Shkak

Shkak is a masculine noun in the Albanian language that means "cause" or "reason." It denotes the factor that underlies an event, action, or statement and can refer to both a practical justification and a motive.

Morphology and usage: The base form is shkak (indefinite singular). The definite singular is shkaku; indefinite plural is shkaqe; definite plural is shkaqet. It is commonly used in phrases such as për shkak të (due to, because of). Example: Për shkak të motit të keq, programi u anullua. The expression shkaku kryesor means "the main cause," and pa shkak can mean "without reason."

Etymology and nuance: Shkak is a native Albanian term with long-standing usage in both everyday and formal language. It tends to be neutral and is widely employed in journalism, law, and analysis to identify the triggering factor behind a phenomenon. In some contexts it can be used where one might also use arsye (reason), with shkak emphasizing causation and antecedence.

See also: arsye, pasojë, shkak-dhe-pasojë.