kënga

Kënga is the Albanian noun meaning "song." In standard Albanian, the unmarked form is këngë and the definite form is kënga, meaning "the song." The term covers any vocal musical composition with lyrics and melody and can refer to a single work or to songs in general. It is used across genres, from folk to contemporary pop, and appears in everyday speech, literature, and media.

Grammar and usage notes: Këngë is a feminine noun. It combines with adjectives and nouns to form phrases such as kënga popullore (folk song), kënga e dashurisë (love song), or kënga patriotike (patriotic song). The act of singing a song is expressed with the verb këndon (he/she sings) or forms like këndon këngën (sings the song) in standard Albanian.

Cultural context: Songs play a central role in Albanian-speaking communities, including Albania, Kosovo, and parts of North Macedonia and Montenegro with Albanian-speaking populations. Traditional folk songs (këngë popullore) convey history, social life, and customs, while modern poetry and music often set contemporary themes to new melodies. The concept of the song also appears in literature, education, and media as a basic unit of musical storytelling.

Notable uses: The term is prominent in the titles of major Albanian song festivals, such as Festivali i Këngës, a long-running event used to select Albania’s Eurovision entry, and Kënga Magjike, a popular contemporary music competition. These festivals reflect the continued prominence of the kënga tradition in Albanian musical culture.