pritësin

Pritësin is the definite, accusative singular form of the Albanian noun pritës, which denotes a person who attends to guests in hospitality settings. The base pritës can refer to a waiter or a host, depending on context, and is formed from the verb prit, meaning “to wait,” with a common agent suffix. In standard Albanian usage, pritësin is used when the person is referred to as “the waiter” in a definite construction or as the direct object of a sentence.

A pritësin typically works in restaurants, cafes, hotels, or event venues. Its duties include greeting guests, presenting menus, taking orders, serving meals and beverages, clearing tables, and handling payments or coordinating with kitchen and bar staff. In many establishments, the role also involves managing reservations, seating guests, and addressing customer questions or complaints. The position centers on customer service, product knowledge, etiquette, and teamwork.

Working as a pritësin often involves on-the-job training and may require basic hospitality skills, language proficiency, and familiarity with service protocols. Working hours commonly include evenings, weekends, and holidays, with compensation frequently supplemented by tips. Standards and responsibilities can vary by country, region, and type of venue, reflecting different hospitality practices and labor regulations.

In everyday Albanian usage, alternatives such as kamarier (borrowed from Italian kamerier) may also be heard for waiter, while pritës emphasizes the broader host or service role. The term appears in hospitality training materials, job postings, and media coverage related to service-industry work in Albanian-speaking regions. See also: hospitality industry, waiter, host.