Shtruar

Shtruar is an Albanian verb meaning to lay out, spread, or set something in its proper place. It is used for physical arrangements such as laying a table, laying a carpet, or laying down a bed, and for spreading coverings like a sheet or a cloth. The verb can also be used figuratively to describe presenting or outlining something, as in laying out plans or an argument.

The form shtruar is the past participle and is commonly used as an adjective in phrases like tavolina është shtruar, meaning “the table has been laid.” In Albanian, shtruar is transitive and typically takes a direct object. It forms compound tenses with auxiliary verbs such as jam and është.

Usage notes: In everyday speech, expressions such as “ta shtroni tavolinën” mean “to lay the table.” The word appears in both formal and informal registers and is widely understood in Albanian-speaking communities. The sense can extend to non-physical contexts, where it conveys preparation or arrangement, such as planning or organizing a set of items or ideas.

See also: Albanian language, Albanian grammar, table setting, upholstery and carpeting terms.