ndalo
The Albanian word for stop is ndalo.
The verb means to not continue, similar to the English verbs cease or desist.
Meaning: not to continue (verb)
Which one should you use?
The forms vary depending on who you are addressing. ndalo is the imperative used for one person informally, while ndaloni is the imperative used when addressing a group or when you want to be polite to an individual. For a highly formal context, such as official instructions for a crowd or in public spaces, the form Ndaleni is used.
How does it change in a sentence?
The first-person singular present tense of the verb is ndaloj, meaning I stop. The passive form ndalohet is used to mean it is forbidden or prohibited, which you will commonly see on signs. The imperatives are ndalo (informal singular), ndaloni (polite/plural) and Ndaleni (formal/official).
Did you know?
- While ndalo is the command to stop, the word stop is also widely understood and used in Albania specifically in the context of traffic signs.
- When telling someone to stop talking or behaving badly, Albanians might use mjaft, meaning 'enough', instead of the literal command ndalo.
- In many parts of Albania, a hand raised with the palm facing outward is a silent complement to the command ndalo, signaling a physical halt to someone approaching.
Examples in context
- Nuk mund te ndalojmë ketu.We can't stop here.This sentence is useful for showing how to use the form ndalo in a negative construction.Tatoeba #1962796 by Ylberi, translation #1954926 by CK
- Më falni, a mund të ndaleni një çast?Excuse me, could you please stop for a moment?
- Hej, ndalo të flasësh dhe më dëgjo!Hey, stop talking and listen to me!
- Ndalo, shpejt!Stop, quickly!
- Shpejt, ndalo makinën!Hurry up, stop the car!
- Ndalo së lëvizuri tani.Stop moving now.
- Ndalo makinën në cep.Stop the car at the corner.
Example conversation
Majlinda and Klodian are walking and Klodian is talking too fast.
- MajlindaKlodian, të lutem ndalo pak.Klodian, please stop for a bit.
- KlodianPse dua të ndaloj?Why do I want to stop?
- MajlindaSe po ecim shumë shpejt.Because we are walking too fast.
- KlodianKe të drejtë, po ndaloj.You are right, I am stopping.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
