This guide adapts rules and examples from Microsoft’s 51-page Albanian Localization Style Guide (originally written for software/UI localization). The underlying linguistic rules apply universally — to legal contracts, medical documents, marketing copy, and any English-to-Albanian translation work serving Albania, Kosovo, and the broader Albanian-speaking world. Restructured and reformatted as a general translator reference by ChatsControl.

Albanian Translation Style Guide — Voice, Word Choice & Common Pitfalls (Legal, Medical, Marketing, IT)¶

TL;DR¶

• Albanian translation across all spheres targets a warm conversational register — short words preferred (gjej over gjej vendndodhjen, mund over ka mundësi, lehtësoj over bëj më të lehtë) with full forms kept for English shortenings without an Albanian equivalent (aplikacion, informacion).
• Address users with informal second-person ti — Mund të ndryshosh kohën, not Përdoruesi mund të ndryshojë kohën; first-person from the program (kujto fjalëkalimin tim) must be avoided as it personifies the machine.
• Avoid anglicisms — invalid → i pavlefshëm, akomodo → vendos, eksplicit → i qartë, ekselent → shkëlqyeshëm; use Albanian contractions in informal contexts (s’është, s’ka, ç’është, ç’kemi).
• Acronyms stay in English accompanied by an Albanian descriptor in correct word order (gjuha HTML, protokolli HTTP, biblioteka DLL, kodi PIN); product names take no genitive inflection (Fjalëkalimi i Windows, not Fjalëkalimi i Windows-it).
• Albanian translation serves both Albania and Kosovo — colloquialisms idiomatic to one may not work in the other; default to neutral Albanian standard from the Akademia e Shkencave normative references.

Register and tone for modern Albanian translation¶

Register is the level of formality, warmth, and conversational ease the target text projects. Modern Albanian readers across consumer-facing spheres expect a register that feels human rather than bureaucratic — formal Albanian carries administrative associations that signal distance, while plain conversational Albanian reads as the product talking to its user.

Three principles define the modern register:

• Warm and relaxed. Less formal, more grounded in honest conversation — occasionally fun where context allows. Speak like a real person, not like a system.
• Crisp and clear. Written for scanning first, reading second. Short sentences. Simplicity is the default — Albanian target audiences are particularly reluctant to read and parse long text with obscure words.
• Ready to help. Anticipates what the reader needs and offers it at the right moment.

Why this matters: Bureaucratic register damages outcomes across spheres. In marketing copy for the Albanian and Kosovar consumer markets it reduces conversion — readers sense the foreign tone and disengage. In patient-facing medical materials it reduces comprehension and compliance — particularly important given the relatively recent build-out of healthcare information infrastructure in Albanian. In software UI and IT documentation it creates friction at every interaction. In consumer-facing legal documents (terms of service, privacy notices) plain-language standards now apply.

Audience targeting: technical vs. consumer vocabulary¶

The same source text requires different vocabulary depending on the reader. Use technical terms for technical audiences; for consumers use common words. A clinical drug monograph for prescribers uses precise pharmacological terminology; the patient leaflet for the same drug uses everyday Albanian.

This applies in every sphere. Legal translation for corporate counsel uses procedural shorthand; consumer-facing versions need plain-Albanian framing. Medical translation for clinicians keeps Greek/Latin nomenclature; for patients it switches to common terms. IT translation uses developer jargon in engineer-facing docs, natural Albanian in end-user help.

Word choice: short forms, everyday words¶

Short word forms and everyday words are preferred over long formal ones wherever both exist and the audience is non-specialist. Shorter words are friendlier, save screen space, and parse faster. Target audiences are often reluctant to read and understand long text — especially text with obscure or formal words.

Albanian word	Albanian word usage
Gjej	Equivalent of “gjej vendndodhjen”
Mund	Equivalent of “ka mundësi”
Lehtësoj	Equivalent of “bëj më të lehtë”

Important caveat: Some English shortened words have no Albanian shortened equivalent. Use the full Albanian form for these regardless of source.

Albanian word	Albanian word usage
App	Aplikacion
Info	Informacion
PC	Kompjuter
TV	Televizor

Why this matters: Terminology consistency is non-negotiable in legal translation (a defined term in a contract must render identically across all pages — variant renderings create ambiguity opposing counsel will exploit), medical translation (drug names, dosage units, anatomical terms must be invariant — a synonym swap can produce a dispensing error), and IT/software translation (UI labels, menu items, error codes must match help documentation word-for-word or users can’t find what they need). Choosing short vs. formal forms is a separate decision from consistency — but once chosen, apply uniformly.

Flexibility: when to translate literally vs. when to rewrite¶

Flexibility is the translator’s discretion to depart from literal source structure when the literal rendering produces unnatural Albanian. Translate the intent of the text, not its surface words. Consider what the customer needs to know to successfully complete the task.

When you are localizing source text written in a conversational style, feel free to choose words that aren’t standard translations if you think that’s the best way to stay true to the intent of the source.

Why this matters: Source-faithful translation produces translatorese — text that reads as translated. Required in sworn legal translation and certified document translation (birth certificates, court rulings, contested contracts) where literal accuracy is mandated. Harmful in marketing translation (lost conversion), patient-facing healthcare materials (lost clarity at the moment compliance matters), and software UX (lost engagement). Knowing where the boundary sits is core translator judgment.

Caveat for UI work: standard system messages and error strings should not be freely rephrased — they may be referenced in support docs and help pipelines that depend on exact wording.

Conjunctions — prefer short over long¶

Albanian has multiple ways to express common subordinating conjunctions. The modern voice prefers short, conversational forms over long formal phrases.

