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”). Possibly through Latin.[2] 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
indefinite definite
singular plural singular plural
nominative ngjalë ngjala ngjala ngjalat
accusative ngjalën
dative ngjale ngjalave ngjalës ngjalavet
ablative ngjalash

Derived terms
  • ngjalan, ngjalistër, ngjalishëm

References
  1. Topalli, K. (2017) “ngjalë”, in Fjalor Etimologjik i Gjuhës Shqipe, Durrës, Albania: Jozef, page 1060
  2. Orel, Vladimir E. (1998) “ngjalë”, in Albanian Etymological Dictionary, Leiden, Boston, Köln: Brill, →ISBN, page 298

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