You reap what you sow
Word for word: The head does it, the head suffers it
The phrasebook
Every phrase the generator uses, with what it means, what it says word for word, and why people say it.
Said on both sides of the border
Proverbs and idioms
- Koka bën, koka pëson.
- Dardha bie nën dardhë.
Like father, like son
Word for word: The pear falls under the pear tree
- Fshati që duket s'do kallauz.
It's obvious, no explanation needed
Word for word: A village you can see needs no guide
- Guri i rëndë në vend të vet.
A person carries most weight where they belong
Word for word: The heavy stone, in its own place
Often said about emigration
- Ujku qimen e ndërron, por zakonin s'e harron.
A leopard can't change its spots
Word for word: The wolf changes its fur but not its habit
- Gjuha kocka s'ka, por kocka thyen.
Words can hurt
Word for word: The tongue has no bones, but it breaks bones
- Mali me mal s'piqet, njeriu me njeri piqet.
People always meet again
Word for word: Mountain doesn't meet mountain, but person meets person
- Më mirë një vezë sot se një pulë mot.
A bird in the hand…
Word for word: Better an egg today than a hen next year
- Bukë, kripë e zemër.
We offer what we have, wholeheartedly
Word for word: Bread, salt and heart
The core formula of Albanian hospitality
- Shtëpia e shqiptarit është e Zotit dhe e mikut.
The guest comes first
Word for word: The Albanian's house belongs to God and the guest
From the Kanun
- Kafeja është e zezë, po të zbardh faqen.
Offering coffee does you honour
Word for word: Coffee is black, but it whitens your face
"White face" = honour
- Dora lan dorën, të dyja lajnë faqen.
We get by helping each other
Word for word: One hand washes the other, both wash the face
- Përmend qenin, bëj gati shkopin.
Speak of the devil
Word for word: Mention the dog, get the stick ready
- Pula bëri vezën, gjelit i dhemb barku.
Someone else did the work, he's the one complaining
Word for word: The hen laid the egg, the rooster's belly hurts
- Unë ha kumbulla, ty të mpihen dhëmbët.
I do it, and somehow you're the one bothered
Word for word: I eat the plums, your teeth go numb
- Mirëmëngjes me interes.
He's only friendly when he wants something
Word for word: A good-morning with interest
- E thëna dhe e bëra janë larg.
Easier said than done
Word for word: The said and the done are far apart
- S'lidhet kali me pe.
Wrong tool for a big job
Word for word: You don't tie a horse with thread
- Çilet dera, rritet ndera.
Guests bring honour
Word for word: The door opens, the honour grows
- Ustai nuk ka shtëpi.
The cobbler's children go barefoot
Word for word: The master builder has no house
- Çezma i lan të gjithë, veten nuk e lan.
Helps everyone but himself
Word for word: The fountain washes everyone but itself
- Kush shkon pa thirrë, kthen pa u përcjellë.
Don't show up uninvited
Word for word: Who comes uncalled leaves unescorted
- Kush ha vetëm, vdes vetëm.
Share what you have
Word for word: Who eats alone dies alone
- Një shkëndijë ndez një mal.
Small things start big ones
Word for word: One spark lights a mountain
- Qentë le të lehin, karvani shkon përpara.
Ignore the critics
Word for word: Let the dogs bark, the caravan moves on
Pan-Balkan
- S'ka tym pa zjarr.
No smoke without fire
- Ku ka zë, s'është pa gjë.
Where there's rumour there's something
Word for word: Where there's a voice, it's not for nothing
- I zoti e nxjerr gomarin nga balta.
Only the owner really solves the problem
Word for word: The owner gets the donkey out of the mud
- Kur s'ke kokë, ke këmbë.
Forget something, walk twice
Word for word: When you have no head, you have legs
- Gjaku ujë s'bëhet.
Blood is thicker than water
Word for word: Blood doesn't turn to water
- Bëje të mirën e hidhe në det.
Do good and expect nothing
Word for word: Do the good deed and throw it in the sea
- Hekuri rrihet sa është i nxehtë.
