perëndim

Perëndim is the Albanian noun for the western direction on a compass and, more broadly, for the moment of sunset. In everyday use it denotes the west or the western part of a place, and it is commonly contrasted with lindje, the east. The expression perëndimi i diellit specifically means “sunset.” The term can appear in contexts such as geography, navigation, and descriptions of landscapes or horizons.

Etymology and form: The word derives from the Albanian verb perëndoj, meaning “to set” (as the sun), with the noun suffix -im forming a noun that indicates the act or result. Thus perëndim literally conveys the concept of something that sets, i.e., the west or the sunset.

Geography, astronomy, and daily use: In cartography and direction-giving, perëndim marks the western direction opposite to lindje. In astronomy, it relates to the point on the horizon where celestial bodies disappear from view, typically the western horizon as the Sun or Moon sets. In ordinary speech, people may refer to the “west” of a country or region as its perëndim.

Cultural and linguistic notes: Perëndim is a stable, commonly used term in Albanian. It appears in phrases describing time of day, travel, and the orientation of objects or buildings (for example, describing a building with a perëndim exposure). It also figures in literature and media when evoking the imagery of the end of the day or the western horizon.

See also: Lindje (east), Diell, Sunset, West (geographic sense in Albanian).