1. THE LETTERS OF THE ALBANIAN ALPHABET AND THEIR PRONUNCIATION

The Albanian language uses the Latin alphabet. There are 36 letters that correspond to the 36 sounds (7 vowels and 29 consonants). Unlike many European languages, Albanian words have no silent letters and letters are only pronounced one way. The correct pronunciation of the letters, therefore, provides the right pronunciation of the words.

The vowels a, e, ë, i, o, u, y are pronounced like their English equivalents in the following words:

a - babà (father) - like b in buy,

e - metàl (metal) - like e in metal,

ë - nënë (mother) - like u in nurse,

i - mirë (good)- like i in image,

o - opera (opera)- like o in opera,

u - frut (fruit) - like oo in food,

y - i dytë (second) - like u in excuse.

The consonants b, c, ç, d, dh, f, g, gj, h, j, k, l, ll, m, n, nj, p, q, r,

rr, s, sh, t, th, v, x, xh, z , zh in most cases are pronounced like their English equivalents in these words:

b - babà (father) - like b in ballad,

c - cigàre (cigarette) - like ts in tsar,

ç - çaj (tea) - like ch in much,

d - dàjë (uncle) - like d in detail,

dh - dhòmë (room) - like th in their,

f - fabrìkë (factory) - like f in false,

g - gur (stone), - like g in game,

gj - gjùhë (language) - there is no sound like this in English, but you can pronounce it like gi in give.

h - hàrtë (map) - like h in hard,

j - jètë (life) - like y in yacht,

k - karvàn (convoy) - like c in camera,

l - legjèndë (legend) - like l in liver,

ll - llotarì (lottery) - like ll in hill,

m - mamà (mother) - like m in match,

n - normàl (normaly) - like n in nurse,

nj - njerì (men) - like ni- or ny- in onion or canyon,

p - partì (party) - like p in partner,

q - qàrtë (clearly) - there is no sound like this in English, but you can pronounce it like cky (kj) in stockyard or ch in chair.

r - reaksiòn (reaction) - like r in robot,

rr - rròtë ( wheel) - like rr in "hurrah,"

s - sandàle (sandal) - like s in side,

sh - shkòllë (school) - like sh in shop,

t - titull (title) - like t in time,

th - thùa (nail) - like th in thief,

v - vèrë (summer) - like v in vague,

z - zèmër (heart) - like z in zenith,

zh - zhùrmë (noise) - like s in vision,

x - nxënës (pupil) - like z in zebra ,

xh - xhakètë (jacket) - like j in jolly.

Usually the accent falls on the next-to-the-last syllable and remains unchangeable, for example: shkòllë (school), zèmër (heart), jètë (life), tìtull (title), vèrë (summer).

We will begin with useful Albanian greetings and their English equivalents. The most common greeting expression is Tungjatjeta — Hello (literally, long life to you).

Here are other greetings:

Mirëmëngjes - Good morning!

Mirëdita - Good afternoon!

Ditën e mirë - Have a nice day!

Mirëmbrëma - Good evening!

Natën e mirë - Good night!

Mirupafshim - Good bye!

Lamtumirë - Farewell!

Si jeni? - How are you? How do you do?

Shumë mirë - Very well!

Falemnderit - Thank you!

Zana Kodra - Mirëmëngjes, zoti Smith (Mr. Smith)

Xhon Smithi - Mirëmëngjes, zonjusha Kodra (Miss Kodra).

Zana Kodra- Mirëdita, zoti Smith.

Xhon Smithi - Mirëdita, zonjusha Kodra.

Zana Kodra- Si jeni?

Xhon Smithi - Falemnderit, shumë mirë. Po ju si jeni?

Zana Kodra - Shumë mirë. Ditën e mirë, zoti Smith.

Xhon Smithi - Ditën e mirë, zonjusha Kodra.

Zana Kodra - Mirëmbrëma, zoti Smith.

Xhon Smithi - Mirëmbrëma, zonjusha Kodra.

Zana Kodra - Si jeni, zoti Smith?

Xhon Smithi - Shumë mirë, falemnderit. Po ju si jeni?

Zana Kodra - Shumë mirë. Natën e mirë, zoti Smith.

Xhon Smithi - Natën e mirë, zonjusha Kodra.

Zana Kodra - Tungjatjeta, zoti Smith.

Xhon Smithi - Tungjatjeta, zonjusha Kodra.

Zana Kodra - Mirupafshim, zoti Smith.

Xhon Smithi - Mirupafshim, zonjusha Kodra.

"Tungjatjeta" may be used instead of "Mirupafshim!" (See you again!).

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Çezar Kurti — "Learn Albanian — Mësoni shqip" — Legas, (P.O. Box 040328, Brooklyn, New York 11204), 1996.