This is a Swadesh list of words in Albanian, compared with definitions in English.
American linguist Morris Swadesh believed that languages changed at measurable rates and that these could be determined even for languages without written precursors. Using vocabulary lists, he sought to understand not only change over time but also the relationships of extant languages. To be able to compare languages from different cultures, he based his lists on meanings he presumed would be available in as many cultures as possible. He then used the fraction of agreeing cognates between any two related languages to compute their divergence time by some (still debated) algorithms. Starting in 1950 with 165 meanings, his list grew to 215 in 1952, which was so expansive that many languages lacked native vocabulary for some terms. Subsequently, it was reduced to 207, and reduced much further to 100 meanings in 1955. A reformulated list was published posthumously in 1971.
| № | English | Albanian shqip edit (207) | IPA (key) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I (1sg) | unë | /unə/ |
| 2 | you (2sg) | ti, ju (respectful) | /ti/, /ju/ |
| 3 | he, she, it (3sg) | ai (masculine), ajo (feminine) | /aj/, /aˈjɔ/ |
| 4 | we (1pl) | ne | /nɛ/ |
| 5 | you (2pl) | ju | /ju/ |
| 6 | they (3pl) | ata (masculine), ato (feminine) | /aˈta/, /aˈtɔ/ |
| 7 | this | ky | /ky/ |
| 8 | that | i cili, ai | /ˈtsili/, /aj/ |
| 9 | here | këtu | /kəˈtu/ |
| 10 | there | atje | /atˈjɛ/ |
| 11 | who | kush, i cili | /kuʃ/, /ˈtsili/ |
| 12 | what | çfarë, ç' | /ˈt͡ʃfaɾə/, /t͡ʃ/ |
| 13 | where | ku | /ku/ |
| 14 | when | kur | /kuɾ/ |
| 15 | how | si | /si/ |
| 16 | not | nuk, së | /nuk/, /sə ~ s/ |
| 17 | all | të gjithë, të tërë, të tanë (Gheg) | /ˈɟʝiθə/, /ˈtəɾə/, /tɑ̃ːnə/ |
| 18 | many | shumë | /ˈʃumə/ |
| 19 | some | disa, ca | /diˈsa/, /tsa/ |
| 20 | few | pak | /pak/ |
| 21 | other | i tjetër | /ˈtjetəɾ/ |
| 22 | one | një | /ɲə/ |
| 23 | two | dy | /dy/ |
| 24 | three | tre, tri | /tɾɛ/, /tɾi/ |
| 25 | four | katër | /ˈkatəɾ/ |
| 26 | five | pesë | /pɛsə/ |
| 27 | big | i madh | /mað/ |
| 28 | long | i gjatë | /ˈɟa.tə/ |
| 29 | wide | i gjerë, i gjanë (Gheg) | /ˈɟɛ.ɾə/, /ɟa.nə/ |
| 30 | thick | i trashë | /tɾaʃə/ |
| 31 | heavy | i rëndë | /ɾəndə/ |
| 32 | small | i vogël | /ˈvɔɡəl/ |
| 33 | short | i shkurtër | /ʃkuɾtəɾ/ |
| 34 | narrow | i ngushtë | /ŋguʃtə/ |
| 35 | thin | i hollë | /hoɫə/ |
| 36 | woman | grua | /ˈɡɾua/ |
| 37 | man (adult male) | burrë | /ˈburə/ |
| 38 | man (human being) | njeri | /ɲɛˈɾi/ |
| 39 | child | fëmijë | /fəˈmijə/ |
| 40 | wife | grua | /ˈɡɾua/ |
| 41 | husband | burrë | /ˈburə/ |
| 42 | mother | nënë, mëmë, ëmë | /nənə/, /məmə/, /əmə/ |
| 43 | father | atë, babë, baba | /ˈatə/, /ˈbabə/, /baˈba/ |
| 44 | animal | shtazë, kafshë | /ʃtazə/, /ˈkafʃə/ |
| 45 | fish | peshk | /pɛʃk/ |
| 46 | bird | zog | /zɔɡ/ |
| 47 | dog | qen | /cɕɛn/ |
| 48 | louse | morr | /mɔr/ |
| 49 | snake | gjarpër | /ˈɟaɾpəɾ/ |
| 50 | worm | krimb | /kɾimb/ |
| 51 | tree | dru | /dɾu/ |