Albanian classic use of conjunctions	Albanian modern use of conjunctions
Në qoftë se	Nëse
Në mënyrë që	Që
Në rast se	Nëse

Why this matters: In legal contracts these long conjunction phrases survive in templates but feel alien in consumer-facing notices. In medical patient instructions, “Në rast se shfaqen efekte anësore…” reads as bureaucratic; “Nëse të shfaqen efekte anësore…” reduces missed reports. In marketing copy the short forms keep the text moving. In software UI they fit screen-width constraints.

Contractions — informal voice marker¶

Albanian contractions are widely used in everyday speech and make text flow more naturally. The modern voice uses contractions to mark informal register.

Albanian long form	Albanian contracted form
nuk është	s’është
nuk ka	s’ka
çfarë është	ç’është
çfarë kemi	ç’kemi

Words and phrases to avoid — anglicisms¶

A core category of Albanian translation errors is the unjustified borrowing of English words where standard Albanian has perfectly good equivalents. These anglicisms appear in informal speech but should not appear in published translation.

en-US source	Anglicism in Albanian (avoid)	Correct example
Accidental CapsLock	CapsLock aksidental	CapsLock i rastësishëm
Excellent!	Ekselent!	Shkëlqyeshëm!
Accommodate learning abilities	Akomodo aftësitë e mësimit	Vendos aftësitë e mësimit
Explicit Eap failure received	Dështim eksplicit i Eap-it të marrë	Dështim i qartë i protokollit Eap të marrë
Invalid device command	Komandë invalide e pajisjes	Komandë e pavlefshme e pajisjes

Why this matters: Anglicisms in legal translation read as unprofessional and reduce document credibility. In medical translation they create ambiguity for older patients who may not recognize them. In marketing copy they signal poor localization. In software UI they make the product feel “translated by machine” — exactly the perception Albanian localization must avoid.

Inclusive language and bias-free communication¶

Microsoft products reach every part of the globe, so all communications should be inclusive. Use plain, accessible language to support people of all learning levels and abilities. Be mindful when referring to parts of the world — avoid politically disputed regions in examples; use equivalent references (don’t mix countries with states or continents).

Represent diverse perspectives in text and images. Don’t generalize or stereotype people by region, culture, age, or gender, even with positive stereotypes. Don’t use profane, derogatory, or slang terms that could be considered cultural appropriation. Don’t use terms with unconscious racial bias or terms tied to military actions, politics, or controversial historical events.

Use this (en)	Not this (en)	Use this (sq)	Not this (sq)
perimeter network	demilitarized zone (DMZ)	rrjet perimetri, rrjet perimetrik	zonë e demilitarizuar
colleagues; everyone; all	guys; ladies and gentlemen	kolegë/kolege; të pranishëm/të pranishme; të gjithë/të gjitha	djema; njerëz; popull
parent	mother or father	prindi	nëna ose babai

Avoid gender bias¶

• Albanian defaults to masculine when gender is unknown, in singular or plural depending on context.
• For generalizations, use plural noun forms (personat, individët, studentët, etc.).

Gender-neutral language should be used in new products and content going forward, though it is acceptable not to update all existing or legacy material.

Accessibility — people-first language¶

Focus on people, not disabilities. Don’t use words that imply pity (i goditur nga, vuan nga). The preferred option is not to mention a disability unless it’s relevant.

Use this (en)	Not this (en)	Use this (sq)	Not this (sq)
person with a disability	handicapped	person me aftësi të kufizuara	invalid/invalide, handikapat/handikapate
person without a disability	normal person; healthy person	person pa aftësi të kufizuara	person normal; person i shëndetshëm

Use generic verbs that apply to all input methods and devices — avoid verbs that don’t make sense with alternative input methods used for accessibility.

Use this (en)	Not this (en)	Use this (sq)	Not this (sq)
Select	Click	Zgjidh	Kliko

Keep paragraphs short and sentence structure simple — aim for one verb per sentence. Read text aloud and imagine it spoken by a screen reader. Spell out words like dhe, plus, mbi, nën — screen readers can misread special characters like ampersand (&), plus sign (+), tilde (~).

Grammar and orthography essentials¶

Abbreviations¶

Abbreviations in UI may be needed for space-constrained buttons or option names. Two main approaches: use standardized abbreviations from local references, or apply general criteria for shortening:

• Omit at least two letters.
• Truncate so the word ends with a consonant and place a period after it. Example: Vizualizimi → Vizual. Gjeografike → Gjeogr.

List of common Albanian abbreviations:

Expression	Acceptable Abbreviation
shekull	shek.
numër	nr.
domethënë	d.m.th.
zoti	z.
zonja	znj.
e të tjera	etj.
gram	g
apartament	ap.
rruga	rr.
shkalla	sh.
profesor	prof.
doktor	dr.
Celsius	C
metër	m
centimetër	cm
kilometër	km
faqe (njëjës)	fq.
faqe (shumës)	f.
gigabajt	GB
gigabit	gbit
kilobajt	KB
kilobit	kbit
megabajt	MB
megabit	mbit
terrabajt	TB
terrabit	tbit
krahaso	khs.
autori	aut.
për shembull	p.sh.
janar	jan.
e shtunë	sht.
e diel	die.

Avoid abbreviations whenever possible — especially for words that lack a widely used abbreviated form.

