Ndërsjella

Ndërsjella is an Albanian toponym used in descriptive geographic naming. In toponymic practice, the term typically denotes a saddle or col—a low point or pass that lies between two peaks or valleys. The name is considered descriptive rather than identifying a single fixed place, and its exact use can vary by region.

Etymology and meaning are generally understood as involving the element ndër- meaning “between,” combined with a root that in local dialects has come to be associated with a saddle-like terrain feature. Because Albanian place names often reflect local landscape characteristics, ndërsjella functions as a descriptor applied to various localities, rather than a universal geographic term with a single definition.

Geographic usage is widespread in Albanian-speaking areas and may appear as a component of a village name, a pass, or a feature on a mountain ridge. As a descriptive toponym, it signals terrain shaped by the action of valleys and ridges, typically indicating a route or position that lies between two higher points.

In the broader context of toponymy, ndërsjella illustrates how Albanian geographic names encode landscape features directly into place names. It is related to other descriptive terms used in hill-and-valley landscapes and is part of the regional practice of naming places according to prominent terrain characteristics.

See also: Saddle (geography); Pass; Toponymy; Albanian toponymy.