zënë

Zënë is an Albanian verb in its infinitive form meaning to seize, take possession of, occupy, or catch. It covers both physical actions—grabbing an object, taking hold of something—and more figurative uses such as occupying space or time, or taking control of a situation.

In Albanian grammar, zënë is transitive and forms various tenses with auxiliary verbs. The word has a related past participle i zënë (masculine singular) and e zënë (feminine singular), which functions as an adjective meaning busy or occupied. For example, the phrase jam i zënë translates to I am busy. The participle can modify nouns and appears in compound verb forms across different tenses and moods.

The infinitive zënë is used across registers, from formal writing to everyday speech, and it appears in different dialects of Albanian. As a native verb, it participates in the broader verb system and is employed in constructions that express capture, occupancy, or the initiation of actions.

Etymology: zënë is a native Albanian verb, part of the standard lexicon. It is not generally classified as a loanword from another language.

See also: Albanian grammar, Albanian verb system, Occupation (concept).