| 52 | forest | pyll | /pyɫ/ |
| 53 | stick | shkop | /ˈʃkop/ |
| 54 | fruit | frutë, fryt | /fɾutə/, /fɾyt/ |
| 55 | seed | farë, bërthamë | /ˈfaɾə/, /bəɾθamə/ |
| 56 | leaf | gjeth | /ɟeθ/ |
| 57 | root | rrënjë, rrâjë (Gheg) | /rəːɲə/, /rɑ̃j/ |
| 58 | bark (of a tree) | shkëlbozë | /ʃkəlbozə/ |
| 59 | flower | lule | /ˈlulɛ/ |
| 60 | grass | bar | /ˈbaɾ/ |
| 61 | rope | litar | /liˈtaɾ/ |
| 62 | skin | lëkurë | /ləˈkuɾə/ |
| 63 | meat | mish | /miʃ/ |
| 64 | blood | gjak | /ɟ͡ʝak/ |
| 65 | bone | eshtër | /eʃtəɾ/ |
| 66 | fat (noun) | dhjamë | /ðjamə/ |
| 67 | egg | ve, vezë | /vɛ/, /vezə/ |
| 68 | horn | bri | /bɾi/ |
| 69 | tail | bisht | /biʃt/ |
| 70 | feather | pendë | /pendə/ |
| 71 | hair | flok, qime, lesh | /flok/, /ˈcimɛ/, /lɛˈʃ/ |
| 72 | head | kokë, krye, kre | /kɔkə/, /ˈkɾyɛ/, |
| 73 | ear | vesh | /veʃ/ |
| 74 | eye | sy | /sy/ |
| 75 | nose | hundë | /hundə/ |
| 76 | mouth | gojë | /ˈɡojə/ |
| 77 | tooth | dhëmb, dham (Gheg) | /ðəmb/, /ðam/ |
| 78 | tongue (organ) | gjuhë | /ˈɟuhə/ |
| 79 | fingernail | thua | /θua/ |
| 80 | foot | këmbë, kâmbë (Gheg) | /kəm.bə/, /kam.bə/ |
| 81 | leg | këmbë, kâmbë (Gheg) | /kəm.bə/, /kam.bə/ |
| 82 | knee | gju | /ɟu/ |
| 83 | hand | dorë | /dɔɹ/ |
| 84 | wing | fletë, flatër | /tə/, |
| 85 | belly | bark, stomak | /baɾk/, /stomak/ |
| 86 | guts | zorrë | /zorə/ |
| 87 | neck | qafë | /ˈcafə/ |
| 88 | back | kurriz, shpinë | /kuˈriz/, /ʃpiːn/ |
| 89 | breast | gji | /ɟ͡ʝi/ |
| 90 | heart | zemër | /ˈzeməɾ/ |
| 91 | liver | mëlçi | /məlt͡ʃi/ |
| 92 | to drink | pi | /pi/ |
| 93 | to eat | ha | /ha/ |
| 94 | to bite | kafshoj | /kafˈʃɔj/ |
| 95 | to suck | thith | /θiθ/ |
| 96 | to spit | pështyj | /pəʃtyj/ |
| 97 | to vomit | vjell | /vjeɫ/ |
| 98 | to blow | fryj | /fɾyj/ |
| 99 | to breathe | marr frymë | /mar fɾymə/ |
| 100 | to laugh | qesh | /cɛʃ ~ c͡ɕɛʃ/ |
| 101 | to see | shoh | /ʃoh/ |
| 102 | to hear | dëgjoj | /dəˈɟoj/ |
| 103 | to know | di | /di/ |
| 104 | to think | mendoj | /məndoj/ |
| 105 | to smell | nuhas | /nuhas/ |
| 106 | to fear | druaj | /dɾuaj/ |
| 107 | to sleep | fle | /flɛ/ |
| 108 | to live | jetoj | /jɛˈtɔj/ |
| 109 | to die | vdes | /vdes/ |
| 110 | to kill | vras | /vɾas/ |
| 111 | to fight | luftoj, përleshem | /lufˈtɔj/, /pəɾleʃem/ |
| 112 | to hunt | gjuaj | /ɟ͡ʝuaj/ |
| 113 | to hit | godas | /ɡɔˈdas/ |
| 114 | to cut | pres | /pɾes/ |
| 115 | to split | çaj | /t͡ʃaj/ |
| 116 | to stab | ther, shpoj | /θeɾ/, /ʃpoj/ |
| 117 | to scratch | kruaj | /kɾuaj/ |
| 118 | to dig | gërmoj | /gəɾmoj/ |
| 119 | to swim | notoj | /nɔˈtɔj/ |
| 120 | to fly | fluturoj | /flutuɾoj/ |
| 121 | to walk | eci, heci (Gheg) | /ˈɛtsi/, /het͡si/ |
| 122 | to come | vij | /vij/ |
| 123 | to lie (as in a bed) | shtrihem | /ʃtɾihem/ |
| 124 | to sit | ulem | /ulɛm/ |
| 125 | to stand | rri | /ri/ |
| 126 | to turn (intransitive) | kthehem | /ˈkθehem/ |
| 127 | to fall | bie | /ˈbiɛ/ |
| 128 | to give | jap, ap (Gheg) | /jaːp/, /aːp/ |
| 129 | to hold | mbaj | /mbaj/ |
| 130 | to squeeze | shtrydh | /ʃtɾyð/ |
