përshkuan

Përshkuan is an Albanian verb form used to indicate that a plural subject crossed or passed through something in the past. It represents a past-tense form of a verb associated with moving across space and is commonly found in narrative contexts to describe physical or metaphorical crossing, such as crossing a river, a border, or an obstacle.

In standard Albanian, speakers may use other verbs such as kaluan to express crossing, especially for more common or straightforward crossings. Përdorimi i formen përshkuan tends to appear in literary, historical, or regional registers where more descriptive or emphatic phrasing is preferred. The form can also function in metaphorical expressions to denote overcoming barriers or limits.

Examples include: Ata përshkuan lumin gjatë udhëtimit. (They crossed the river during the journey.) Shpirti i qytetit përshkoi kufijtë e imagjinatës me poetikë. (The spirit of the city crossed the borders of imagination with poetry.) These examples illustrate literal crossing as well as metaphorical use, depending on context.

Etymology and related forms: Përshkuan derives from the Albanian prefix për- combined with a root from a movement-related verb, linked to the notion of going or passing through. The form is part of a family of verbal constructions in Albanian that convey traversal or passage in the past, with other persons and numbers using different endings.

See also: Albanian language, Albanian verbs, Past tenses in Albanian.