Acronyms¶

Acronyms are words made up of the initial letters of major parts of a compound term. During Albanian localization, acronyms are generally kept in English and accompanied by a generic Albanian descriptor (descriptor + acronym), following Albanian word order:

• (+) gjuha HTML
• (+) protokolli HTTP
• (+) biblioteka DLL
• (+) kodi PIN

Localized acronyms. In online help or documentation, spell out the acronym on first use, including the Albanian translation, the US term, and the acronym:

• (+) Objektet e qasjes së të dhënave (Data Access Objects, DAO)

In UI, space rarely allows all three terms — only in wizards can the acronym be spelled out and localized on first mention. Judgment required for other cases. Do not create new Albanian acronyms from translated terms — leave the English acronym intact.

en-US source	Albanian target
NTFS file system	Sistemi i skedarëve NTFS

Unlocalized acronyms. Standardized international acronyms remain untranslated and unexpanded:

• ANSI (American National Standards Institute)
• ISO (International Standards Organization)
• ISDN
• Wi-Fi

en-US source	Albanian target
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi

Adjectives — and the negative-marker rule¶

Albanian adjectives follow normative rules. One critical area: negative meaning is expressed through derivative markers jo-, pa-, mos-. These are written jointly with unarticulated adjectives and separately with articled adjectives and nouns.

en-US source	Albanian target
non-member	(+) joanëtar
undefined	(+) i papërcaktuar
invisible	(+) i padukshëm
unavailable	(+) jo në dispozicion

Articles — definite article always present¶

Many English error messages vary in the use of articles, demonstratives, and possessives. Albanian usage:

• The definite article is used always in Albanian, even if not present in English source.
• Demonstrative pronouns are generally used in Albanian.
• Possessive pronouns are not always used — depends on context. Avoid the English habit of using possessives when ownership is not central to meaning.

English example	Albanian example	Explanation
File already exists / The file already exists / This file already exists	(+) Skedari tashmë ekziston	Use determiners consistently in complete sentences even if US string does not.
Not enough memory to complete this operation.	(+) Nuk ka memorie të mjaftueshme për të përfunduar këtë operacion.	No need for a demonstrative unless important in context.
Windows cannot start your system. If the problem persists, contact your network administrator.	(+) Windows nuk mund të nisë sistemin. Nëse problemi përsëritet sërish, kontakto administratorin e rrjetit.	Avoid possessive “your” unless ownership matters in context.

Unlocalized feature names¶

Microsoft product names and non-translated feature names take no definite or indefinite article in English. In Albanian they should also be used without a hyphen or article:

en-US source	Albanian target
Windows password	(+) Fjalëkalimi i Windows / (-) Fjalëkalimi i Windows-it
Microsoft SQL Server database	Baza e të dhënave e Microsoft SQL Server
Microsoft Dynamics 365 product family	Familja e produkteve të Microsoft Dynamics 365

Localized feature names¶

Translated feature names take a definite or indefinite article (they are not treated as proper names):

en-US source	Albanian target
Hide the Task Manager when it is minimized	Fshih Menaxherin e detyrës kur minimizohet
Check for updates in your installed Media Player’s language	Kontrollo për përditësime në gjuhën e Lexuesit të medias të instaluar

Capitalization — Albanian uses much less than English¶

English overuses capitals. Albanian does not. For example, “Using File Properties” in English becomes “Përdorimi i vetive të skedarit” — only the first word is capitalized.

Not capitalized in Albanian (but are in English):

• Names of weeks: e hënë, e diel
• Names of months: janar, qershor
• Names of languages: shqip, anglisht
• Ethnonyms: shqiptar, anglez

Strings concatenated at run-time may seem to lack a subject or start mid-sentence. Do not capitalize such strings unless spelling rules require it.

English example	Albanian example
is trying to connect to this computer. If you allow, you will be disconnected, but you can resume later. Do you want to allow this connection?\r\n	po përpiqet të lidhet me këtë kompjuter. Nëse e lejon, do të shkëputesh, por mund të vazhdosh më vonë. Dëshiron që ta lejosh këtë lidhje?\r\n
unknown software exception\r\n	(+) përjashtim i panjohur i softuerit\r\n
Using File Properties	(+) Përdorimi i vetive të skedarit
Monday	(+) e hënë
January	(+) janar
English	(+) anglisht
Albanian	(+) shqiptar

When an English noun is capitalized in the source and translated by two Albanian words, follow source capitalization for proper nouns per Albanian grammar but use sentence case as above. Example: English Database → Albanian Baza e të dhënave.

Compounds¶

Compounds should be understandable and clear. Avoid overly long or complex compounds — unintuitive compounds are an intelligibility and usability issue. Albanian compounds are spelled jointly or delimited by hyphens.

en-US source	Albanian target
Internet Accounts	Llogaritë në internet
Logon script processing	Përpunimi i skriptit të lidhjes

Compounds with product or component names¶

Product names stay unchanged (trademarks), accompanied by an Albanian word in correct word order:

English example	Albanian example
Windows password	Fjalëkalimi i Windows
Microsoft Word document	Dokument në Microsoft Word
Microsoft SQL Server database	Baza e të dhënave e Microsoft SQL Server
Microsoft Dynamics 365 product family	Familja e produkteve të Microsoft Dynamics 365

Unlocalized product portfolio names always used without hyphen or article in any language: Microsoft Office system, Microsoft Windows Server system.

