zanë
Albanian
Alternative forms
- zërë (Tosk)
Etymology
From Latin Diāna (compare Asturian xana, Sardinian giàna, Romanian zână, Aromanian dzãnã). Alternatively a Gheg formation from zân 'voice', from Proto-Albanian *ĝhu̯en, from Proto-Indo-European *ĝhau, *ĝhau̯ǝ 'to call, priestess, goddess', in referrence to the characteristics of these beings. Similar formation as zot. Compare Old Church Slavic zovǫ (“call, shout, cry”), Avestan zavaiti (“called, wanted”).
Noun
zanë f (indefinite plural zana)