🟨 UNIT 2: Prezantime dhe Biseda të Vogla (Introductions and Small Talk)
🏙️ Dialogue 1 – Formal Introduction (Standard Albanian)
Basic Phrases:
- Si quheni? – What’s your name?
- Unë jam… – I am…
- Kënaqësi t’ju takoj! – Pleasure to meet you!
- Ku punoni? – Where do you work?
- Shihemi përsëri! – See you again!
Listen to the dialogue
Ema: Përshëndetje! Si quheni?
Ilir: Përshëndetje! Unë jam Ilir. Po ju?
Ema: Ema. Kënaqësi t’ju takoj! Ku punoni, Ilir?
Ilir: Jam mësues. Po ju, ku punoni?
Ema: Punoj në një bankë. Nga jeni?
Ilir: Nga Korça. Ju?
Ema: Nga Tirana. Shihemi përsëri!
📝 Translation
Ema: Hello! What’s your name?
Ilir: Hello! I’m Ilir. And you?
Ema: Ema. Pleasure to meet you! Where do you work, Ilir?
Ilir: I’m a teacher. And you, where do you work?
Ema: I work in a bank. Where are you from?
Ilir: From Korça. You?
Ema: From Tirana. See you again!
📘 Glossary
🏙️ Dialogue 2 – Meeting at a Café (Standard Albanian)
Basic Phrases:
- A mund të ulem këtu? – Can I sit here?
- Sigurisht! – Sure!
- Ku punoni? – Where do you work?
- Më pëlqen këtu. – I like it here.
- Shihemi nesër! – See you tomorrow!
Sara: Përshëndetje! A mund të ulem këtu?
Endri: Sigurisht! Si quheni?
Sara: Sara. Po ju?
Endri: Endri. Ku punoni, Sara?
Sara: Jam infermiere. Po ju?
Endri: Inxhinier. Më pëlqen këtu, kafeja është e mirë!
Sara: Po, shumë! Shihemi nesër!
📝 Translation
Sara: Hello! Can I sit here?
Endri: Sure! What’s your name?
Sara: Sara. And you?
Endri: Endri. Where do you work, Sara?
Sara: I’m a nurse. You?
Endri: Engineer. I like it here, the coffee’s good!
Sara: Yeah, totally! See you tomorrow!
📘 Glossary
🏙️ Dialogue 3 – Casual Intro (Colloquial Albanian)
Basic Phrases:
- Si quhesh, mo? – What’s your name, man?
- Ç’punon ti? – What do you work as?
- Ok, super! – Cool, awesome!
- Ku rri zakonisht? – Where you usually hang out?
- Shihemi, bro! – Catch you later, bro!
Jon: Hej, si quhesh, mo?
Lea: Lea, po ti?
Jon: Jon. Ç’punon ti?
Lea: Punoj n’bar, mo. Ti?
Jon: Mekanik. Ku rri zakonisht?
Lea: Te lagjja e re. Ti?
Jon: Ok, super! Shihemi, bro!
📝 Translation
Jon: Hey, what’s your name, man?
Lea: Lea, you?
Jon: Jon. What do you work as?
Lea: I work at a bar, man. You?
Jon: Mechanic. Where you usually hang out?
Lea: New neighborhood. You?
Jon: Cool, awesome! Catch you later, bro!
📘 Glossary
🏔️ Dialogue 4 – Market Chat in Shkodra (Gheg Dialect)
Vali and Dritan meet at a bustling Shkodra market near their katund.
Basic Phrases:
- Si quhesh, zotni? – What’s your name, sir?
- Unë jam… – I am…
- Çka punon? – What do you work as?
- Gëzohem t’ju njoh! – Glad to know you!
- N’katund je? – You from the village?
Vali: Tungjatjeta! Si quhesh, zotni?
Dritan: Unë jam Dritan. Ti?
Vali: Vali. Gëzohem t’ju njoh! Çka punon?
