çaj
/t͡ʃaj/masculine
The English word "tea" is çaj in Albanian.
çaj refers to the specific beverage made from tea leaves, but it is also used as a general term for various herbal infusions or tisanes.
Meaning: drink made from leaves of tea plant (noun)
Which one should you use?
While çaj is the standard term for tea, you can use the phrase çaji i zi specifically to refer to black tea.
How does it change in a sentence?
When çaj is used as the direct object of a verb, such as the verb for "to drink", it takes the definite accusative form çajin.
How do you pronounce it?
/tʃaj/
Did you know?
- Deep within the word çaj lies a distant connection to the concept of 'cutting', linked to an ancient Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'to hack' or 'to cut'.
- The phrase çaji i zi uses the word zi for 'black', which is the same word used to describe the color of mourning in traditional Albanian culture.
- In some rural regions, a specific type of çaj known as mountain tea is gathered from wild shrubs and is prized more than imported black tea.
Examples in context
- A do të pish çaj apo kafe?Do you want to drink tea or coffee?This sentence shows how to offer çaj or coffee.Tatoeba #4731498 by hajenso, translation #1792264 by acorn
- Pasi e pimë çajin, filluam një diskutim.After we had tea, we began the discussion.This sentence demonstrates the use of the accusative form çajin after a verb.Tatoeba #4731244 by hajenso, translation #64188 by CM
- Bëra çaj mbrëmë.I made tea last night.This sentence illustrates the use of çaj in a simple past context.Tatoeba #6988762 by aln, translation #1068303 by tomalrussell
- Një filxhan çaj, ju lutemOne cup of tea, please
Example conversation
Majlinda and Klodian are relaxing in the living room.
- MajlindaKlodian, a do një çaj?Klodian, do you want a tea?
- KlodianPo, faleminderit shumë, Majlinda.Yes, thank you very much, Majlinda.
- MajlindaMe sheqer apo pa sheqer?With sugar or without sugar?
- KlodianPa sheqer, të lutem.Without sugar, please.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tea” translations and entries çaj, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries çaj, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