Compounds with acronyms, abbreviations, or numerals¶

English example	Albanian example
2-D gridlines	(+) Vijat e rrjetës 2-D
24 bit color value	(+) Vlera e ngjyrës 24 bit

Genitive — and the no-inflection rule for product names¶

The Albanian genitive case is formed with the articles i / e / të / së per inflection rules. Critical exception: unlocalized product/feature names take no genitive inflection — attaching genitive inflections to trademarked names could be interpreted as modification of those names.

en-US source	Albanian target
Microsoft IME	(+) Redaktori IME e Microsoft / (-) IME e Microsoftit

Localizing colloquialisms, idioms, and metaphors¶

When source text contains a colloquialism:

• Do not replace with an Albanian colloquialism of similar meaning unless it is a perfect and natural fit. Keep in mind Albanian products ship to Kosovo too — a colloquialism idiomatic in Albania may not be appropriate for Kosovo.
• Translate the intended meaning (not literal words) — but only if the meaning is essential and can’t be omitted.
• If the colloquialism can be omitted without affecting meaning, omit it.

Modifiers¶

Modifiers in Albanian (adjectives, pronouns, numerals, or another noun) follow general usage rules from the normative references.

en-US source	Albanian target
Run a custom dialog box.	Ekzekuto një kuti dialogu të përshtatur. (modifier expressed with another noun)

Nouns — gender and inflection¶

Nouns have grammatical categories of gender, number, case, and definiteness. Each noun has a specific gender (unlike adjectives, whose gender depends on the noun they modify).

Inflection — two main classes:

• Masculine: most nouns whose citation form ends in a consonant.
• Feminine: most nouns whose citation form ends in a vowel.

Plural formation: several patterns — taking suffixes (-a, -ra, -sh, etc.), or preserving the singular form. Many rules apply; consult normative references for details.

Prepositions¶

Many translators, influenced by English, omit prepositions or change word order. Prepositional phrases must be translated by context — anglicisms should be avoided.

Frequently used verbs with prepositions:

Source text expression	Albanian expression	Comment
migrate to	(+) migro në
Migrate from	(+) Migro nga
import to	(+) importo në
import from	(+) importo nga
export to	(+) eksporto në
export from	(+) eksporto nga
update to	(+) përditëso në
upgrade to	(+) përmirëso në
change to	(+) ndrysho në
click on	(+) kliko në
connect to	(+) lidhu në	Can be “lidhu me” depending on context.
welcome to	(+) mirëserdhe në …

Noun phrases with prepositions: “in” and “on” are both usually translated as në in Albanian.

Source text expression	Albanian expression
in the toolbar	(+) në shiritin e veglave
on the tab	(+) në skedë
on the menu	(+) në meny
on the net	(+) në rrjet
on the Internet	(+) në internet
on the Web	(+) në ueb
on a web site	(+) në sajtin e uebit
on a web page	(+) në faqen e uebit

Pronouns and user address¶

Personal pronouns are a powerful way to express conversational voice. The classic style avoided direct address (“Përdoruesi mund të…”); the modern style addresses the user directly with the informal second-person singular ti.

Critical rule: Use second-person ti when the program/wizard is telling the user what to do. Use first-person (unë, mua, im) only when the customer is telling the program what to do — never use first-person from the program itself, as it personifies the machine (“Programi duhet të kujtojë fjalëkalimin tim” is wrong).

en-US classic user reference	en-US modern user reference
Users can change when new updates get installed.	You can change when new updates get installed.
This setting provides users with the best display appearance.	Choose one of these schemes or make your own.

Albanian classic user reference	Albanian modern user reference
Përdoruesi mund të ndryshojë kohën kur të instalohen përditësimet e reja.	Mund të ndryshosh kohën kur të instalohen përditësimet e reja.
Programi duhet të kujtojë fjalëkalimin tim.	Kujto fjalëkalimin tim
Trego kur një pajisje e re Bluetooth përpiqet të lidhet me kompjuterin e përdoruesit	Më trego kur një pajisje e re Bluetooth pëpiqet të lidhet me kompjuterin tim
Përdoruesi rekomandohet të rezervojë rregullisht skedarët e tij.	Të rekomandojmë të rezervosh rregullisht skedarët e tu.
Nuk rekomandohet që përdoruesi të instalojë këto paketa kodekësh.	Nuk të rekomandojmë të instalosh këto paketa kodekësh.
S’mund të gjej printer. Dëshiron të shtosh një?	S’mund të gjejmë printer. Dëshiron të shtosh një?

Punctuation¶

Albanian punctuation is broadly similar to English, with some exceptions. General rules:

• Usually no space before punctuation marks.
• One space before the first word of a consecutive sentence.
• Suspension points are not used after “etc.”

Comma¶

In a series of three or more elements with similar grammatical function, separate with commas. In a list, do not use a comma before “and” and before “etc.”

Colon¶

Used to introduce lists and explanations. Used at the end of an introductory phrase even if not a complete sentence. The word following a colon is not capitalized unless the colon is at the end of a heading or the following text is a complete quotation.

US English	Albanian target
Backup from: backup disc.	Rezervo nga: disku i kopjes rezervë.

Dashes and hyphens¶

• Hyphen (-): divides words by syllables, links parts of a compound word, connects parts of an inverted or imperative verb. Examples: kom-/-pjuter, hyrje-dalje.
• En dash (–): used as a minus sign with spaces. Also used in direct speech: – Ekipi i Microsoft në Shqipëri …
• Em dash (—): used to emphasize an isolated element or introduce a non-essential element. Also used between words expressing distance and time frames: distanca Tokë—Hënë, periudha janar—maj.

Ellipses (suspension points)¶

Use the single ellipsis character “…” rather than three periods in printed documentation. When indicating an omitted word, the ellipsis is used before and after.

Period¶

A single space after the period. Used in all complete sentences (with a conjugated verb).

US English	Albanian target
Verify data after the backup completes.	Verifiko të dhënat pasi të përfundojë rezervimi.

