Shops and hotels in Albanian
Open, closed, a bag, the wifi password: the checkout and the front desk. Play the ten Albanian words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 10 Albanian phrases in this lesson
- Keni...?KE-ni
- Do you have...?
- Ku është...?koo ESH-te
- Where is...?
- HapurHA-poor
- Open
- MbyllurMBEE-loor
- Closed
- Qese?CHE-se
- A bag?
- Shumë shtrenjtëSHOO-me SHTREN-yte
- Too expensive
- Kam një rezervimkam nye re-zer-VEEM
- I have a reservation
- A përfshihet mëngjesi?a perf-SHEE-het men-YE-si
- Is breakfast included?
- Cili është fjalëkalimi i wifi-t?TSI-li ESH-te fya-le-ka-LEE-mi ee WAI-fit
- What's the wifi password?
- Mund të...?moond te
- Can I...?
A simple and useful question for any shop. Follow it with the item you need. Staff will either point you in the right direction or shake their head, and both answers save you time.
Point and follow this with any word you know. Even miming works well alongside it. Albanians are patient and will walk you to the aisle if needed.
Many small shops close for a long lunch in summer and reopen in the evening.
Plastic bags cost a small fee at supermarkets. The cashier will ask you, and you can simply reply "po" (yes) or "jo" (no). Reusable bags are increasingly popular.
Literally "very expensive". Bargaining is normal at markets, rare in shops.
Breakfast in family hotels is often homemade: eggs, cheese, honey and fresh bread.
Most people just say "fjalëkalimi?" with a nod at the phone.
Asking permission: "mund të ulem këtu?" (moond te OO-lem ke-TOO), can I sit here?