Shqip, gjuha shqipe, arbërisht
Native Speakers: 7.5 million
Albania, Kosovo, Greece
Official: Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia,
Montenegro
Indo-European, Albanoid
Albanian is a unique Indo-European language with no close relatives, forming its own distinct branch within the language family. Features a complex system of noun declensions, definite and indefinite articles that attach to the ends of nouns, and verb conjugations that reflect tense, mood, and aspect. Its vocabulary is a blend of native words and significant borrowings from Latin, Greek, Slavic, Turkish, and Italian, reflecting the region’s diverse history.
Albanian is divided into two primary dialects: Gheg and Tosk, which are distinguished by phonological, lexical, and grammatical differences. The Shkumbin River serves as the traditional dividing line, with Gheg spoken in the north of Albania and parts of Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia, while Tosk is spoken in the south of Albania and by most Albanian communities in Greece and Italy. Standard Albanian is based on the Tosk dialect, which was officially adopted in the 20th century. Gheg dialects retain older linguistic features and show greater regional variation, whereas Tosk tends to be more uniform. Despite their differences, both dialects are mutually intelligible and form the foundation of the rich linguistic and cultural diversity within the Albanian-speaking world.
Latin script
In the United States, the Albanian language is spoken by an estimated 200,000 to 250,000 people, primarily among immigrants and descendants from Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Montenegro. The largest Albanian-speaking communities are concentrated in New York City—particularly the Bronx and Queens—as well as in Detroit, Michigan and Chicago, Illinois. Smaller populations can also be found in Boston, Philadelphia, and parts of Connecticut. These communities often maintain strong cultural and linguistic ties through Albanian- language media, community centers, religious institutions, and family networks, helping preserve the language across generations.
At Latitude Prime, we offer Albanian translation, Albanian interpretation, and Albanian localization services in numerous specialized subject areas and multiple dialects. Whether you need to translate legal documents into Albanian, need an Albanian interpreter for a business meeting in Tirana, or want to localize your website into Albanian to market your products or services in Albanian, Latitude Prime has the customized language solution to meet all of your Albanian language needs.