Quotation marks¶

In US source strings, software references may be surrounded by English quotation marks. Albanian usage:

• English quotation marks (” “) are used during Albanian localization.
• The punctuation sign following the last quotation mark goes after the quotation mark (not before).
• For quotations within quotations, the inner marks are single (’ ‘).

US English	Albanian target
To install the license on this computer, click “Install license.”	Për të instaluar licencën në këtë kompjuter, kliko “Instalo licencën”.

Parentheses¶

No space between the parentheses and the text inside them (same as English). Parentheses are preceded and followed by a space.

US English	Albanian target
Backup Wizard (Advanced)	Eksperti për rezervim (I përparuar)

Sentence fragments¶

Sentence fragments help convey a conversational tone and keep consistency across similar source phrases.

Albanian long form	Albanian sentence fragment
Ndiq hapat në vijim.	Vepro kështu:
Për informacione të tjera, vizito .	Për informacione të tjera, shiko .
Can’t make sync	Sinkronizimi i pamundur
Ndoshta do të dëshiroje të kontaktosh me mbështetjen teknike, nëse ky problem vazhdon.	Mund të kontaktosh me mbështetjen teknike, nëse ky problem vazhdon.

Symbols and non-breaking spaces¶

Albanian symbols are mainly from scientific fields. Newly entered symbols follow English usage. Examples: 90°C, 100Ω, © Microsoft Corporation.

Non-breaking spaces should be used: - Between a number and a unit of measurement - As the thousands separator

Examples: 10 cm, 66 040.

Ampersand (&): translate “&” as “dhe” when it refers to running text. Do not keep “&” in target unless it is part of a tag, placeholder, shortcut, or code.

Verbs and tenses¶

Simple tenses are preferred over compound tenses — they maintain the clarity and simplicity of the source.

Albanian old use of verb tense	Albanian new use of verb tense
Sapo të ketë përfunduar konfigurimi i aplikacionit, në desktop do të shfaqet ikona.	Sapo të përfundojë konfigurimi i aplikacionit, në desktop do të shfaqet ikona.
Do të mund të hysh në llogari, pasi të kesh futur fjalëkalimin e saktë.	Mund të hysh në llogari, pasi të fusësh fjalëkalimin e saktë.
Nëse nuk pranon deklaratën e privatësisë, konfigurimi do të ndalojë.	Nëse nuk pranon deklaratën e privatësisë, konfigurimi ndalon.

Continuous operations expressed in English with a gerund translate into Albanian using duke + verb participle:

• Downloading files … → (+) Duke shkarkuar skedarët…

Error messages — Albanian style conventions¶

Error messages are messages sent by the system or a program informing the user of an error that must be corrected. Apply the conversational voice principles to make error messages natural, empathetic, and not robot-like.

Albanian style in error messages¶

Use consistent terminology and language style — do not just translate as the US product appears. In English source, names of products, features, and devices are often used as the subject. In Albanian, this kind of personalization should be avoided. If the product the message refers to is obvious from context, omit it. For complex products (operating systems) where multiple components run simultaneously and could cause an error, use the pattern:

[ProductName]: [message translated in the impersonal form]

Examples:

English source	Albanian target
Word cannot open this document	Dokumenti nuk mund të hapet
Data Protection Manager could not copy the files to the selected location	Data Protection Manager: skedari nuk mund të kopjohet në vendndodhjen e zgjedhur

When personalization cannot be avoided (would lose important information), bring the object to the start of the sentence and move the subject to the end:

English source	Albanian target
The driver cannot recognize the specified command	Komanda e përcaktuar nuk njihet nga drejtuesi
RASMXS.DLL cannot load RASSER.DLL	RASSER.DLL nuk mund të ngarkohet nga RASMXS.DLL

Whenever possible, omit the “to be” auxiliary in error messages:

English source	Albanian target
The function is not supported	Funksioni nuk mbështetet
An error number was specified that is not defined in the system	Numri i specifikuar i gabimit nuk përcaktohet në sistem
An invalid parameter was passed to a system function	Një funksion i sistemit ka marrë parametër të pavlefshëm

Standard phrases in error messages¶

English	Translation	Example
Cannot … / Could not …	(+) Skedari nuk mund të gjendej / (+) Skedari nuk mund të gjendet	File could not be found / File cannot be found
Failed to … / Failure of …	(+) Dështoi të lidhej	Failed to connect / Failure to connect
Cannot find … / Could not find … / Unable to find … / Unable to locate …	(+) Nuk mund të gjejë softuerin e drejtuesit / (+) Nuk është në gjendje të gjejë softuerin e drejtuesit / (+) Nuk është në gjendje të gjejë vendndodhjen e softuerit të drejtuesit	Cannot find driver / Could not find driver / Unable to find driver / Unable to locate driver
Not enough memory / Insufficient memory	(+) Memorie e pamjaftueshme	Not enough memory / Insufficient memory
There is not enough memory	(+) Nuk ka memorie të mjaftueshme	There is not enough memory
There is not enough memory available	(+) Nuk ka memorie të mjaftueshme në dispozicion	There is not enough memory available
… is not available / … is unavailable	(+) Komanda nuk është në dispozicion	The command is not available / The command is unavailable

Error messages containing placeholders¶

When localizing error messages with placeholders, identify what will replace each placeholder so the resulting sentence is grammatical. Placeholder letter conventions:

• %d, %ld, %u, %lu mean <number>
• %c means <letter>
• %s means <string>

Examples:

• "Checking Web %1!d! of %2!d!" means “Checking Web of .”
• "INI file "%1!-.200s!" section" means INI file "<string>" section.

