ngurtë

Ngurtë is an Albanian adjective meaning hard, stiff, or firm, and it is used to describe both physical properties and, in a figurative sense, characteristics or attitudes. When applied to objects, ngurtë denotes material rigidity or resistance to deformation, such as a stone, metal, or a surface that has little give. In figurative use, it can describe people or behavior as inflexible, unyielding, or emotionally distant.

In everyday Albanian, ngurtë can be combined with a noun to form phrases like gur ngurtë (a hard rock) or një sipërfaqe ngurtë (a hard surface). When referring to a person, one might say një njeri është i ngurtë nga karakteri to indicate that someone is stubborn or rigid in outlook. The word can also appear in comparative or superlative forms as required by grammar and context, and it often appears alongside other descriptors to sharpen meaning.

Etymologically, ngurtë is a native Albanian term and is anchored in the language’s system of adjectives describing physical and metaphorical hardness. It is not related to temperature words in Albanian, where i ftohtë is typically used for cold, while ngurtë emphasizes texture, solidity, or intransigence rather than air or liquid temperature.

Synonyms and related terms include i fortë, i palëvizshëm, and i ngurtë, while antonyms include i butë or i lëvizshëm, depending on the nuance. Ngurtë is a common, neutral descriptor in both everyday speech and writing.