je e bukur
In Albanian, "you're beautiful" is said as je e bukur.
This phrase is a compliment used to tell a woman or girl that she is physically attractive.
What does it mean word for word?
je means "you are" and e bukur means "beautiful" (feminine form).
Which one should you use?
While je e bukur is used for females, you should use je i bukur to compliment a male. You can also use je shumë e bukur to say "you are very beautiful," as adding shumë before the adjective intensifies the compliment.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase je e bukur is used specifically when addressing a female. To tell a man he is beautiful/handsome, you change the gendered particles to je i bukur.
Did you know?
- The word bukur is an unexpected relative of the English word 'belly' and the German word 'Bauch'.
- In traditional Albanian folklore, beauty is often described through metaphors of nature, such as comparing a beautiful woman to a 'flower' or 'moon'.
- The word bukuri can be used to describe not just a person, but a 'beautiful' piece of land or a landscape, which is central to Albanian national pride.
Examples in context
- Je shumë e bukur! Sytë e tu po me hipnotizojnë.You are very beautiful! Your eyes are mesmerizing.
- Je e bukur sot.You're beautiful today.
- Ti je e bukur.You are beautiful.
- Je e bukur me këtë fustan.You're beautiful in this dress.
Example conversation
Alban and Majlinda are getting ready for a dinner date.
- AlbanJe e bukur, Majlinda!You're beautiful, Majlinda!
- MajlindaFaleminderit, Alban!Thank you, Alban!
- AlbanKjo ngjyrë të shkon shumë.This color suits you very well.
- MajlindaTi gjithashtu dukesh shumë mirë.You look very good too.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bukur, e, CC BY-SA 4.0.