Dritan: Jam bujk. Ti çka punon?
Vali: Shitës n’pazar. N’katund je?
Dritan: Po, n’katund afër. Ti?
Vali: N’Shkodër. Shihemi!
📝 Translation
Vali: Long life! What’s your name, sir?
Dritan: I’m Dritan. You?
Vali: Vali. Glad to know you! What do you work as?
Dritan: I’m a farmer. You?
Vali: Seller at the market. You from the village?
Dritan: Yeah, nearby village. You?
Vali: In Shkodra. See you!
📘 Glossary
🌊 Dialogue 5 – Beach Chat in Saranda (Tosk Dialect)
Basic Phrases:
- Si quhesh, more? – What’s your name, dear?
- Rrofsh! – Bless you!
- Çfarë punon ti? – What do you work as?
- Mirë t’pash! – Good to see you!
- Nga fshati je? – You from the village?
[Dialogue text missing from source. Placeholder content used.]
Lori: Përshëndetje! Si quhesh, more?
Kosta: Kosta, rrofsh! Po ti?
Lori: Lori. Mirë t’pash! Çfarë punon ti?
Kosta: Punoj në hotel. Po ti?
Lori: Jam kuzhiniere. Nga fshati je?
Kosta: Jo, nga Saranda. Ti?
Lori: Nga një fshat afër. Shihemi!
📝 Translation
Lori: Hello! What’s your name, dear?
Kosta: Kosta, bless you! You?
Lori: Lori. Good to see you! What do you work as?
Kosta: I work at a hotel. You?
Lori: I’m a cook. You from the village?
Kosta: No, from Saranda. You?
Lori: From a nearby village. See you!
📘 Glossary
🧠 Vocabulary
👋 Introductions
🧑 Personal Info
💬 Small Talk
👨👩👧 Family
Dialectal Nuances: Gheg nasalizes vowels (e.g., "emni" sounds /ˈɛ̃mni/, marked in red). Colloquial uses "mo" or "prej" for a relaxed tone (green). Tosk’s "rrofsh" adds warmth (orange).
📚 Grammar Focus: Personal Pronouns and Possessive Adjectives
Personal pronouns and possessive adjectives (e.g., "im," "juaj") are essential for introductions and small talk. They vary slightly across dialects, with Gheg’s nasal tones and Tosk’s softer vowels.
Overview Across Dialects
- Standard: Formal and clear, used in schools (e.g., /im/). See Dialogue 1.
- Colloquial: Adds "mo" for friendliness (Dialogue 3).
- Gheg: Nasalizes pronouns (e.g., "ym" /ỹm/) (Dialogue 4).
- Tosk: Melodic with "rrofsh" (Dialogue 5).
Forms
Personal Pronouns
- Unë (I) – /unə/ – "Unë jam mësues" (I am a teacher).
- Ti (You) – /ti/ – "Ti je student?" (Are you a student?).
- Ai/Ajo (He/She) – /ai/, /ajo/ – "Ai është shoku im" (He is my friend).
- Ne (We) – /nɛ/ – "Ne jemi nga Vlora" (We are from Vlora).
- Ju (You all) – /ju/ – "Ju punoni këtu?" (Do you all work here?).
- Ata/Ato (They) – /ˈata/, /ˈato/ – "Ata janë familja ime" (They are my family).
Possessive Adjectives
- Im (My) – /im/ – "Emri im" (My name). Gheg: /ĩm/.
- Yt (Your) – /yt/ – "Vëllai yt" (Your brother).
- I tij/saj (His/Her) – /i tiʒ/, /saj/ – "Motra e tij" (His sister).
- Ynë (Our) – /ynə/ – "Shtëpia jonë" (Our house).
- Juaj (Your, pl.) – /ˈjuaj/ – "Fëmijët tuaj" (Your children).
