familja

Familja is the Albanian definite form of the noun familje, meaning a family or household. It is used to refer to a family unit as a social group and appears in everyday language across Albanian-speaking communities in Albania, Kosovo, and neighboring regions.

Etymology and related forms: The word derives from Latin familia and entered Albanian through historical contact with Latin and other languages. In Albanian, the base noun for the concept is familje, with familja serving as the definite singular form meaning “the family.” The plural forms are familjet (the families) and, when used without a definite article, familje can denote families in a general sense.

Grammar and usage: Familja is a feminine noun. The definite singular form is used when referring specifically to a known or previously mentioned family, while the indefinite form familje refers to a family in a general sense. Albanian marks definiteness with suffixes, so the corresponding plural definite form is familjet.

Cultural context: In Albanian culture, the family is often a central social unit, with strong kinship ties and expectations of mutual support. Family networks can extend beyond the nuclear family to include a wider circle of relatives, and gatherings or rituals frequently revolve around the family group.

See also: kinship, family in Albanian culture.