Noun declension: tables
A2
Full tables for four common types. Most other nouns follow one of these patterns.
Masculine in -k, -g, -h: shok "friend"
| case | indef. sg. | def. sg. | indef. pl. | def. pl. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nom. | shok | shoku | shokë | shokët |
| Acc. | shok | shokun | shokë | shokët |
| Gen. | i/e shoku | i/e shokut | i/e shokëve | i/e shokëve |
| Dat. | shoku | shokut | shokëve | shokëve |
| Abl. | shoku | shokut | shokësh | shokëve |
Masculine in -ër: libër "book"
| case | indef. sg. | def. sg. | indef. pl. | def. pl. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nom. | libër | libri | libra | librat |
| Acc. | libër | librin | libra | librat |
| Gen. | i/e libri | i/e librit | i/e librave | i/e librave |
| Dat. | libri | librit | librave | librave |
| Abl. | libri | librit | librash | librave |
Feminine in -ë: vajzë "girl"
| case | indef. sg. | def. sg. | indef. pl. | def. pl. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nom. | vajzë | vajza | vajza | vajzat |
| Acc. | vajzë | vajzën | vajza | vajzat |
| Gen. | i/e vajze | i/e vajzës | i/e vajzave | i/e vajzave |
| Dat. | vajze | vajzës | vajzave | vajzave |
| Abl. | vajze | vajzës | vajzash | vajzave |
Feminine in stressed -i: shtëpi "house"
| case | indef. sg. | def. sg. | indef. pl. | def. pl. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nom. | shtëpi | shtëpia | shtëpi | shtëpitë |
| Acc. | shtëpi | shtëpinë | shtëpi | shtëpitë |
| Gen. | i/e shtëpie | i/e shtëpisë | i/e shtëpive | i/e shtëpive |
| Dat. | shtëpie | shtëpisë | shtëpive | shtëpive |
| Abl. | shtëpie | shtëpisë | shtëpish | shtëpive |
How to read the tables
The genitive is a linking article plus the dative form. The article (i, e, të, së) depends on the first noun: libri i shokut, shtëpia e shokut. The ablative singular is the same as the dative. The indefinite ablative plural (shokësh, librash) is bookish; in speech people usually say prej shokëve.
Two more feminine types
In unstressed -e (shoqe "friend (female)"): shoqja, shoqen, shoqes; plural shoqe — shoqet. In -ër (motër "sister"): motra, motrën, motrës; plural motra — motrat.
Examples
Ia dhashë librin vajzës.
I gave the book to the girl.
Dera e shtëpisë është e hapur.
The door of the house is open.
Erdha me shokët.
I came with my friends.
Kjo është çanta e motrës.
This is my sister's bag.
Common mistakes
dera i shtëpisë
✓ dera e shtëpisë
The genitive article depends on the first noun: derë is feminine.
me shokëve
✓ me shokët
After me use the accusative: shokët.
💡 Tip. Do not learn the whole tables at once. Start with the definite singular — the most frequent form — and with genitive phrases like libri i shokut.
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