Albanian exonyms
Many places have exonyms, names for places that differs from that used in the official or well-established language within that place, in the Albanian language.
Albanian has a relatively small number of true exonyms in areas beyond the current borders of Albania and Kosovo, mostly in neighboring countries, and those are listed here.
In addition, Albanian is a language with phonetic spelling that includes orthographic exonymy, i.e. it renders the names of non-Albanian places and people phonetically according to Albanian orthography. For example, Manchester is written as Mançester, Los Angeles as Los Anxheles, and New York as Nju Jork, etc.
Grammatical forms of Albanian placenames
True Albanian exonyms, not mere orthographic exonyms, like all Albanian placenames can be rendered in two forms the same way as common nouns, the definite and indefinite forms.[1] These forms are created with postpositions to the placename.
When using English or another foreign language, Albanians tend to use the definite form but on road signs and other similar usage, the indefinite form is used because there is an implied preposition në, meaning "to" or "in", which is followed by the indefinite.[2] Maps, especially those produced in Albania, consistently use the indefinite form.[2]
The two forms are applied differently depending on grammatical gender of the word. "Recommended international usage for Albanian toponyms" in Kosovo has feminine place names appearing in the definite form and masculine place names in the indefinite form. However, in Albania, English usage is of the indefinite for both feminine and masculine placenames except for the capital, Tirana. Thus the following usage in English with the preferred form in bold and link to the respective article:
| Albanian-Language Placename Forms (Forms normally used in English sources in boldface) | |||||||||||||
| Feminine Albanian-Language Placenames | |||||||||||||
| Indefinite Form | Definite Form | Country | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Korçë | Korça | Albania | |||||||||||
| Prishtinë | Prishtina | Serbia | |||||||||||
| Pejë | Peja | Serbia | |||||||||||
| Shkodër | Shkodra | Albania | |||||||||||
| Tiranë | Tirana | Albania | |||||||||||
| Masculine Albanian-Language Placenames | |||||||||||||
| Indefinite Form | Definite Form | Country | |||||||||||
| Durrës | Durrësi | Albania | |||||||||||
| Elbasan | Elbasani | Albania | |||||||||||
| Fier | Fieri | Albania | |||||||||||
| Lipjan | Lipjani | Serbia | |||||||||||
| Prizren | Prizreni | Serbia | |||||||||||
| Ulqin | Ulqini | Montenegro | |||||||||||
Since Albanian exonyms by nature are rarely seen in English texts, there are no strict rules as to which is the "correct" form for places outside of Albania and Kosovo. When available, both are given with the indefinite followed by the definite separated by a slash (stroke, i.e. "/").
List of Albanian exonyms
Cities are grouped by country and then listed alphabetically by their current best-known name in English. The English version is followed by Albanian variants in order of significance. A blue asterisk generally indicates the availability of an Albanian Wikipedia article for that city under that name which may also provide additional reference for the equivalence. Any other equivalents without further footnotes should be viewed with caution.