Strike while the iron is hot
- Punën e sotme mos e lër për nesër.
Don't put off today's work
Ironic next to the café phrases
- Mos i shih gunën, por shihi punën.
Don't judge by appearance
Word for word: Don't look at his cloak, look at his work
- Nuk mbushet pusi me pështymë.
Token effort won't do it
Word for word: You can't fill a well by spitting
- E bëri mizën buall
Made a mountain out of a molehill
Word for word: Made the fly into a buffalo
- M'u bë koka kazan
My head is ringing (from noise/talk)
Word for word: My head became a cauldron
Also "koka daulle" (a drum)
- Kërkon qiqra në hell
Asking for the impossible
Word for word: Wants chickpeas on a skewer
- Ka rënë nga fiku
Totally clueless
Word for word: Has fallen from the fig tree
- E hëngri sapunin për djathë
Got completely fooled
Word for word: Ate the soap thinking it was cheese
- I doli boja
He got exposed
Word for word: His paint came off
- Hedh gurin e fsheh dorën
Stirs trouble, plays innocent
Word for word: Throws the stone and hides the hand
- Me një gur dy zogj
Two birds with one stone
- As mish as peshk
Neither one thing nor the other
Word for word: Neither meat nor fish
- Ku rafsha mos u vrafsha
Recklessly, come what may
Word for word: Wherever I fall, may I not get hurt
- Më ra pika
I nearly had a heart attack
Word for word: The drop (stroke) hit me
- Hajt se s'u bë qameti
It's not the end of the world
Word for word: Come on, Judgement Day hasn't come
Kosova: "kijameti"
- Fjala vjen
For example / so to speak
Word for word: The word comes
Perfect filler
- Mos ma merr për të keq
No offence
Word for word: Don't take it as bad from me
- U bë nami
All hell broke loose / it was huge
Word for word: The fame happened
Family, weddings and the diaspora
- Të fala nga mami
Mum says hi
Word for word: Greetings from mum
- Mos dil me flokë të lagura!
Don't go out with wet hair
Universal Balkan mother law
- Mbylle derën se bën korrent!
Close the door, there's a draught
The draught is believed to cause every illness
- E ke marrë triko?
Did you take a sweater?
Asked regardless of the season
Food, hospitality and blessings
- Të lumshin duart!
Thank you, this is delicious / well made
Word for word: May your hands be blessed
Said to whoever cooked
- Të lumtë goja!
Well said!
Word for word: May your mouth be blessed
- Të bëftë mirë!
Bon appétit
Word for word: May it do you good
- Bujrum!
Welcome, come in, help yourself
From Turkish buyurun
- Gëzuar!
Cheers
Word for word: Joyfully
- Me shëndet!
Enjoy it (new clothes, haircut, anything)
Word for word: With health
- Për hajr!
Congratulations (house, car, engagement…)
Word for word: For good fortune
- U trashëgofshin!
Wedding wish: may they have a lasting legacy
Word for word: May they be inherited
- Rrofsh!
Thanks / bless you
Word for word: May you live
- T'u rrittë nderi!
Formal thank-you
Word for word: May your honour grow
- Tungjatjeta!
Hello (old-fashioned, warm)
Word for word: May your life be long
- Një mijë vjet të bardha!
Long and happy life to you
Word for word: A thousand white years
- Të hëngërt goja mjaltë!
May only good things come to you
Word for word: May your mouth eat honey
- Paç këmbën e mbarë!
May you bring good luck (to a bride, a newborn, a first guest)
Word for word: May you have the lucky foot
- Nga goja jote në vesh të Zotit!
I hope you're right
Word for word: From your mouth to God's ear
- Ishalla!
Hopefully
Word for word: God willing
- Mashalla!
Wow, bless (said admiring a child, a house…)
Wards off the evil eye
- Mirë se erdhe!
Welcome
Word for word: Well that you came
- Mirë se të gjej!
