përtac
The English word "lazy" can be translated into Albanian as përtac. Wiktionary also lists dembel and prites.
Meaning: unwilling to work (adj)
Ways to say it
| Albanian | IPA |
|---|---|
| përtac | |
| dembel | /dɛmˈbɛl/ |
| prites |
The term is used to describe someone who is unwilling to work.
Which one should you use?
While përtac is the standard term for someone who is habitually lazy or avoids work, dembel often implies a more specific sense of being slow, sluggish or heavy-moving. The word prites is also a form of lazy.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective përtac changes its ending to përtacë when describing a female person. Additionally, if you need to refer to the concept of "laziness" as a noun, use përtacia.
Did you know?
- The word dembel is a linguistic remnant of the Ottoman Empire, traveling from Classical Persian into Ottoman Turkish before entering Albanian.
- In certain Albanian dialects, calling a friend dembel is often used as a lighthearted tease rather than a genuine insult about their character.
- Unlike English, where 'lazy' is primarily an adjective, përtac can function as a noun to mean 'a lazy person' without needing an extra word.
Examples in context
- Hajde, mos u bëj losh dhe ndihmo me punën!Come on, don't be lazy and help with the work!
- Ai është një djalë shumë përtac.He is a very lazy boy.
- Mos u bëj përtac sot.Don't be lazy today.
Example conversation
Alban and Majlinda are talking about cleaning the house.
- AlbanMajlinda, më ndihmo me pastrimin.Majlinda, help me with the cleaning.
- MajlindaUnë jam e lodhur tani.I am tired now.
- AlbanTi je thjesht përtac!You are just lazy!
- MajlindaDo të ndihmoj më vonë.I will help later.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lazy” translations and entries dembel, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dembel, CC BY-SA 4.0.
