qoftë

Qoftë is an Albanian grammatical form used to express wishes or blessings; it translates roughly as "may it be" or "let it be." It is the optative/subjunctive form of the verb to be in Albanian and can function as an independent interjection or as part of longer phrases. In standard Albanian, qoftë is most often found in formal, literary, or religious language, and is less commonly used in everyday speech.

In usage, qoftë appears in prayers, poetry, and ceremonial prose, and is sometimes used to begin a sentence with a wish, similar to "so be it" or "amen" in English. Common phrases include qoftë drita ("Let there be light") and qoftë shëndet ("May there be health" or "Be healthy" as a blessing). The form is recognized across Albanian-speaking regions and is maintained in modern orthography with the diacritic ë.

Etymology and form: qoftë derives from the root qof- combined with a subjunctive/optative suffix, reflecting its status as a fixed, elevated expression. Although not common in everyday conversation, it remains a recognizable feature of Albanian literary and liturgical language, and appears in historical texts as well as contemporary ceremonial usage.