Albanian, Gheg

A language of Albania

ISO 639-3

Alternate Names

Geg, Gheg, Guegue, Shopni, Shqip, Shqyp

Population

1,200,000 in Albania (2012 UNSD). Ethnic population: 2,310,000 ethnic Albanians (2011 census). Total users in all countries: 1,821,480.

Location

Widespread north of the Shkumbin river.

Language Maps

Albania, Macedonia and Montenegro

Language Status

5 (Dispersed).

Classification

Indo-European, Albanian, Gheg

Dialects

Northwest Gheg, Northeast Gheg, Central Gheg, Southern Gheg. A member of macrolanguage Albanian [sqi].

Typology

SVO; prepositions; noun head initial; gender (masculine/feminine/neuter); definite article affix; case-marking (4 cases); verb affixes mark person, number; passives; tense; 29 consonant and 7 vowel phonemes; non-tonal; stress on penultimate syllable.

Language Use

Also use Tosk Albanian [als].

Language Development

Newspapers. NT: 1869–1990.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Albanian, Gheg

Writing

Braille script [Brai]. Latin script [Latn], primary usage.

Other Comments

Muslim, Christian.

Also spoken in:

Expand All Collapse All

Macedonia

Language nameAlbanian, Gheg

Population

508,000 in Macedonia (2002 census). Ethnic population: 509,000 (2002 census).

Location

Cair, Debar, Gazi Baba, Gostivar, Karpos, Kicevo, Kumanovo, Ohrid, Resen, Struga, and Tetovo municipalities.

Alternate Names

Geg, Shqip, Shqyp

Status

2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in northern, western regions (1991, Constitution, Article 7(6)).

Other Comments

Muslim.

View other languages of Macedonia

Montenegro

Language nameAlbanian, Gheg

Population

32,700 in Montenegro (2011 census).

Location

Widespread.

Alternate Names

Geg, Shqip, Shqyp

Dialects

Northwest Gheg.

Status

2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in Tuzi City Municipality, Plav Municipality, Ulcinj Municipality (2006, Statute No. 5-06, Article 9). Recognized language (2007, Constitution, Article 13).

Other Comments

Muslim, Christian.

View other languages of Montenegro

Romania

Language nameAlbanian, Gheg

Location

Bucharest and Constanta departments.

Alternate Names

Shqyp

Status

5 (Dispersed). Recognized language (2005, National Minority Status Law, Article 3(2)).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Romania

Serbia

Language nameAlbanian, Gheg

Population

10,000 in Serbia (2013 UNSD). Ethnic population: 2,000,000 (1998 Los Angeles Times).

Location

Jablanica, Pcinja, and Toplica, districts; Kosovo region.

Alternate Names

Geg, Shqip, Shqyp

Dialects

Northwest Gheg, Northeast Gheg.

Status

2 (Provincial). Statutory language of provincial identity in Bjanovac, 2 other municipalities (2009, Constitution, Article 10(2)). De facto provincial language in Kosovo.

Language Use

Vigorous. Restrictions on Albanian at Kosovo’s university since 1990.

Other Comments

Muslim, Christian.

View other languages of Serbia

Slovenia

Language nameAlbanian, Gheg

Population

7,180 in Slovenia (2003 UNSD).

Alternate Names

Shqyp

Status

5 (Dispersed). Recognized language (2000, Slovenian Ratification, ECRML).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Slovenia

Turkey

Language nameAlbanian, Gheg

Alternate Names

Shqyp

Dialects

Samsun Albanian.

Status

5 (Dispersed).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Turkey

Ethnologue

Albanian, Gheg

Primary tabs

A language of Albania

Also spoken in:

Browse by

Current Edition

Products

Related Sites

Contact