Localization considerations¶

Accessibility¶

Accessibility options and programs make computers usable by people with cognitive, hearing, physical, or visual disabilities. Some accessible products may not be available in Albanian-speaking markets — verify with appropriate resources. General accessibility information: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/accessibility/.

Applications, products, and features¶

Application/product names are often trademarked and rarely translated. Feature names may also be trademarked (e.g., IntelliSense™).

Version numbers always contain a period (e.g., Version 4.2). Version numbers are usually part of version strings but are not technically the same.

Translation of version strings: version strings containing copyright information should always be translated.

US English	Albanian target
© 2022 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.	Refer to Microsoft Terminology — Globalization for approved translations of “All rights reserved” and “Microsoft Corporation”.

Copilot predefined prompts¶

Copilot prompts are the instructions or questions used to tell Copilot what to do. Translations for predefined prompts must be accurate, consistent, concise, natural, and use the appropriate tone — quality significantly influences Copilot responses.

Best practices:

• Be clear and specific. English prompts are generally questions or requests starting with an action verb. Make target prompts natural questions or requests. Avoid vague language.
• Keep it conversational. Consistent with the Microsoft Voice principles. Use simple and natural Albanian. Use informal tone of voice and form of address.
• Be polite and professional. Use kind and respectful language. No slang or jargon.
• Use quotation marks. Helps Copilot know what to write, modify, or replace.
• Pay attention to punctuation, grammar, and capitalization. Clear communication supports Copilot-user collaboration.
• Pay attention to entity token placement. Entity tokens are placeholders triggering UI pop-ups (file, contact, meeting). The token position should make sense in target syntax. Entity tokens appear within tags (<entity type='file'>file</entity>) or within ( ) or [ ]. The word/expression within the entity token should be translated — the entity type attribute value should not.
• Place ghost texts at the end of the sentence. Copilot provides real-time hints (ghost texts) within placeholder tags at the end of source sentences. In Albanian translations, ghost texts should also be placed at the end so users don’t move the cursor to add their own context.
• Be consistent. Some English prompts are remarkably similar — translate them consistently.

Source prompt	Target prompt	Comments
List ideas for a fun remote team building event	Rendit ide për një event argëtues në distancë për forcimin e ekipit
What are the goals and topics from the meeting? Format each section with a bolded heading, a bulleted list, and bolded names	Cilat janë synimet dhe temat nga takimi? Formato çdo pjesë me një titull me shkronja të errëta, një listë me pika dhe emra me shkronja të errëta
Propose a new introduction to <entity type='file'>file</entity>	Propozo një hyrje të re për <entity type='file'>skedarin</entity>	Entity token. Text between entity type tags is translated; the entity type attribute value (‘file’) is not.
What were the open issues from <entity type='meeting'>meeting</entity>?	Cilat ishin çështjet e hapura nga <entity type='meeting'>takimi</entity>?	Entity token. Same rule.
List key points from [file]	Rendit pikat kryesore nga [skedari]	Bracket entity token — text within brackets is translated.
Give me ideas for icebreaker activities for a new team	Më jep ide për aktivitete për të thyer akullin në një ekip të ri
Create a list of <placeholder>color names inspired by the ocean</placeholder>	Krijo një listë me <placeholder>emra ngjyrash të frymëzuara nga oqeani</placeholder>	Placeholder is ghost text — placed at end of sentence.
Create a brochure for <placeholder>a new theme park that is entirely underwater</placeholder>	Krijo një broshurë për <placeholder>një park me tematikë të re që është i gjithi nën ujë</placeholder>	Same rule.

Trademarks¶

Trademarked names and “Microsoft Corporation” should not be localized unless local laws require translation and an approved translated form is available. Microsoft trademark list: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/legal/intellectualproperty/trademarks.

Keys, keyboard shortcuts, and shortcut conventions¶

Localized key names¶

References to key names appear in normal text (not small caps).

English Key Name	Albanian Key Name
Alt	Alt
Backspace	Backspace
Break	Break
Caps Lock	Caps Lock
Ctrl	Control
Delete	Delete
Down Arrow	Shigjeta poshtë
End	End
Enter	Enter
Esc	Esc
Home	Home
Insert	Insert
Left Arrow	Shigjeta majtas
Num Lock	Num Lock
Page Down	Page Down
Page Up	Page Up
Pause	Pause
Right Arrow	Shigjeta djathtas
Scroll Lock	Scroll Lock
Shift	Shift
Spacebar	Tasti i hapësirës
Tab	Tab
Up Arrow	Shigjeta lart
Windows key	Tasti Windows
Print Screen	Print Screen
Menu key	Tasti i menysë

Keyboard shortcut conventions¶

Keyboard shortcut special option	Allowed?	Notes
“Slim characters” (I, l, t, r, f)	Yes	Used only when no other choice available.
Characters with downstrokes (g, j, y, p, q)	Yes	Used only when no other choice available.
Extended characters	Yes	Used only when no other choice available.
Additional letter in brackets after item name	Yes	Used only when no other choice available.
Number in brackets after item name	Yes	Used only when no other choice available.
Punctuation in brackets after item name	No
Duplicate keyboard shortcuts	No
No shortcut assigned (minor options only)	Yes

Terminology¶

Term	Usage
access key	A letter or number the user types to access UI controls with text labels. Assigned to top-level controls. Example: F in Alt+F. UI example: H&ome. Most access keys are used with Alt.
key tip	The letter/number appearing in the ribbon when Alt is pressed. In UI localization, the key tip is the last character after the “" character. Example: Home\H
shortcut key	A key combination the user types to perform a common action without going through the UI. Not available for every command. Example: Ctrl+N, Ctrl+V. Most use Ctrl. Ctrl+letter and function keys (F1–F12) are usually best.