- I tyre (Their) – /i ˈtɛrɛ/ – "Puna e tyre" (Their work).
Usage Notes
Use pronouns for introductions and possessives to describe relationships or belongings:
- Introductions: "Unë jam..." (I am...).
- Possession: "Motra ime" (My sister).
- Questions: "Juaj është kjo punë?" (Is this your job?).
Colloquial skips formal endings (e.g., "shoku im" becomes "shok"), Gheg nasalizes, Tosk softens.
Examples
Standard:
- Emri im është Sara.
- Ju jeni shokët e tij?
- Familja jonë është e madhe.
Colloquial:
- Jam Denis, mo.
- Vëllai yt ç’bën?
- Shokët e mi janë këtu.
Gheg:
- Emni im asht Luan.
- Motra jote n’katund jeton?
- Familja e tyne asht e mirë.
Tosk:
- Emri im është Anila, rrofsh!
- Vëllai yt, more, ku është?
- Puna jonë është e rëndë.
Learning Tips
- Listen: Catch Gheg’s nasal "im" vs. Tosk’s soft "ime" in audio.
- Practice: Say "Unë jam..." (Standard), then "Emni im..." (Gheg).
- Challenge: Write 3 intro sentences using possessives!
✍️ Exercises
Practice introductions and small talk with these exercises. Check answers instantly or reveal keys for feedback.
Exercise 1: Multiple Choice – Introductions
Choose the correct phrase for the situation or dialect.
- How do you say “My name is” in Standard Albanian?
- In Gheg, how do you introduce someone?
- Colloquial way to ask “Where you from?”
Answer Key (Click to Show/Hide)
Exercise 2: Fill-in-the-Blank – Possessive Adjectives
Complete with the correct possessive adjective.
- Emri ___ (my) është Mark.
- Vëllai ___ (your, sing.) është këtu?
- Familja ___ (our) jeton në fshat.
- Puna ___ (their) është e re.
- Motra ___ (his) studion.
Enter your answers:
Answer Key (Click to Show/Hide)
Exercise 3: Matching – Phrases Across Dialects
Match the phrase to its meaning and dialect.
Words
- Emni im
- Prej nga je
- More
- Fmi
Meanings
- My name (Gheg)
- Where you from (Colloquial)
- Dear (Tosk)
- Children (Gheg)
Answer Key (Click to Show/Hide)
Exercise 4: Dialogue Completion – Mixed Dialects
Complete the conversation between a Colloquial speaker (Lori) and a Gheg speaker (Luan).
Lori: Hej, ___ (1. what’s your name), mo?
Luan: Emni im asht Luan. Ti ___ (2. you are) kush?
Lori: Jam Lori, prej Vlora. ___ (3. where from) je ti?
Luan: Nga katundi n’Kukës. ___ (4. work) çka bën?
Lori: Punoj n’bar. ___ (5. family) ke ti?
Enter your answers:
Answer Key (Click to Show/Hide)
Exercise 5: Quick Quiz – Test Your Knowledge!
Answer to review Unit 2.
- What does “vëlla” mean in Standard Albanian?
- How do you say “My name is” in Colloquial Albanian?
- Gheg word for “sister”?
Answer Key (Click to Show/Hide)
Exercise 6: Translate Across Dialects
Translate into the specified dialect.
- “My name is Sara” (Standard Albanian)
- “Where you from, man?” (Colloquial Albanian)
- “This is my brother” (Gheg Albanian)
- “I have a sister” (Tosk Albanian)
- “Nice to meet you” (Colloquial Albanian)
Write your answers:
Answer Key (Click to Show/Hide)
📖 Reading Passages
Passage 1: Një Takim në Tiranë (Standard Albanian)
Një ditë me diell në Tiranë, dy të rinj takohen në park. “Përshëndetje! Emri im është Klodi,” thotë një djalë. “Kënaqësi! Unë jam Ema,” përgjigjet vajza. “Nga je ti, Klodi?” pyet ajo. “Jam nga Durrësi. Po ti?” “Nga Korça,” thotë Ema. Ata bisedojnë për punën. Klodi është student, dhe Ema punon në një zyrë. “Ju keni fëmijë?” pyet Klodi. “Jo, jam e re!” qesh Ema.
