Dëmtues

Dëmtues is an Albanian term used as both an adjective and a noun. As an adjective, dëmtues describes something that causes damage or harm, meaning damaging or deleterious. It can be applied to substances, processes, or factors that have a harmful effect, for example a dëmtues substance or a dëmtues effect on health.

As a noun, dëmtues refers to an agent or factor that damages. In this sense, it denotes the entity responsible for causing injury, deterioration, or impairment. The word can be used in technical or safety contexts to name the damager or damaging agent, such as an agjent dëmtues (damaging agent) in health, environmental, or material safety discussions.

Etymology and grammar: dëmtues is formed from the verb stem dëmto- (to damage) with the agentive suffix -ues, which in Albanian creates words meaning “one who/that which” causes the action. The feminine form of the adjective is dëmtuese to agree with feminine nouns, while the masculine noun form remains dëmtues when used as a noun.

Usage and contexts: The term is common in health, safety, and scientific writing in Albanian. It can describe harmful chemicals, hazardous conditions, or processes that degrade quality or safety. In everyday language, it may appear in expressions like “substancë dëmtuese për shëndetin” (substance damaging to health) or “efekt dëmtues për mjedisin.”

See also: dëm, dëmtohem, dëmtohje. The concept aligns with equivalent terms in other languages, such as “damaging” or “damaging agent” in English, but spremps must be adapted to Albanian grammar and usage.