ndryshëm

Ndryshëm is an Albanian adjective and adverb used to express difference or distinction between things. As an adjective it describes a property that makes one object or concept unlike another, roughly translating to “different” or “distinct.” It can also appear in adverbial phrases such as in mënyrë të ndryshme, meaning “in a different way.”

Etymology and form: Ndryshëm is formed from the root ndrysh- related to change or difference, with the suffix -shëm that creates adjectives denoting a characteristic. The word inflects for gender and number in typical Albanian adjective patterns: i ndryshëm (masculine singular), e ndryshme (feminine singular), të ndryshëm (masculine plural), të ndryshme (feminine plural). In sentences it commonly complements the copula or appears in comparative constructions.

Usage: Ndryshëm is used to compare two or more entities or to indicate qualitative variation. It answers questions such as “how is this different?” and often follows verbs like është (is) in statements such as “Ai është i ndryshëm nga ajo” (He is different from her/that). In phrasing that emphasizes method or form, it occurs in the standard adverbial construction “në mënyrë të ndryshme” (in a different way). The term connotes contrast rather than sameness and should not be used to imply identity.

See also: ndryshimi (change or difference), ndryshues (variable, changeable), ngjashëm (similar).

Ndryshëm is a common term in everyday Albanian for noting distinctions, and it appears across formal and informal registers when distinguishing one thing from another.