zotër

Zotër is an Albanian honorific used to address adult men with respect. It is roughly equivalent to the English title "Mr." or "Sir" and is placed before a man’s name or surname in formal speech, correspondence, and public life. The term signals politeness and social recognition, and it is widely used in Albania, Kosovo, and other Albanian-speaking communities.

The standard Albanian spelling is zotëri, with the diacritic ë. The form zotër may appear in non-diacritic texts or older writings and is less common in formal usage. The plural form used when addressing a group is zotërinj.

Usage in modern Albanian is characteristic of formal or polite contexts. In official correspondence, media, education, and public life, zotëri is placed before the surname or full name, as in Zotëri Hoxha. In everyday speech, some speakers may omit the title, especially in casual or informal settings, but zotëri remains widely understood and respected.

Historically, zotëri carries a weight of respect and male authority, but in contemporary usage it functions as a secular, everyday honorific rather than a religious title. It is used across Albanian-speaking regions and communities to reflect courtesy and social status, making it a common feature of formal address in both written and spoken language.