Shkelja

Shkelja is an Albanian noun derived from the verb shkel, meaning to step or tread. The primary sense is the physical act of stepping; the word can refer to a single footfall or to the action of stepping as part of a movement or sequence. In extended use, shkelja can denote progress or a stage in a process, and in descriptive phrases it can specify how something was transgressed or treated.

Etymology and form: shkelja is formed with the suffix -ja, which nominalizes the verb. The word is part of standard Albanian vocabulary and appears in both everyday speech and more formal registers. The definite form shkelja is used when referring to a particular act of stepping or to a specific instance of a breach or transgression in context.

Usage and distinctions: in literal contexts, shkelja denotes a concrete act of stepping, such as a footfall or the act of placing a foot on a surface. In legal, regulatory, or figurative contexts, related terms are often used; the abstract concept of violation is more commonly expressed with shkelje (breach or infringement). Phrases such as shkelja e rregullave or shkelja e ligjit illustrate the way the term can function in collocation to indicate transgression or violation, while shkelje remains a common generic form for violations.

See also: shkelje. References: Albanian dictionaries and linguistic resources on verb-derived nouns and their usage in different registers.