dëmshëm

Dëmshëm is an Albanian adjective meaning harmful or detrimental, describing something that causes damage, injury, or negative consequences. It is formed from the noun dëm (harm) with the adjectival suffix -shëm, and it agrees with the noun it modifies in gender and number. The feminine singular form is dëmshme.

The term is widely used across domains such as health, environment, economy, and ethics. Examples include ndotje dëmshme për shëndetin (harmful pollution to health), produkte dëmshme (harmful products), and praktika dëmshme (harmful practice). In public health and policy contexts, dëmshëm signals that the effects are harmful or deleterious, often in a longer-term or subtle way rather than immediately dangerous.

Dëmshëm is sometimes contrasted with dëmtues, which more directly describes something that damages or causes injury. It is also used alongside expressions for harmless or safe, such as i/e padëmshëm, to indicate the absence of harm. In everyday language, the word functions as a general warning label or critique of actions, substances, or policies deemed to negatively affect health, safety, or well-being.

Etymology-wise, dëmshëm comes from dëm (harm) plus the suffix -shëm. Its usage reflects common Albanian terminology for evaluating risk and impact, and it remains a standard, neutral descriptor in both formal and informal discourse.