| Language | Native name | Albanian exonym |
|---|---|---|
 Afghanistan Afganistani | ||
| Persian - Pashto | Kābul - Kabəl | Kabul / Kabuli* |
 Austria Austria | ||
| German | Graz | Graz |
| Wien | Vjenë[3] / Vjena* | |
 Azerbaijan Azerbaxhani | ||
| Azerbaijani | Bakı | Baku* |
.svg.png){kind=small} Belgium Belgjikë | ||
| Dutch - French | Brussel - Bruxelles | Bruksel[3] / Brukseli* |
 Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnjë Hercegovinë | ||
| Bosnian | Banja Luka | Banja Lluka |
| Bihać | Bihaç | |
| Brčko | Bërçka* | |
| Sarajevo | Sarajevë / Sarajeva | |
 Bulgaria Bullgari | ||
| Bulgarian | Sofija | Sofje[3] / Sofja* |
| Plovdiv | Plovdiv, Pllovdiv, Filipopojë | |
 Canada Kanadaja | ||
| English - French | Ottawa | Otava |
 China Kinë | ||
| Mandarin | Běijīng | Pekin / Pekini* |
 Croatia Kroacia | ||
| Croatian | Arbanasi | Arbëneshi |
| Opatija | Opatia | |
| Rijeka | Rieka | |
| Šibenik | Shibeniku | |
| Zadar | Zara | |
 Cyprus Qipro | ||
| Greek - Turkish | Lefkosía - Lefkoşa | Nikozia |
 Czech Republic Çeki | ||
| Czech | Praha | Pragë[3] / Praga* |
 Denmark Danimarkë | ||
| Danish | København | Kopenhagë[3] / Kopenhaga, Kopenhagen / Kopenhageni* |
 Estonia Estoni | ||
| Estonian | Tallinn | Talin* |
 Egypt Egjipt | ||
| Arabic | Qāhirah | Kajro*[3] |
 France Franca | ||
| French | Paris | Paris / Parisi* |
 Germany Gjermani | ||
| German | Bonn | Bon |
| Braunschweig | Braunshvajg | |
| Düsseldorf | Dyseldorf | |
| Hannover | Hanovër | |
| Heidelberg | Hajdelberg | |
| Kassel | Kasel | |
| Kiel | Kiel | |
| Köln | Këln | |
| Leipzig | Lajpcig | |
| Lübeck | Lybek | |
| Mainz | Majnz | |
| Mannheim | Manhajm | |
| München | Mynih | |
| Schwerin | Shverin | |
| Stuttgart | Shtutgart | |
| Wiesbaden | Visbaden | |
 Greece Greqi | ||
| Greek | Elassóna | Allasonjë |
| Narkíssos | Arcë | |
| Perdika | Arpicë | |
| Athína | Athinë | |
| Drosopiyí | Bellkamen | |
| Bizáni | Bezhan | |
| Aetomilítsa | Denckë | |
| Dhelvinakíon | Delvinaq | |
| Filiátes | Filat | |
| Flórina | Follorinë | |
| Fanári | Frar | |
| Grevená | Grebené | |
| Igoumenítsa | Gumenicë | |
| Gouménissa | Gumenicë | |
| Ioánnina | Janinë | |
| Ptolemaïda | Kajlar | |
| Kalamáta | Kallamatë | |
| Kalabáka | Kallabakë | |
| Karditsa | Kardhicë | |
| Kastríon | Kastrizë | |
| Kavala | Kavallë | |
| Kónitsa | Konicë | |
| Kérkyra | Korfuz, Qarfoz | |
| Kastoriá | Kostur | |
| Stavroúpoli | Kristopojë | |
| Lékhovon | Lehovë | |
| Thesprotikόn | Lelovë | |
| Livadeia | Livadhja | |
| Katavóthra | Luarat | |
| Margaríti | Margëlliç, Margëllëç | |
| Métsovo | Mecovë, Meçovë | |
| Pelopónnisos | Moré, Peloponez | |
| Mesolóngi | Mesollonjë, Mesolongji | |
| Arta | Nartë, Artë | |
| Flámpouron | Negovan | |
| Paramithiá | Paramithi | |
| Párga | Pargë | |
| Patras | Patër | |
| Platariá | Pllotare | |
| Préveza | Prevezë | |
| Anthoúsa | Rrapezë | |
| Árgos Orestikó | Rupisht, Hurupisht | |
| Thessaloníki | Selanik | |
| Sayiádhas | Sajadhë | |
| Ammoudhiá | Spllancë | |
| Themélon | Taban | |
