard form, tied to the Tosk dialect of the south. shqipe is the Gheg form. shkabë and orr are other words for the bird, less common in everyday speech.
Is it said differently in some regions?
shqiponjë is the Tosk form, used mainly in southern Albania and it is the form of standard Albanian. shqipe is used in the Gheg dialect, spoken mainly in northern Albania and Kosovo.
How does it change in a sentence?
shqiponjë is a feminine noun, so adjectives and articles that go with it take feminine agreement. With the definite ending it becomes shqiponja, the eagle, as in the example sentence.
How do you pronounce it?
The IPA is /ʃciˈpɔɲə/. The stress falls on the middle syllable, and the final ë is a weak, short vowel like the a in about.
When do people say it?
The two-headed eagle, shqiponja dykrenore, is the national symbol of Albania and sits at the center of Albanian identity. It appears in red and black on the national flag.
Did you know?
- The word orr is a cognate of the Ancient Greek word ὄρνις (ornis), which is also the root of the English word 'ornithology'.
Examples in context
- Shqiponja dykrenore është simboli më i njohur i Shqipërisë.The two-headed eagle is the most known symbol of Albania.Shqiponja dykrenore means the two-headed eagle, the national symbol of Albania.
- Shqiponja është një simbol kombëtar i Shqipërisë.The eagle is a national symbol of Albania.
- Një shqiponjë fluturon lart në qiell.An eagle soars high in the sky.
- Shiko, një shqipe po fluturon nga lart!Look, an eagle is flying from above!
- Një shqiponjë fluturoi lart mbi mal.An eagle flew high above the mountain.
Example conversation
Two friends are watching birds through binoculars in a park.
- ErvinShiko, aty ka një shqiponjë!Look, there is an eagle over there!
- MajlindaPo, është shumë e madhe.Yes, it is very large.
- ErvinA po e sheh si fluturon?Do you see how it is flying?
- MajlindaPo, është një pamje e bukur.Yes, it is a beautiful sight.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “eagle” translations and entries shqiponjë, orr, shqipe, shkabë, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries orr, shkabë, shqipe, shqiponjë, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
