Fëmijëve

Fëmijëve is a grammatical form in Albanian that denotes the plural dative/genitive case of the noun fëmijë (child). It marks the indirect object of a verb or a possessor in phrases where the genitive is expressed, and it is used after prepositions that require the dative or genitive form. The ending -ëve is the typical marker of the plural dative/genitive in this noun class. In English terms it corresponds roughly to “to/for the children” or “of the children,” depending on the construction.

In standard Albanian, fëmijëve appears in formal or written contexts and in grammar descriptions. In everyday speech, speakers may prefer alternative sentences that avoid this case form, but the construction remains correct and common in educational materials and official texts. The form is especially seen with verbs that govern a dative object or in possessive phrases with plural nouns. For example, a sentence such as “Fëmijëve u duhet kujdes” conveys “The children need attention,” illustrating the dative-marked recipient.

Fëmijëve thus exemplifies Albanian’s case-marking system, which marks roles such as recipient and possessor through noun endings. Its use helps clarify who benefits from an action or who possesses something, particularly in more formal language. The form is one component of broader Albanian noun inflection and interacts with determiners and postposed pronouns in standard syntax.