Standard shortcut keys¶

General Windows shortcut keys¶

US Command	US Shortcut Key	Albanian Command	Albanian Shortcut Key
Help window	F1	Dritarja e ndihmës	F1
Context-sensitive Help	Shift+F1	Ndihma në kontekst	Shift+F1
Display pop-up menu	Shift+F10	Shfaq meny kërcyese	Shift+F10
Cancel	Esc	Anulo	Esc
Activate/Deactivate menu bar mode	F10	Aktivizo/Çaktivizo modalitetin e shiritit të menysë	F10
Switch to the next primary application	Alt+Tab	Kalo në aplikacionin tjetër parësor	Alt+Tab
Display next window	Alt+Esc	Shfaq dritaren tjetër	Alt+Esc
Display pop-up menu for the window	Alt+Spacebar	Shfaq menynë kërcyese për dritaren	Alt+Spacebar
Display pop-up menu for the active child window	Alt+-	Shfaq menynë kërcyese për dritaren bijë aktive	Alt+-
Display property sheet for current selection	Alt+Enter	Shfaq fletën e veçorive për përzgjedhjen aktuale	Alt+Enter
Close active application window	Alt+F4	Mbyll dritaren aktive të aplikacionit	Alt+F4
Switch to next window within (modeless-compliant) application	Alt+F6	Kalo në dritaren tjetër brenda aplikacionit (që përputhet me mungesën e modalitetit)	Alt+F6
Capture active window image to the Clipboard	Alt+Prnt Scrn	Fotografo pamjen e dritares aktive në kujtesën e fragmenteve	Alt+Prnt Scrn
Capture desktop image to the Clipboard	Prnt Scrn	Fotografo pamjen e tryezës në kujtesën e fragmenteve	Prnt Scrn
Access Start button in taskbar	Ctrl+Esc	Hap butonin Nisja në shiritin e detyrave	Ctrl+Esc
Display next child window	Ctrl+F6	Shfaq dritaren tjetër bijë	Ctrl+F6
Display next tabbed pane	Ctrl+Tab	Shfaq panelin tjetër me skeda	Ctrl+Tab
Launch Task Manager and system initialization	Ctrl+Shift+Esc	Hap menaxherin e detyrave dhe nisjen e sistemit	Ctrl+Shift+Esc

File menu¶

Command (US)	US Shortcut	Command (Albanian)	Albanian Shortcut
File New	Ctrl+N	Skedari i ri	Ctrl+N
File Open	Ctrl+O	Skedari Hape	Ctrl+O
File Close	Ctrl+F4	Skedari Mbylle	Ctrl+F4
File Save	Ctrl+S	Skedari Ruaje	Ctrl+S
File Save as	F12	Skedari Ruaje si	F12
File Print Preview	Ctrl+F2	Skedari Paraafishimi i printimit	Ctrl+F2
File Print	Ctrl+P	Skedari Printoje	Ctrl+P
File Exit	Alt+F4	Skedari Dil	Alt+F4

Edit menu¶

Command (US)	US Shortcut	Command (Albanian)	Albanian Shortcut
Edit Undo	Ctrl+Z	Redakto Zhbëje	Ctrl+Z
Edit Repeat	Ctrl+Y	Redakto Përsërite	Ctrl+Y
Edit Cut	Ctrl+X	Redakto Prite	Ctrl+X
Edit Copy	Ctrl+C	Redakto Kopjoje	Ctrl+C
Edit Paste	Ctrl+V	Redakto Ngjite	Ctrl+V
Edit Delete	Ctrl+Backspace	Redakto Hiqe	Ctrl+Backspace
Edit Select All	Ctrl+A	Redakto Zgjidhi të gjitha	Ctrl+A
Edit Find	Ctrl+F	Redakto Gjej	Ctrl+F
Edit Replace	Ctrl+H	Redakto Zëvendëso	Ctrl+H
Edit Go To	Ctrl+G	Redakto Shko te	Ctrl+G

Font and paragraph format¶

Command (US)	US Shortcut	Command (Albanian)	Albanian Shortcut
Italic	Ctrl+I	Pjerrët	Ctrl+I
Bold	Ctrl+B	Trashë	Ctrl+B
Underlined / Word underline	Ctrl+U	Nënvizuar / Nënvizim fjale	Ctrl+U
Large caps	Ctrl+Shift+A	Kapitale të mëdha	Ctrl+Shift+A
Small caps	Ctrl+Shift+K	Kapitale të vogla	Ctrl+Shift+K
Centered	Ctrl+E	Qendërzuar	Ctrl+E
Left aligned	Ctrl+L	Drejtvendosur majtas	Ctrl+L
Right aligned	Ctrl+R	Drejtvendosur djathtas	Ctrl+R
Justified	Ctrl+J	Drejtvizuar	Ctrl+J

Voice and video considerations¶

A good voice video addresses one intent (one customer problem), is not too long, has high audio quality, has visuals that add information, and uses the right language variant in voiceover.

Successful techniques for voicing video content¶

• Focus on the intent. Show the best way to achieve the most common task and stick to it.
• Show empathy. Understand and acknowledge the viewer’s situation.
• Use SEO. Include search phrases in title, description, and headers.
• Talk to the customer as if they are next to you, watching you explain.
• Record a scratch audio file first. Check length, pace, and clarity.
• For Albanian, pace should be relatively moderate; recommended rate is 140–160 words per minute.