The reply to "welcome"
Word for word: Well that I find you
- Ha, se s'ke ngrënë gjë!
Eat, you've had nothing (after three plates)
Every Albanian mother/aunt
- Edhe pak, mos më turpëro!
Have some more, don't embarrass me
Hosts insist at least three times; refusing the first offer is only polite
- Bakllava për Bajram
Baklava for Eid
Trays of it, made days ahead and sent to the neighbours
- Petulla me mjaltë
Fried dough with honey
The classic weekend breakfast
- Turshi të shtëpisë
Homemade pickles
Every household has its own recipe and is sure it is the best
Albania
Everyday talk and café culture
- Hajde pimë një kafe
Let's grab a coffee (= let's talk for two hours)
- Ça kemi?
What's up?
Word for word: What do we have?
- Ça bëhet?
What's going on?
- Po shtyjmë
Getting by
Word for word: We're pushing (the days)
Standard answer to "ça kemi"
- Mirë, mirë, ti?
Good, good, you?
- O vlla
Bro
- O çun
Hey man / dude
Word for word: Hey boy
- O shpirt
Darling / sweetheart
Word for word: Oh soul
- Pa merak
No worries
Word for word: Without worry
- S'ka problem
No problem
- Ik mo!
Get out of here! / No way!
Word for word: Go, man
- Hë mo!
Come on!
- Ça thua mo?
What are you saying?!
- Po tallesh?
Are you kidding?
- Lëre, mos e pyet
Don't even ask
Word for word: Leave it, don't ask
- Të keqen
Dear (affectionate)
Word for word: (Let me take) your harm
Often "të keqen xhaxhi/mami"
- Kot fare
Totally pointless
- Fiks fare
Exactly / spot on
Slang
- Bombë fare
Awesome
Word for word: A total bomb
Slang
- Gjynah
What a pity / poor thing
Word for word: Sin
- Avash-avash
Slowly, slowly
From Turkish yavaş
- Hajt se e rregullojmë
Don't worry, we'll sort it out
The national project-management method
- E rregullojmë me një kafe
We'll sort it out over a coffee
Most things, from paperwork to feuds, are settled at a café table
- Me mik
Through connections
Word for word: With a friend
How things get done
- Nesër, nesër
Tomorrow, tomorrow
- Plasi vapa
It's boiling hot
Word for word: The heat burst
- Vdiqa për gjumë
I'm dying for sleep
- U bëra copë
I'm wrecked
Word for word: I became pieces
- Mos më çaj kokën!
Stop nagging me
Word for word: Don't split my head
- Ma nxive jetën!
You've made my life miserable
Word for word: You blackened my life
- S'kam nerva
I've no patience for this
Word for word: I don't have nerves
- I bie legenit
He's talking nonsense
Word for word: He's banging the washbasin
Tirana
- Ia futi kot
He just made that up
Word for word: He stuck it in for nothing
- Lëri këto llafe!
Cut the talk
Word for word: Leave these words
- I ka lezet muhabeti
The conversation's a pleasure
Word for word: The chat has flavour
- Një ekspres të shkurtër
A short espresso
The default order
- Një kafe turke, të mesme
A Turkish coffee, medium sweet
- Një raki për oreks
A raki to open the appetite
Traditionally sipped before the meal, sometimes before breakfast
- Dalim xhiro nga mbrëmja
Let's go for the evening stroll
Xhiro: the nightly promenade every town does
- Furgoni niset kur mbushet
The minibus leaves when it's full
Minibuses (furgona) run on no timetable, only on a full set of seats
- Hajde, edhe një vend!
Come on, one more seat!
The furgon driver's call; there is always one more seat
- Me gjithë qejf
With great pleasure
- Për Zotin
I swear / honestly
Word for word: By God
- Shihemi
See you
- Hajt, mirupafshim
Alright, goodbye
Proverbs and idioms
- Besa e shqiptarit si purteka e arit.
An Albanian's word is as good as gold
Word for word: The Albanian's besa is like a rod of gold
- Miku i mirë njihet në ditë të vështirë.
