Please read the lesson called “Grammar 101” before proceeding further.Prefixes
Here is a list of common Albanian prefixes:
mos-: this prefix has the effect of changing a word’s meaning to the opposite (creates an antonym).
Examples:
mosbesim, mistrust, from besim, trust;
mosp�lqim, dislike, from p�lqim, liking;
pa-: this prefix has the effect of changing a word’s meaning to the opposite (creates an antonym).
Examples:
i palar�, unwashed, from i lar�, washed;
i pavlefsh�m, invalid, from i vlefsh�m, valid;
i pathemelt�, unfounded, from i themelt�;
sh-, zh-, �-: these prefixes have the effect of changing a word’s meaning to the opposite (they create antonyms).
Examples:
shpalos, unfold, from palos, fold;
zhdukem, disappear, from dukem, appear;
zhvishem, get undressed, from vishem, get dressed;
�armatos, disarm, from armatos, arm;
�aktivizoj, deactivate, from aktivizoj, activate;
mbi-: this is similar to the English ‘over-‘.
Examples:
mbivler�soj, overestimate;
mbingarkoj and mbingarkes�, overload (verb and noun);
n�n-: this is similar, but not identical, to the English ‘under-‘.
Examples:
n�nvler�soj, underestimate;
n�nvizoj, underline;
kund�r-: this is similar to the English ‘anti-‘.
Examples:
kund�rajror, anti-aircraft;
kund�rgaz, (anti-) gas mask;
nd�r-: this is similar to the English ‘inter-‘ or ‘trans-‘.
Examples:
nd�rkomb�tar, international, from komb�tar, national;
nd�rkontinental, transcontinental, from kontinental;
nd�rmolekular, intermolecular, from molekular;
para-: many Albanian words are created by adding ‘para’ to another Albanian word. ‘para’ means ‘in front of’ or ‘before’.
Examples:
parandiej, sense, have a hunch;
parashikoj, forecast;
parapaguaj, pay up front;
pararend�s, preceding;
p�r-: many Albanian words are created by adding ‘p�r’ to another Albanian word. The addition of ‘p�r’ to a word may serve to emphasize its meaning or may result in a word that seems completely unrelated.
Examples:
p�rflas, talk excessively about someone, talk behind someone’s back (created from flas, speak);
p�rafroj, approximate, from afroj, bring closer;
p�rcaktoj, define, from caktoj, assign;
Other prefixes have been borrowed from Latin or other languages and can be easily recognized as such.
Examples:
antidemokratik, anti-democratic;
dezinfektoj, disinfect, from infektoj, infect;
ultranacionalist, ultranationalist;
Suffixes
-i, -si/-�si, -ri/-�ri. These suffixes usually create a noun from an adjective or from an adverb.
Examples:
bukuri, beauty, from i bukur, beautiful;
dituri, knowledge, from i ditur, knowledgeable;
pasuri, wealth, from i pasur, wealthy;
trim�ri, bravery, from trim, brave;
zgjuarsi, cleverness, from i zgjuar, clever;
qet�si, calmness, from i qet�, calm;
larg�si, distance, from larg, far;
aft�si, ability, from i aft�, able;
pafund�si, infinity, from i pafund, infinite;
p�rgjegj�si, responsibility, from p�rgjegj�s, responsible;
let�rsi, literature, from let�r, paper, letter;
-tar/-�tar, -tor/-�tor, -�s, -ues. These are similar to the English ‘-er’ which creates ‘worker’ from ‘work’.
Examples:
luft�tar, warrior, from luft�, war;
pun�tor, worker, from pun�, work;
fshatar, villager, from fshat, village;
mesdhetar, Mediterranean, from mesdhe, Mediterranean Sea;
hap�s, opener, from hap, open;
m�sues, teacher, from m�soj, teach;
d�rgues, sender, from d�rgoj, send;
t�rheq�s, attractive, from t�rheq, attract;
-im, -je. This is similar to the English suffixes ‘-ing’ or ‘-ion/tion’.
Examples:
g�rmim, excavation, from g�rmoj, excavate;
lexim, reading, from lexoj, read;
arsimim, education, schooling, from arsimoj, educate;
p�rs�ritje, repetition, from p�rs�ris, repeat;
falje, forgiveness, from fal, forgive;
ikje, departure, from iki, depart;
Note: The suffix ‘im’ creates masculine nouns, the ‘je’ creates feminine nouns.
-isht. This suffix, when added to the name of a country, gives the name of the language spoken in that country.
Examples:
anglisht, English, from Angli, England;
gjermanisht, German, from Gjermani, Germany;
italisht, Italian, from Itali, Italy;
greqisht, Greek, from Greqi, Greece;
etc. Albanian is a notable exception from the above rule. Albanians call their country ‘Shqip�ri’ and their language ‘shqipe’.
In other times, the Albanian suffix ‘-isht’ is similar to the English suffix ‘-ly’:
Examples:
pafund�sisht, infinitely, from pafund�si, infinity;
trim�risht, bravely, from trim�ri, bravery;
pabesisht, treacherously, from pabesi, treachery;
-sh�m. This suffix creates an adjective or an adverb from a verb. It is similar to the suffix ‘-able’ of English.
Examples:
i p�rdorsh�m, usable, from p�rdor, use;
i pish�m, potable, from pi, drink;
i besuesh�m, believable, from besoj, believe;
Other suffixes have been borrowed from Latin or other languages and can be easily recognized as such.
Examples:
kapitaliz�m;
globaliz�m;
Composite words
Albanian allows the joining of words together into single words.
Examples:
bregdet, seashore, from breg + det, shore + sea;
kryeqytet, capital, from krye + qytet, head + city;
hekurbeton, reinforced concrete, from hekur + beton, iron + concrete;
i tejduksh�m, transparent, from tej + i duksh�m, through + viewable;
bashk�punoj, cooperate, from bashk� + punoj, together + work;May 18, 2003
