Basic Nouns

1. uji

   Water

   Usage

   The basic word for drinking water; works with pointing

   Grammar Note

   The definite form of the masculine "ujë"; Albanian suffixes its definite article

2. ushqimi

   Food

   Usage

   The general word when you are looking for something to eat

   Grammar Note

   Definite form of the masculine "ushqim"

3. paratë

   Money

   Usage

   Comes up when paying or changing currency

   Grammar Note

   Definite feminine plural of "para"; money is always plural

4. tualeti

   Toilet

   Usage

   The word alone is enough to ask for directions

   Grammar Note

   Definite form of the masculine "tualet"

5. shamia e letrës

   Tissue

   Usage

   For asking at a shop or a diner

   Grammar Note

   Feminine "shami" (cloth) plus "e letrës" (of paper)

6. ilaçi

   Medicine

   Usage

   The core word at a pharmacy, paired with your symptom

   Grammar Note

   Definite form of the masculine "ilaç"; a pharmacy is "farmacia"

7. bagazhi

   Luggage

   Usage

   For checking in, picking up, or storing bags

   Grammar Note

   Definite form of the masculine "bagazh"; a suitcase is "valixhja"

8. çelësi

   Key

   Usage

   For collecting or returning it at hotel reception

   Grammar Note

   Definite form of "çelës"; the definite plural is "çelësat"

9. bileta

   Ticket

   Usage

   The base word for transport and admission tickets

   Grammar Note

   Definite form of the feminine "biletë"

10. pasaporta

    Passport

    Usage

    Comes up at every check-in and border control

    Grammar Note

    Definite form of the feminine "pasaportë"

11. telefoni

    Phone

    Usage

    Refers to the device and to making a call

    Grammar Note

    Definite form of the masculine "telefon"; a mobile is "celulari"

12. karikuesi

    Charger

    Usage

    When you want to borrow one at a hotel or café

    Grammar Note

    Definite form of the masculine "karikues", from "karikoj" (to charge)

13. stacioni

    Station

    Usage

    The easiest landmark to name when asking directions

    Grammar Note

    Definite form of the masculine "stacion"; a railway station is "stacioni i trenit"

14. spitali

    Hospital

    Usage

    The first word you need if you fall ill

    Grammar Note

    Definite form of the masculine "spital"

15. policia

    Police

    Usage

    For theft or accidents; the word alone gets help

    Grammar Note

    Definite feminine, the police force; an individual officer is "polic"

16. dyqani

    Shop

    Usage

    The general word when hunting for somewhere to buy things

    Grammar Note

    Definite form of the masculine "dyqan"

17. dhoma

    Room

    Usage

    For negotiating a stay or confirming a room number

    Grammar Note

    Definite form of the feminine "dhomë"; used for hotel rooms

18. rruga

    Road

    Usage

    Used when asking directions, often over a map

    Grammar Note

    Definite form of the feminine "rrugë"; covers both road and street

19. familja

    Family

    Usage

    Comes up in small talk about who you are travelling with

    Grammar Note

    Definite form of the feminine "familje"

20. emri

    Name

    Usage

    For confirming a booking or introducing yourself

    Grammar Note

    Definite form of the masculine "emër"; a surname is "mbiemri"

21. kokë

    Head

    Usage

    To point out where it hurts; definite form "koka"

22. sy

    Eye

    Usage

    For eye trouble; both eyes are "sytë"

23. dhëmb

    Tooth

    Usage

    For toothache; a dentist is "dentist"

24. fyt

    Throat

    Usage

    For a sore throat; the outside of the neck is "qafë"

25. bark

    Stomach / Belly

    Usage

    For a stomach ache; the organ itself is "stomak"

26. shpinë

    Back

    Usage

    For back pain; definite form "shpina"

27. mes

    Lower back / Waist

    Usage

    The same spelling is also the preposition "among", so point at your lower back; definite form "mesi"

28. këmbë

    Leg / Foot

    Usage

    Covers both leg and foot; point at the exact spot on your own body

29. dorë

    Hand

    Usage

    The hand; the arm itself is "krah"

30. gjoks

    Chest

    Usage

    For chest pain; the neutral word for the rib-cage area

31. hotel

    Hotel

    Usage

    Point to it as a destination in a taxi or when asking directions; definite form "hoteli"

32. aeroport

    Airport

    Usage

    Point to it as a destination; road signs use the definite "AEROPORTI"

33. stacion autobusi

    Bus stop

    Usage

    Used for both a stop and a station; a long-distance coach terminal is "terminali i autobusëve"

34. ambasadë

    Embassy

    Usage

    Point to it if you lose your passport; a consulate is "konsullatë"

35. bankomat

    ATM

    Usage

    A cash machine; point to it when asking where one is

36. zyrë këmbimi valutor

    Currency exchange office

    Usage

    Shop signs usually read "KËMBIM VALUTOR"

37. lavanderi vetëshërbimi

    Self-service laundromat

    Usage

    Self-service is rare in Albania; attended "lavanderi" shops are far more common

38. zjarrfikëse

    Fire engine

    Usage

    A single word for the fire engine that comes to a fire; a firefighter is a "zjarrfikës"

    Grammar Note

    Feminine noun: indefinite "zjarrfikëse", definite "zjarrfikësja". Built from "zjarr" (fire) + "fik" (to extinguish); it can also mean a fire extinguisher

39. konsullatë

    Consulate

    Usage

    Where to go for a replacement passport or emergency help; an embassy is an "ambasadë"

    Grammar Note

    Feminine noun: indefinite "konsullatë", definite "konsullata"; a consul is a "konsull"

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