A friend in need is a friend indeed
- Kush s'ka parë Shkodrën, s'ka parë gjë.
If you haven't seen Shkodër you've seen nothing
Shkodër is one of the oldest cities in the Balkans, and proud of it
Family, weddings and the diaspora
- Kur do na gëzosh?
When are you getting married?
Word for word: When will you make us happy?
- U martove apo akoma?
Married yet, or still not?
- Po fëmijë, kur?
And kids, when?
The follow-up, 5 minutes after the wedding
- Sa e ke rrogën?
How much do you earn?
A perfectly normal question
- I kujt je ti?
Whose (child) are you?
How elders place you on the family map
- Kujt i ke ngjarë?
Who do you take after?
- Sa qenke rritur!
Look how you've grown!
- Je dobësuar, s'të japin bukë atje?
You've lost weight, don't they feed you there?
Said to every emigrant on arrival
- Kur erdhe, kur do ikësh?
When did you come, when are you leaving?
The emigrant's double question
- Më mori malli
I've missed you / home
Word for word: Longing took me
Mall has no clean English equivalent
- Shpirti i mamit
Mummy's darling
Word for word: Mum's soul
- Drita e syve
Apple of my eye
Word for word: The light of the eyes
- Hajde në valle!
Come join the dance!
Refusing is not an option
- Dasma me 400 veta
A wedding with 400 guests
A small wedding, by local standards
- Gusht, plot me targa të huaja
August, full of foreign plates
Every August the diaspora drives home and the roads fill with Italian, German and Swiss plates
Food, hospitality and blessings
- Byrek me spinaq
Spinach byrek
- Tavë kosi
Baked lamb with yogurt
Elbasan's signature dish
- Fërgesë Tirane
Tirana's pepper-and-curd dish
- Qofte e kos
Meatballs and yogurt
- Një gotë dhallë
A glass of salted yogurt drink
- Raki rrushi, e shtëpisë
Grape raki, homemade
It is always homemade
- Më jep pak farë kosi
Lend me a bit of yogurt starter
Classic neighbour request; nostalgic
- U rritëm me bukë e qepë
We grew up on bread and onions
"We had it hard"
- Si te gjyshja
Like at grandma's
Kosova
Everyday talk and café culture
- Qysh je?
How are you?
- A je mirë?
Are you well?
- A u lodhe?
Are you tired?
A greeting, not a real question. The three come as a chain
- Ku je bre?
Hey, where've you been!
Word for word: Where are you, bre
- Çka po bon?
What are you up to?
- Hiç, qe po rri
Nothing, just hanging around
- Çka ka t're?
What's new?
- Hiç, qishtu
Nothing, just so-so
- Hajde pijmë ni kafe
Let's grab a coffee
- Ni makiato t'madhe
A large macchiato
Prishtina's macchiato is a point of national pride
- A po don çaj rusi?
Want a "Russian tea"?
Strong black tea in small glasses
- S'ka gajle
No worries
- S'ka lidhje
Doesn't matter
Word for word: It has no connection
- Veç pak
Just a little
- Nashta
Maybe
- Valla
Honestly / I swear
- Qe besa
On my word
Word for word: Here's my besa
- Pasha Zotin
I swear to God
- Pasha bukën
I swear on the bread
Bread is sacred enough to swear on
- Kallxo drejt!
Tell it straight
- Kqyre këtë!
Look at this one!
- Hajt se bohet mirë
It'll be fine
Word for word: Come on, it becomes good
The unofficial national motto
- Mos u bo merak
Don't worry
- Boll ma!
Enough already
- Bash mirë
Really good
- Tung!
Bye / hi
- Shnosh!
Bless you / thanks
Word for word: Healthy
- Hajde shnet!
Cheers / take care
Word for word: Come, health
- Marre!
Shame! / How embarrassing
- Kuku për mu!
Oh dear me
- Lele!
Oh my
- Nejse
Anyway
From Turkish neyse
- Mos u ngut!
