Spektër

Spektër is the Albanian term for a ghost or specter, a supernatural being that appears in folklore, myth, and popular culture. The word is a loan from European languages, most commonly linked to the French spectre or Italian spettro, with regional spellings and usages varying. In contemporary Albanian, spektër denotes an apparition or haunting, while spektri is used for the scientific concept of a spectrum.

In traditional folklore, spektër is described as a translucent or shadowy presence, often a deceased person returned or an omen. Appearances may be tied to unfinished business, vengeance, or warnings, and manifestations are frequently localized to particular places, times, or objects. Folklorists note that beliefs about specters vary widely by region and historical period, and beings can take many forms, from solitary figures to noisier or more menacing presences.

In modern Albanian literature, cinema, and media, spektër is used to evoke mystery, suspense, or the uncanny, sometimes as a metaphor for past traumas or social tensions. Scholarly treatment treats spektër as a cultural construct shaped by narrative, ritual, and social context, rather than as an independently verifiable phenomenon.

From a scientific perspective, there is no empirical evidence supporting the existence of spirits or specters. Reports are typically interpreted through psychological, environmental, or sociocultural explanations, such as perceptual biases, suggestion, or infrasound-induced awe.