📝 Translation
One sunny day in Tirana, two young people meet in the park. “Hello! My name is Klodi,” says a boy. “Pleasure! I’m Ema,” replies the girl. “Where are you from, Klodi?” she asks. “I’m from Durrës. You?” “From Korça,” says Ema. They talk about work. Klodi is a student, and Ema works in an office. “Do you have children?” asks Klodi. “No, I’m young!” laughs Ema.
📘 Glossary
🧩 Comprehension Questions
- Ku takohen Klodi dhe Ema?
- Si quhet vajza?
- Nga është Klodi?
- Çfarë pune bën Ema?
- A ka fëmijë Ema?
Passage 2: Nji Kafe në Lagje (Colloquial Albanian)
Në lagje, dy shokë takohen te nji kafe. “Hej, si quhesh, mo?” pyet njeri. “Jam Besa,” thotë tjetra. “Prej nga je?” “Nga Shkodra, mo. Ti?” “Jam Geri, nga Tirona.” Ata qeshin e flasin për punë. Geri punon në dyqan, kurse Besa studion. “Ke motër a vëlla?” pyet Geri. “Po, nji vëlla,” thotë Besa. “Hajde, pimë nji kafe tjetër!”
📝 Translation
In the neighborhood, two friends meet at a café. “Hey, what’s your name, man?” asks one. “I’m Besa,” says the other. “Where you from?” “From Shkodra, man. You?” “I’m Geri, from Tirana.” They laugh and talk about work. Geri works in a shop, while Besa studies. “Got a sister or brother?” asks Geri. “Yeah, one brother,” says Besa. “Come on, let’s grab another coffee!”
📘 Glossary
🧩 Comprehension Questions
- Ku takohen Geri dhe Besa?
- Nga është Besa?
- Çfarë bën Geri për punë?
- A ka Besa vëllezër ose motra?
- Çfarë propozon Besa?
Passage 3: Nji Ditë n’Katund (Gheg)
N’katund, nji djal i ri takon nji shok. “Tungjatjeta! Emni im asht Agron,” thotë ai. “Knaqsi! Jam Besnik,” përgjigjet tjetri. “Nga je ti?” pyet Agron. “Nga Prizreni. Ti?” “Nga katundi këtu.” Ata flasin për familje. Agron ka nji vlla, Besnik dy motra. “Çka punon ti?” pyet Besnik. “Punoj n’tokë,” thotë Agron.
📝 Translation
In the village, a young guy meets a friend. “Long life! My name is Agron,” he says. “Pleasure! I’m Besnik,” replies the other. “Where you from?” asks Agron. “From Prizren. You?” “From this village.” They talk about family. Agron has one brother, Besnik two sisters. “What do you do?” asks Besnik. “I work the land,” says Agron.
📘 Glossary
🧩 Comprehension Questions
- Ku takohen Agron dhe Besnik?
- Si t’quhet shoku i Agronit?
- Nga është Besnik?
- Kush ka dy motra?
- Çka punon Agron?
Passage 4: Një Ditë në Fshat (Tosk)
Në fshat, nje çikë takon nji burrë. “Përshëndetje, si quhesh, more?” pyet ajo. “Jam Thoma, rrofsh!” thotë ai. “Unë jam Vera. Prej ku je?” “Nga Gjirokastra,” përgjigjet Thoma. Ata flasin për familje. Vera ka nji motër, Thoma dy djem. “Ç’punon ti?” pyet Vera. “Jam fermer,” thotë Thoma.
