Thjesht

Thjesht is a word in Albanian that functions as both an adverb and an adjective. As an adverb, it means simply, merely, or only, and is often used to indicate that something should be understood in a straightforward, uncomplicated way. As an adjective, thjeshtë (the standard orthography with ë) means simple, plain, or straightforward and can describe objects, actions, or ideas. The non-diacritic form thjesht is common in informal writing or in contexts where diacritics are not available.

Etymology and form: The term is native to Albanian. The normative written form in standard Albanian is thjeshtë, with the diacritic ë, while thjesht is frequently used in plain text without diacritics. The word has long been part of the Albanian lexicon and appears across dialects, with its meaning tracking close to “simple” or “plain” in various contexts.

Usage notes: In practice, thjesht can modify verbs, adjectives, or entire clauses to emphasize lack of complexity or to introduce a straightforward interpretation. It is common in everyday speech and in written Albanian to convey a sense of ease or modesty about a statement. As an adjective, it forms phrases such as një zgjidhje e thjeshtë (a simple solution) or një person i thjeshtë (a plain/simple person), illustrating its flexibility across noun phrases.

See also: Albanian language; simplicity.