ngjalë

Albanian

Alternative forms

  • njalë

Etymology

Ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂engʷʰ- (“water-worm”).[1] Compare Ancient Greek ἔγχελυς (énkhelus, “eel”), Latin anguilla (“eel”), Proto-Slavic *ǫgořь (“eel”), Old High German angar (“mealworm, larva, grub”). Occasionally connected to what is believed to be the Illyrian etymon of the demonym of the Enchelei.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ɲɟalə/, [ɲɟ͡ʝäːl(ɜ)]

Noun

ngjalë f (plural ngjala, definite ngjala, definite plural ngjalat)

  1. eel
    Ky lumë është i njohur për numrin e madh të ngjalave.
    This river is known for its large number of eels.
  2. (figurative) crafty, cunning person. fox

Declension

Declension of ngjalë
singular plural
indefinite definite indefinite definite
nominative ngjalë ngjala ngjala ngjalat
accusative ngjalën
dative ngjale ngjalës ngjalave ngjalave
ablative ngjalash

Derived terms

  • ngjalan, ngjalistër, ngjalishëm

References

  1. ^ Topalli, Kolec (2017) “ngjalë”, in Fjalor Etimologjik i Gjuhës Shqipe [Etymological Dictionary of the Albanian Language] (in Albanian), Durrës, Albania: Jozef, page 1060

Further reading

  • “ngjalë”, in FGJSH: Fjalor i gjuhës shqipe [Dictionary of the Albanian language] (in Albanian), 2006
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