gjurmët

Gjurmët is an Albanian noun meaning "the traces" or "the footprints." It refers to marks left by a person, animal, or object, such as footprints, fingerprints, or other signs that indicate past presence or activity. In a broader sense, it can denote any evidence or remnant that points to how something occurred or existed.

The basic form in Albanian is gjurmë, with the definite plural gjurmët. The word is used in literal contexts—archaeology, forensics, and environmental study where researchers analyze physical traces left in the ground, on objects, or in other materials—as well as in figurative contexts, where it denotes evidence of past events, processes, or conditions. Common collocations include gjurmët e kohës (the traces of time) and gjurmët e krimit (the traces or evidence of crime).

In addition to scientific and investigative usage, gjurmët appears in literature and media as a metaphor for memory, clues, or the enduring signs of history. It can function as a motif that highlights how small remnants may reveal larger narratives about people, places, or events. The term is widely understood in Albanian to convey both physical indications and symbolic or historical persistence.

See also: gjurmë (singular).