qafës

Qafës is the definite form of the Albanian noun qafë, which means neck or throat. In ordinary language, qafë refers to the neck region of the body, including the area at the front and back of the neck as well as the connection to the head and shoulders. The word is used in medical or anatomical contexts as well as in everyday speech when talking about movement, pain, or anatomy of the neck.

In toponymy, qafë is a common element in Albanian place names. The definite form qafës appears in compounds and phrases that designate a geographic feature resembling a neck or bottleneck, such as a mountain pass or a narrow land connection between two valleys or ridges. This topographic usage signals a pass or connecting point in the landscape and is analogous to how the word neck is used in geographic descriptions in other languages. The toponymic use of qafë is widespread across regions with Albanian-speaking communities, including Albania and neighboring areas where Albanian is spoken.

Grammatical notes: qafë is a feminine noun. The definite form qafës marks “the neck” and is used in both everyday speech and in the naming of places. The term also appears in idiomatic expressions describing the neck region or used metaphorically to indicate a central or pivotal point in a sequence or landscape.

See also: Qafë (toponym), Albanian toponyms, Albanian language.