Don't rush
- Ku je nis?
Where are you headed?
- Kah po shkon?
Where are you going?
- A po vjen a jo?
Are you coming or not?
- S'po di valla
I honestly don't know
- Ku me ditë
How would I know
Word for word: Where to know
- Çka me t'thonë
What can I tell you
- Filan fisteku
So-and-so / blah blah
- A ki qef?
Do you feel like it?
- Qef m'u ka bo
I'm so glad
- T'kom xhan
I adore you
Word for word: I have you as my soul
Xhan from Persian/Turkish can
- Loqka jem
My dear
- Dalim n'korzo
Let's go out on the promenade
Korzo: the evening walk-and-be-seen street
- Krejt po bohen programera
Everyone's becoming a programmer
True
- Ma jep shrafcigerin!
Hand me the screwdriver
From German Schraubenzieher — gastarbeiter vocabulary
- Ka shku rryma prapë
The power's gone again
Power cuts are a shared memory, and a running joke
- Nuk prish punë
No matter
Word for word: It doesn't spoil the work
- Ose po, ose jo
Either yes or no
- Me t'mira!
All the best
- Ni kafe te Shadërvani
A coffee at Shadërvan
Prizren's old square
- I bukur si kalaja e Prizrenit
Beautiful like Prizren fortress
- Ajër i pastër n'Rugovë
Clean air in Rugova
The Rugova gorge above Peja, where people escape the summer heat
- Kafe n'Prishtinë, drekë n'Prizren
Coffee in Prishtina, lunch in Prizren
Forty-five minutes apart, and a perfectly reasonable plan for a day
- I kthjellët si uji i Istogut
Clear as Istog's water
Istog is known for its springs and trout
- Ni xhiro nëpër Pejë
A stroll through Peja
Peja sits at the foot of the Accursed Mountains
Family, weddings and the diaspora
- A u martove?
Are you married yet?
- Kur po na gëzon?
When are you getting married?
Word for word: When will you make us happy?
- Sa e ki rrogën?
How much do you earn?
- Qysh i ki robt e shpisë?
How's the family?
Word for word: How are the people of your house?
- A janë krejt mirë?
Is everyone well?
- I kujt je ti bre?
Whose (child) are you?
- Mashalla, sa qenke rritë!
Bless, how you've grown!
- Kur ke ardhë, kur po kthehesh?
When did you arrive, when do you go back?
Asked of every diaspora visitor, in one breath
- Po vjen vera, po vinë schatzat
Summer's coming, the Schatzis are coming
Schatzi: diaspora from German-speaking countries
- Sezona e dasmave
Wedding season
July–August, every night
- Tri dasma n'javë
Three weddings a week
Entirely normal in July and August
- Hajde n'valle!
Come join the dance!
- Bakshish për tupanxhi
A tip for the drummer
Banknotes for the tupan drummer keep the dance going
- Kerri me targa t'Zvicrrës
The car with Swiss plates
A summer sighting: the diaspora has arrived
- Pash familjen
I swear on my family
- Na mori malli
We've missed you
Word for word: Longing took us
- Pa gjyshen s'bohet
Nothing works without grandma
She runs the house, the kitchen and the family news network
Food, hospitality and blessings
- Hajde hin mrena!
Come on in
- Hajde bujrum!
Please, come, help yourself
- Flija n'saç
Fli baked under the saç lid
Layered crêpe dish that takes hours to bake
- Bukë me pasul
Bread and bean stew
Comfort food
- Speca n'tamël
Peppers in cream
- Burek me kos
Burek with yogurt
- Ajvar i shpisë
Homemade ajvar
Autumn ritual
- Llokuma me çaj
Fried dough with tea
- Dhjetë qebapa me kajmak
Ten kebabs with clotted cream
Prizren and Peja both claim the best ones
- Ma pjek ni pleskavicë!
Grill me a pljeskavica
- Ni copë bukë me djathë
A piece of bread with cheese
- Te gjyshi n'katun
At grandpa's in the village