Përshëndetje, si je?
The English phrase "hi, how are you?" is translated into Albanian as Përshëndetje, si je?
An informal way to say "Hi, how's it going?" among friends and acquaintances is Tung, si po shkon?
What does it mean word for word?
The word Përshëndetje literally means greetings.
Which one should you use?
You should use si je? when speaking to one person you know well. If you are speaking to a stranger, an elder or a group of people, use si jeni? instead.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a more casual alternative to Përshëndetje, you can use Ç'kemi? to say "What's up?" among friends. Tung, si po shkon? is also an informal greeting used among friends and acquaintances.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the question si je? polite or to address more than one person, you change je to jeni, resulting in si jeni?
When do people say it?
A standard response to si je? is Mirë, faleminderit (Fine, thank you).
Did you know?
- The informal greeting Tung is actually a shortened version of the word Tungjatjeta, which means 'may you have long life'.
- In many parts of Albania, especially in the north, a greeting like Përshëndetje might be accompanied by placing a hand over the heart as a sign of sincerity.
- The word si shares a common ancestor with the English word 'why', as both stems from the same Proto-Indo-European roots used to ask questions.
Examples in context
- Përshëndetje, si je?Hi, how are you?
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries si, CC BY-SA 4.0.