| Trikala | Tërhallë, Trikallë | |
| Trípoli | Tripolicë | |
| Othoní | Thonuz | |
| Parapótamos | Varfanj | |
| Édessa | Vodenë | |
| Sývota | Volë | |
| Pogonianí | Voshtinë | |
| Vovoúsa | Vuvucë | |
 Iran Irani | ||
| Persian | Tehrān | Teheran |
 Iraq Iraku | ||
| Arabic - Kurdish | Baġdād - Bexda | Bagdad |
 Israel Izraeli | ||
| Hebrew - Arabic | Yerushaláyim - al Quds | Jeruzalem |
| Natzrát - Naseriyye | Nazaret | |
 Italy Itali | ||
| Italian | ||
| Acquaformosa | Firmoza | |
| Barile | Barilli | |
| Campomarino | Kemarini | |
| Caraffa di Catanzaro | Garfara | |
| Carfizzi | Karfici | |
| Casavecchio di Puglia | Kazallveqi | |
| Castroregio | Kasternexhi | |
| Cavallerizzo | Kajeverici | |
| Cervicati | Cervikati | |
| Cerzeto | Qana | |
| Chieuti | Qefti | |
| Civita | Cifti | |
| Eianina | Ejanina | |
| Falconara Albanese | Fallkunara | |
| Firenze | Firence | |
| Firmo | Ferma | |
| Frascineto | Frasnița | |
| Genova | Gjenovë | |
| Ginestra | Xhinestra | |
| Lungro | Ungra | |
| Macchia Albanese | Maqi | |
| Maschito | Mashqiti | |
| Mezzoiuso | Munxifsi | |
| Mongrassano | Mungrasana | |
| Montecilfone | Munxhfuni | |
| Palazzo Adriano | Pallaci | |
| Pallagorio | Puheriu | |
| Piana dei Greci | Hora e Arbereshevet | |
| Plataci | Pllatani | |
| Portocannone | Portkanuni | |
| Ragusa | Raguzë | |
| Roma | Romë | |
| San Basile | Shen Vasili | |
| San Benedetto Ullano | Shen Benedhiti | |
| San Cosmo Albanese | Strighari | |
| San Costantino Albanese | Shen Kostadini | |
| San Demetrio Corone | Shen Mitri | |
| San Giacomo di Cerzeto | Shen Japku | |
| San Giorgio Albanese | Mbuzati | |
| San Martino di Finita | Shen Murtiri | |
| San Marzano di San Giuseppe | Shen Marcani | |
| San Nicola dell'Alto | Shen Kolli | |
| San Paolo Albanese | Shen Pali | |
| Santa Caterina Albanese | Picilia | |
| Santa Cristina Gela | Sendahstina | |
| Santa Sofia d'Epiro | Shen Sofia | |
| Spezzano Albanese | Spixana | |
| Trieste | Trieshtë | |
| Ururi | Ruri | |
| Vaccarizzo Albanese | Vakarici | |
| Vena di Maide | Vina | |
| Villa Badessa | Badhesa | |
| Venezia | Venedik | |
 Jordan Jordania | ||
| Arabic | Ammān | Amani |
 Lebanon Libani | ||
| Arabic - French | Bayrūt - Beyrouth | Bejrut |
 Libya Libi | ||
| Arabic | Ṭarābulus | Tripoli |
 Macedonia Maqedoni | ||
| Macedonian | Berovo | Berovë / Berova* |
| Bitola | Manastir[3] / Manastiri* | |
| Debar | Dibër[3] / Dibra* | |
| Delčevo | Dellçevë / Dellçeva* | |
| Gevgelija | Gjevgjeli / Gjevgjelia* | |
| Kičevo | Kërçovë[3] / Kërçova* | |
| Kočani | Koçan / Koçani* | |
| Kratovo | Kratovë / Kratova* | |
| Kriva Palanka | Kriva Pallankë / Kriva Pallanka* | |
| Kruševo | Krushevë / Krusheva* | |
| Kumanovo | Kumanovë / Kumanova* | |
| Negotino | Negotinë / Negotina* | |
| Ohrid | Ohër[3] / Ohri*, Ohrit[3] | |
| Pehčevo | Peçevë / Peçeva* | |
| Prilep | Prilep / Prilepi*, Përlep / Përlepi | |
| Probištip | Probishtip / Probishtipi* | |
| Radoviš | Radovish / Radovishti* | |
| Resen | Resnjë / Resnja* | |
| Šar Mountains | Malet e Sharrit, Bjeshkët e Sharrit*, Mali i Sharrit[3] | |
| Skopje | Shkup / Shkupi*[3] | |
| Štip | Shtip / Shtipi* | |
| Struga | Strugë[3] / Struga* | |
| Strumica | Strumicë / Strumica* | |
