Shqiptarët

Shqiptarët (the Albanians) are an ethnolinguistic group native to the Western Balkans. The term is used by Albanians to refer to themselves and to their language and culture. Their historical presence spans the Balkan region from the Adriatic and Ionian coasts to the central Balkans, with communities extending into neighboring countries and a large diaspora abroad.

The Albanian language, Shqip, belongs to the Indo-European family and has two major dialect groups: Gheg in the north and Tosk in the south. Standard Albanian is largely based on the Tosk dialect. The Latin-based Albanian alphabet was standardized in the early 20th century and is used in education and media across Albanian-speaking areas.

Geographically, the largest population of Shqiptarët resides in Albania, with substantial communities in Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Montenegro, plus smaller populations in Serbia (notably the Preševo Valley) and Greece. There is a long-standing diaspora across Europe, North America, and Australia. Historic Albanian communities in Italy, known as Arbëreshë, date to migrations in the centuries after the medieval period.

Historically, the Albanian ethnogenesis is linked to various Balkan populations, with terms such as Arbër/Arbanon appearing in medieval sources and later becoming associated with the Albanian people. A unified national consciousness emerged in the 19th and early 20th centuries, leading to independence for Albania in 1912. Kosovo, with a majority Albanian population, declared independence in 2008, a status recognized by many but not all states.

Culturally, Shqiptarët share traditions such as distinct music and polyphonic singing, and customary law known as the Kanun in parts of the northern regions. Religiously, the community is varied, including Muslim (Sunni and Bektashi), Catholic, and Orthodox adherents, reflecting the region’s historical religious diversity.