shoqëri

Shoqëri is an Albanian noun with several related meanings. In everyday language it most commonly denotes a society or community—the organized network of people sharing a place, culture, or social life. It can also refer to a company or business entity, particularly in formal or legal contexts.

Etymology and usage: The word belongs to a semantic field of togetherness and association and is cognate with terms in other languages that designate society or partnership. In Albanian, shoqëri is used to speak of social groups, institutions, and civil life, as in phrases such as shoqëri civile (civil society).

In sociology and political discourse, shoqëri refers to the organized set of social relations and institutions that shape life, including norms, roles, and networks. It also appears in discussions of social cohesion and collective action, and is used to describe how people organize themselves to pursue common interests.

In business and law, shoqëri denotes a corporate or commercial entity. Common forms include shoqëri me përgjegjësi të kufizuar (sh.p.k.)—a limited liability company—and shoqëri aksionare (sh.a.)—a joint-stock company. The term thus bridges everyday social life and formal economic organization within the Albanian language.

The term is widely used in Albanian legislation, media, and education to discuss social life, institutions, and the economy.