| 131 | to rub | fërkoj | /fəɾˈkɔj/ |
| 132 | to wash | laj | /laj/ |
| 133 | to wipe | fshij | /fʃij/ |
| 134 | to pull | tërheq | /təɾhec/ |
| 135 | to push | shtyj | /ʃtyj/ |
| 136 | to throw | hedh | /heð/ |
| 137 | to tie | lidh | /liːð/ |
| 138 | to sew | qep | /cɕɛp/ |
| 139 | to count | numëroj, njeh, njef (Gheg) | /numəɾoj/, /ɲɛh/, /ɲɛf/ |
| 140 | to say | them | /θem/ |
| 141 | to sing | këndoj | /kənˈdɔj/ |
| 142 | to play | luaj | /luaj/ |
| 143 | to float | pluskoj | /pluskoj/ |
| 144 | to flow | rrjedh | /rjeð/ |
| 145 | to freeze | ngrij | /ŋɡɾiːj/ |
| 146 | to swell | fryhem, bymehem, ënjtem | /ˈfryhɛm/, /bymehem/, /əɲtem/ |
| 147 | sun | diell | /djɛɫ/ |
| 148 | moon | hënë, hânë (Gheg) | /ˈhənə/, /ˈhɑ̃ːnə/ |
| 149 | star | yll | /yɫ/ |
| 150 | water | ujë | /ˈujə/ |
| 151 | rain | shi | /ʃi/ |
| 152 | river | lumë | /lumə/ |
| 153 | lake | liqen | /liˈcɛn/ |
| 154 | sea | det | /dɛt/ |
| 155 | salt | kripë, krypë (Gheg) | /ˈkɹi.pə/, /kryp/ |
| 156 | stone | gur | /ɡuɾ/ |
| 157 | sand | rërë, rânë (Gheg) | /ˈɾəɾə/, /ɽɑ̃ːn/ |
| 158 | dust | pluhur | /pluhuɾ/ |
| 159 | earth | dhe, tokë, trokë | /ðe/, tokə, /tɾokə/ |
| 160 | cloud | re | /ɾe/ |
| 161 | fog | mjegull | /ˈmjɛɡuɫ/ |
| 162 | sky | qiell | /ˈcçi.ɛɫ/ |
| 163 | wind | erë | /eɾə/ |
| 164 | snow | borë, vdor | /boɾə/, /vdoɾ/ |
| 165 | ice | akull | /ˈakuɫ/ |
| 166 | smoke | tym | /ˈtym/ |
| 167 | fire | zjarr | /zjar/ |
| 168 | ash | hi | /hi/ |
| 169 | to burn | djeg | /djɛɡ/ |
| 170 | road | udhë, rrugë | /uðə/, /ˈruɡə/ |
| 171 | mountain | mal | /mal/ |
| 172 | red | i kuq | /kuc/ |
| 173 | green | i blertë | /bleɾtə/ |
| 174 | yellow | i verdhë | /ˈveɾðə/ |
| 175 | white | i bardhë | /ˈbaɾðə/ |
| 176 | black | i zi | /zi/ |
| 177 | night | natë | /ˈnaːtə/ |
| 178 | day | ditë | /ˈditə/ |
| 179 | year | vit, mot | /vit/, /mot/ |
| 180 | warm | i nxehtë, i ngrohtë | /ˈnd͡zehtə/, /ŋgrohtə/ |
| 181 | cold | i ftohtë, i ftoftë (Gheg) | /ftohtə/, /ftoftə/ |
| 182 | full | i plotë, i mbushur | /plotə/, /mbuʃuɾ/ |
| 183 | new | i ri | /ɾi/ |
| 184 | old | plak, i vjetër | /ˈplak/, /vjetəɾ/ |
| 185 | good | i mirë | /ˈmiɾə/ |
| 186 | bad | i keq | /kec/ |
| 187 | rotten | i kalbur | /kɑɫˈbuɾ/ |
| 188 | dirty | i fëlliqët | /fəɫicət/ |
| 189 | straight | i drejtë | /dɾejtə/ |
| 190 | round | rrumbullak, rrotullak | /rumbuˈɫak/, /rotuˈɫak/ |
| 191 | sharp (as a knife) | i mprehtë | /mpɾehtə/ |
| 192 | dull (as a knife) | i mpirë | /mpiɾə/ |
| 193 | smooth | i lëmuar | /ləmuaɾ/ |
| 194 | wet | i lagur | /laguɾ/ |
| 195 | dry | i thatë | /θatə/ |
| 196 | correct | i drejtë | /dɾejtə/ |
| 197 | near | i afërm | /afəɾm/ |
| 198 | far | i largë | /laɾgə/ |
| 199 | right | i djathtë | /djaθtə/ |
| 200 | left | i majtë | /majtə/ |
| 201 | at | te, tek | /tɛ/, /tɛk/ |
| 202 | in | në | /nə/ |
| 203 | with | me | /mɛ/ |
| 204 | and | dhe, e, edhe | /ðe/, /ɛ/, /eðe/ |
| 205 | if | nëse, në qoftë se | /nəse/, /nə cɕoftə sɛ/ |
| 206 | because | sepse | /sepse/ |
| 207 | name | emër, emën (Gheg) | /ɛməɾ/, /ɛ̃mən/ |