| Sveti Nikole | Sveti Nikollë / Sveti Nikolla* | |
| Tetovo | Tetovë[3] / Tetova* | |
| Valandovo | Vallandovë / Vallandova* | |
| Veles | Veles / Velesi* | |
| Zajas | Zajaz / Zajazi* | |
 Mongolia Mongolia | ||
| Mongolian | Ulaanbaatar | Ulan Bator |
 Montenegro Mali i Zi | ||
| Montenegrin | Andrijevica | Andrejevicë |
| Bar | Tivar | |
| Bijelo Polje | Bellopojë | |
| Berane | Beranë | |
| Budva | Buduë | |
| Cetinje | Cetinë | |
| Gusinje | Guci, Gusi | |
| Kolašin | Koloshin | |
| Kotor | Kotorr | |
| Nikšić | Nikshiq | |
| Plav | Plavë | |
| Pljevlja | Plevlë | |
| Plužine | Pluzhinë | |
| Podgorica | Podgoricë, Anamal, Burguriçë | |
| Rožaje | Rozhajë | |
| Šavnik | Shavnik | |
| Ulcinj | Ulqin | |
| Žabljak | Zhabjak | |
 Nepal Nepali | ||
| Nepali | Kantipur | Kat'hmandu |
 The Netherlands Hollandë | ||
| Dutch | Den Haag | Hagë |
 Oman Omani | ||
| Arabic | Masqaṭ | Muskat |
 Poland Poloni | ||
| Polish | Warszawa | Varshavë |
 Romania Rumani | ||
| Romanian | Bucureşti | Bukuresht |
| Constanţa | Konstancë | |
 Rwanda Ruanda | ||
| Kinyarwanda–French | Kigali | Kigal |
 Russia Rusii | ||
| Russian | Moskva | Moska |
| Sankt-Peterburg | Shën-Pjetërburgu | |
 Saudi Arabia Arabia Saudite | ||
| Arabic | al-Madīna | Medina |
| Makkah | Meka | |
| Riyāḍ | Riad | |
 Serbia Sërbi | ||
| Serbian | Bujanovac | Bujanoc |
| Kuršumlija | Kurshumli | |
| Medveđa | Medvegjë | |
| Niš | Nish | |
| Novi Pazar | Pazar i Ri, Treg i Ri | |
| Preševo | Preshevë | |
| Prokuplje | Prokuplë | |
| Raška | Rashkë | |
| Sandžak | Sanxhak | |
| Sjenica | Senicë | |
 Somalia Somalia | ||
| Somali - Arabic | Muqdisho - Maqadīshū | Mogadishu |
 Slovakia Sllovaki | ||
| Slovakian | Bratislava | Bratisllavë |
 Slovenia Slloveni | ||
| Slovenian | Ljubljana | Ljubjanë |
 Switzerland Zvicër | ||
| German - French | Basel - Bâle | Bazel |
| Bern - Berne | Berna | |
| Chur - Coire | Kur | |
| Genf - Genèvre | Gjeneva | |
| Lausanne | Lozana | |
| Luzern - Lucerne | Luzern | |
| Schwyz | Shvicë | |
| Zug - Zoug | Cug | |
| Zürich | Zyrih | |
 Turkey Turqi | ||
| Türkish | İstanbul | Stamboll, Konstantinopojë |
| Edirne | Edërne, Adrianopojë | |
 Ukraine Ukrainë | ||
| Ukraine | Kyiv | Kiev |
 United Arab Emirates Emiratet e Bashkuara Arabe | ||
| Arabic | Abū Zabī | Abu Dabi |
| Dubayy | Dubai | |
 United Kingdom Mbretëria e Bashkuar | ||
| English | Cardiff | Kardif |
| Coventry | Koventri | |
| Liverpool | Liverpul | |
| London | Londër | |
| Manchester | Mançester | |
 United States Shtetet e Bashkuara të Amerikës | ||
| English | Connecticut | Kenerik |
| Los Angeles | Los Anxheles | |
| Miami | Majemi | |
| New York | Nju Jork | |
| Washington D.C. | Uashington | |
| Worcester | Ustër | |
 Uzbekistan Uzbekistani | ||
| Uzbek | Toshkent | Tashkent |
| Language | Native name | Albanian exonym |
See also
References
- ↑ Leonard Newmark, Philip Hubbard, Peter R. Prifti. Standard Albanian: a reference grammar for students. Stanford University Press, 1982. p. 158. ISBN 978-0-8047-1129-6.
- 1 2 Gillian Gloyer. The Bradt Travel Guide Albania. 3rd edition. Bradt Travel Guides, 2008. ISBN 978-1-84162-246-0.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 KNAB, the Place Names Database of EKI