Shëndetor

Shëndetor is a term that may be used in Albanian to describe a person, role, or program that promotes health. It is not part of standard dictionaries and does not have an officially fixed definition. In contemporary health communication, shëndetor is often employed informally to refer to health advocates, health workers, or initiatives aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles, hygiene, and preventive care.

Etymology and form: The word appears to be formed from the noun shëndet (health) with the agentive suffix -tor, a pattern seen in Albanian for roles or agents (for example, shërbëtor, tregtues). Because it is not standardized, its gender and plural forms—shëndetori, shëndetoret—are not fixed and can vary with context.

Usage: As a neologism, shëndetor is primarily encountered in informal writing, public health campaigns, and media discussions about health promotion. Example usage may describe a person or program: “Qendra publike ka krijuar një shëndetor të ri për të mbledhur komunitetin rreth temave të shëndetit.” The term is flexible and benefits from a clear definition within each usage.

Relation to existing terms: Albanian distinguishes shëndet (health) and shëndetësor (health-related) or shëndetshëm (healthy). Shëndetor is not a synonym of these terms; rather, it would be an emergent agent-noun form describing people or initiatives that advance health, should it gain wider acceptance.

See also: shëndet, shëndetësor, shëndetshëm, promovim i shëndetit.