Albanian for Travel
You do not need fluency to travel well in Albania or Kosovo - you need the right thirty phrases and the confidence to use them. Even a little Albanian gets a warm welcome, because so few visitors try.
The essentials
If you learn nothing else, learn these.
| Albanian | English |
|---|---|
| Përshëndetje | Hello |
| Faleminderit | Thank you |
| Të lutem / Ju lutem | Please |
| Po / Jo | Yes / No |
| Më fal | Excuse me / sorry |
| A flisni anglisht? | Do you speak English? |
| Nuk kuptoj | I don't understand |
Getting around and buying things
Prices, directions, and ordering cover most travel situations. Pair these with the numbers page so you can understand the answer, not just ask the question.
| Albanian | English |
|---|---|
| Sa kushton? | How much does it cost? |
| Ku është…? | Where is…? |
| Ku është tualeti? | Where is the toilet? |
| Dua… | I want… |
| Një kafe, të lutem | A coffee, please |
| Ju bëftë mirë | Enjoy your meal |
| Gëzuar! | Cheers! |
If something goes wrong
You will almost certainly never need these - but the one time you do, they are the phrases that matter most. Learn them cold. Note that "I am sick" changes with your own gender: a man says i sëmurë, a woman e sëmurë.
| Albanian | English |
|---|---|
| Ndihmë! | Help! |
| Thirrni policinë | Call the police |
| Thirrni një mjek | Call a doctor |
| Jam i sëmurë / e sëmurë | I'm sick (said by a man / a woman) |
| Ku është spitali? | Where is the hospital? |
| Ku është farmacia? | Where is the pharmacy? |
| Kam nevojë për ndihmë | I need help |
A note on where you're going
Standard Albanian is understood across both Albania and Kosovo. In Kosovo and the north you will hear more Gheg pronunciation and some regional words, but the standard gives you the safest starting point. Absorb the local flavour naturally once you arrive.