djemtë

Djemtë is the Albanian term for the boys, functioning as the definite plural form of the noun djem, which refers to a group of male children. In standard Albanian, djemtë is used when the speaker and listener both understand which boys are being talked about, i.e., “the boys.”

Grammatical notes: Albanian forms the definite plural by appending a suffix to the noun. The form djemtë represents the masculine plural with definiteness. It is used with verbs and adjectives just as any other plural subject would be in a sentence. Examples include sentences like Djemtë luajnë futboll në park, meaning The boys are playing football in the park, or Djemtë shkuan në shkollë, The boys went to school.

Usage and nuance: djemtë refers specifically to boys or male children and is used in everyday communication, literature, media, and education. Like other Albanian nouns, it agrees in number and, when needed, in case with modifiers or pronouns. It is distinct from femrat (the girls) and from more general terms for children or youths.

Etymology and related forms: The word djem comes from the base noun for a male child, with djemtë marking the definite plural. The term is part of standard Albanian and is widely understood across dialects that use the contemporary orthography. For feminine groups, analogous forms exist (e.g., vajzat for the girls), reflecting Albanian’s system of definite articles and pluralization.

See also: Albanian grammar, definite and indefinite forms, gender agreement, standard Albanian orthography.