motër

Motër is the Albanian word for sister, referring to a female sibling in a family. It is a native term used across Albanian-speaking communities and in dialects of both Albania and Kosovo, as well as in neighboring regions and the Albanian diaspora. In everyday language, motër denotes one’s sister and appears in phrases of kinship, family life, and related social contexts. As a common noun, it is integrated into standard Albanian grammar with gender marking and agreement with adjectives and articles.

Beyond its literal meaning, motër can function as a form of address to a close female friend or fellow member in a sisterly bond. It signals warmth, trust, or solidarity and is sometimes used in religious or community contexts to denote a female co-member; in such cases the sense is akin to “sister” in English, rather than a strictly biological relation.

Spelling includes the letter ë, a mid-central vowel; pronunciation and stress patterns vary with dialect. The word is feminine in gender and agrees with concord in nouns and adjectives according to Albanian grammar.