Is Albanian worth learning?

If you have a reason to connect with Albanian speakers, it is absolutely worth it. Around 7.5 million people speak Albanian, and because relatively few foreigners learn it, even modest ability sets you apart and is warmly received.

People take it up for family and heritage, for a partner, for travel to Albania or Kosovo, for work, or simply for the challenge. And it is an interesting challenge in its own right: Albanian is the sole surviving member of its own branch of the Indo-European family, so learning it gives you a window into a language unlike any other you have studied.

You do not have to commit to fluency to get value. Even a few weeks of daily flashcards will let you greet people, order food, and read signs — and you can decide from there how far you want to go.