Albanian edit

Alternative forms edit

Etymology edit

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 edit

  • IPA(key): /ɲɟalə/, [ɲɟ͡ʝäːl(ɜ)]

Noun edit

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 edit

Derived terms edit

References edit

  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 edit

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