xhaxha
/dʒadʒa/
The English word "uncle" can be translated into Albanian as xhaxha, dajë or ungj.
Meaning: brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent (noun)
Ways to say it
| Albanian | IPA |
|---|---|
| xhaxha | /dʒadʒa/ |
| ungj | |
| dajë | [ˈdajə] (Tosk, narrow) [ˈdædʒ] (Gheg, narrow) |
In Albanian, the term used for an uncle depends entirely on whether he is the brother of your father or your mother.
Which one should you use?
The choice of word is determined by the side of the family the uncle belongs to: xhaxha is used specifically for a paternal uncle (your father's brother), while dajë is used specifically for a maternal uncle (your mother's brother).
How do you pronounce it?
/dʒadʒa/
Did you know?
- In traditional Albanian culture, the dajë often holds a distinct social role in protecting and supporting his sister's children.
- The word ungj is a distant linguistic relative of the English word 'uncle', as both trace back to the Latin term for a maternal uncle.
- Because of the distinction between xhaxha and dajë, an Albanian speaker can identify a person's exact family connection without knowing their name.
Examples in context
- Ai është xhaxha im.He is my uncle.
- Ku është xhaxha juaj?Where is your uncle?
Example conversation
Ervin and Tea are talking about a family gathering.
- ErvinA ku është xhaxha yt?Where is your uncle?
- TeaXhaxha im është në punë.My uncle is at work.
- ErvinA do të vijë më vonë?Will he come later?
- TeaPo, ai do të vijë.Yes, he will come.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “uncle” translations and entries xhaxha, ungj, dajë, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dajë, ungj, CC BY-SA 4.0.
