shenjë

Shenjë is a feminine noun in Albanian meaning sign, mark, or signal. It denotes a perceptible indication used to communicate information, instruction, or warning. The main senses include a physical sign such as a street sign or notice; a symbolic sign or emblem; an indicator or symptom in medicine or science; and a trace or imprint left by an object or event.

In everyday language shenjë appears in various compound expressions. Examples include shenja rrugore (road sign), shenja paralajmëruese (warning sign), shenja identifikimi (identification mark), and shenja të një problemi (signs of a problem). In medical contexts, shenja refers to observable signs noted by a clinician, as opposed to symptoms reported by the patient.

The term is common across Albanian usage and registers. It is closely related to sinjal and simbol. Generally, shenjë connotes a tangible or recognizable mark or emblem, whereas sinjal emphasizes a cue or signal in a process, and simbol denotes a more abstract symbol.

See also: sinjal, simbol.