📝 Translation
In the village, a girl meets a man. “Hello, what’s your name, dear?” she asks. “I’m Thoma, bless you!” he says. “I’m Vera. Where you from?” “From Gjirokastër,” replies Thoma. They talk about family. Vera has one sister, Thoma two sons. “What do you do?” asks Vera. “I’m a farmer,” says Thoma.
📘 Glossary
🧩 Comprehension Questions
- Ku takohen Vera dhe Thoma?
- Si quhet burri?
- Nga është Thoma?
- Kush ka një motër?
- Çfarë pune bën Thoma?
Passage 5: Një Bisedë në Pazar (Mixed Dialects)
Në pazar, nji vajzë nga Tirana takon nji shitës nga katundi. “Hej, si quhesh, mo?” pyet ajo. “Emni im asht Gëzim,” thotë ai. “Jam Mira, kënaqësi!” “Nga je ti?” pyet Gëzim. “Nga Tirona, po ti?” “Nga nji fshat afër.” Ata flasin për punë. Mira studion, Gëzim shet fruta. “Ke fmi?” pyet ajo. “Po, dy djem, rrofsh!”
📝 Translation
At the market, a girl from Tirana meets a vendor from the village. “Hey, what’s your name, man?” she asks. “My name is Gëzim,” he says. “I’m Mira, pleasure!” “Where you from?” asks Gëzim. “From Tirana, you?” “From a village nearby.” They talk about work. Mira studies, Gëzim sells fruit. “Got kids?” she asks. “Yeah, two sons, bless you!”
📘 Glossary
🧩 Comprehension Questions
- Ku takohen Mira dhe Gëzim?
- Nga është Mira?
- Çfarë shet Gëzim?
- A ka Gëzim fëmijë?
- Çfarë studion Mira?
🌍 Cultural Notes
1. Introductions and Albanian Warmth
Albanians value personal connections, and introductions are a doorway to mikpritja (hospitality). In Tirana, “Emri im është” is formal, while “Jam...” with “mo” is urban slang. In Gheg areas like Kukës, “Emni im asht” comes with a handshake and coffee invite. Tosk’s “Si quhesh, more?” in Gjirokastër feels like family. Muslims and Christians alike use names to build trust, often asking about family to show care.
2. Name Days and Social Bonds
In Albania, name days (e.g., Shën Gjon for Gjoni) are as big as birthdays. Friends introduce themselves with pride on these days, saying “Jam Gjoni, sot kam festë!” (I’m Gjoni, today’s my celebration!). Gheg villagers in Shkodra host open houses, while Tosk families in Korça share sweets. Asking “Si quhesh?” during these events sparks warm chats about family and roots.
3. Coffee Culture in Small Talk
Coffee is Albania’s social glue. In Colloquial settings, “Hajde, pimë nji kafe?” (Let’s grab a coffee?) is a casual invite after intros. Gheg’s “Ejani n’shtëpi për kafe” in villages means deeper hospitality, often with reçel. Tosk markets in Vlora end chats with “Faleminderit, more!” over espresso. Always accept a coffee offer—it’s a sign of respect!
4. Family Ties Across Dialects
Family is central to Albanian small talk. Standard “Ju keni fëmijë?” (Do you have children?) is polite, but Colloquial “Ke motër a vëlla, mo?” feels friendlier. Gheg’s “Motër e vlla keni?” in Kosovo often leads to stories of village life. Tosk’s “Kam dy djem, more” in Fier carries pride. Asking about family shows you value their world, but avoid too-personal questions early on.
5. Dialects and Regional Pride
Albanians cherish their dialects as identity markers. Gheg speakers in the North (e.g., Shkodra) use nasal “emni” and “asht” with pride, tying to Kosovo’s culture. Tosk’s melodic “rrofsh” and “more” in the South (e.g., Gjirokastër) reflect warmth. Colloquial “mo” bridges both in cities like Tirana. When you say “Prej nga je?” expect passionate answers about hometowns!