English pronunciation in Albanian voiceover¶

English terms and product names left unlocalized should be pronounced the English way. For instance, Microsoft is pronounced the English way. If numbers are involved, pronounce them in Albanian (e.g., “Microsoft Word 2021”). If Albanian has an established pronunciation for a common term (e.g., “server”), use the local form. Pronunciation can be adapted to the Albanian phonetic system if the original sounds awkward.

Example	Phonetics	Comment
SecurID	[sı’kjuər aı di:]
.NET	[dot net]
Skype	[skajp]	Pronounced as in source — “j” used instead of “i” as nearer to English.

Acronyms and abbreviations in voiceover¶

Acronyms pronounced like real words, adapted to local pronunciation:

Example	Phonetics
RADIUS	[radius]
RAS	[ras]
ISA	[isa]
LAN	[lan]
WAN	[uan]
WAP	[uap]
MAPI	[mapi]
POP	[pop]

Other abbreviations pronounced letter by letter:

Example	Phonetics
ICMP	[icəməpə]
IP	[ipə]
TCP/IP	[təcəpə/ipə]
XML	[xəmələ]
HTML	[hətəmələ]
OWA	[oua]
SQL	[səqələ]
URL	[urələ]

URLs in voiceover¶

• “http://” should be left out.
• “www” is pronounced as “dubəl vəː” in Albanian.
• “dot” is omitted, but if read out must be pronounced as “pikë”.

Example	Phonetics	Comment
http://www.microsoft.com	dubəl və dubəl və dubəl və pikə maikrosoft pikə kom	“pikë” might be omitted.

Special characters¶

Pronounce special characters such as / \ ˘ < > + - using approved Albanian translations from Microsoft Terminology — e.g., “<” pronounced “kllapa këndore e majtë.”

Tone in voiceover¶

Use a tone matching the target audience — more informal, playful, and inspiring for most Microsoft products and games; more formal, informative, and factual for technical content.

Video voice checklist¶

Topic and script: - Apply principles: single intent, clarity, everyday language, friendliness, relatable context. - For natural and friendly sound, use the voice of a person matching the target market (e.g., if the product is sold in Albania only, use the voice of an Albanian person from Albania).

Title: - Includes the intent. - Includes keywords for search.

Intro (10 seconds to set up the issue): - Put the problem into a relatable context.

Action and sound: - Keep something happening, both visually and audibly — but maintain appropriate pace. - Synchronize visuals with voiceover. - Fine to alternate between first and second person. - Repetition of big points is fine.

Visuals: - Eye is guided through the procedure with smooth, easily trackable pointer motions and judicious callout use. - Appropriate use of motion graphics and branding-approved visuals.

Ending: - Recaps are unnecessary.

Reference materials — authoritative Albanian references¶

Normative references (must be adhered to)¶

1. Drejtshkrimi i gjuhës shqipe — Akademia e Shkencave e Shqipërisë, Instituti i Gjuhësisë dhe i Letërsisë, Tiranë 1973.
2. Fjalori drejtshkrimor i gjuhës shqipe — Akademia e Shkencave e Shqipërisë, Instituti i Gjuhësisë dhe i Letërsisë, Tiranë 1976.
3. Gjuha letrare shqipe për të gjithë — Shtëpia botuese e librit shkollor, Tiranë, 1976.
4. Fjalor i gjuhës së sotme shqipe — Akademia e Shkencave, Tiranë 1980.
5. Fjalor i shqipes së sotme — Akademia e Shkencave, Tiranë, 1984.
6. Për pastërtinë e gjuhës shqipe — Grupi i përpunimit dhe i redaktimit: A. Kostallari, E. Lafe, J. Thomai, E. Angoni, Akademia e Shkencave e RSH, Tiranë, 1998.
7. Samara, M., Fjalor i antonimeve në gjuhën shqipe — Akademia e Shkencave e RSH, Shkup, 1998.
8. Thomai, J., Fjalor frazeologjik i gjuhës shqipe — Akademia e Shkencave, Tiranë, 1999.
9. Gramatika e gjuhës shqipe I — Akademia e Shkencave, Tiranë, 2002.
10. Gramatika e gjuhës shqipe II — Akademia e Shkencave, Tiranë, 2002.
11. Rregullat e pikësimit në gjuhën shqipe — Akademia e Shkencave, Tiranë 2002.
12. Fjalor i shqipes së sotme — Akademia e Shkencave, Tiranë 2002.
13. Fjalori sinonimik i gjuhës shqipe — Akademia e Shkencave, Tiranë 2004.
14. Fjalor i gjuhës shqipe — Akademia e Shkencave, Tiranë 2006.

Informative references (supplementary)¶

1. IBM glossary — https://www.ibm.com/ibm/history/documents/pdf/glossary.pdf
2. Dictionary of computer and internet words — Steven Kleinedler, Houghton Mifflin Company, 2001.
3. Microsoft Computer Dictionary, fifth edition, 2002.
4. Dictionary of Computer and Internet terms, seventh edition, Columbia Press, 2002.
5. American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language.
6. Fjalor i informatikës (anglisht – shqip; shqip – anglisht) — Akademia e Shkencave dhe e Arteve e Kosovës, Nebi Caka, Agni Dika, Seb Rodiqi, ed. Rexhep Ismajli, Prishtinë, 2005.
7. Mehmeti, A. Sh., Fjalor enciklopedik nga teknologjia e informacionit (anglisht – shqip – gjermanisht – frëngjisht), Prishtinë, 2006.
8. Elezi, M., Fjalor i gjuhës shqipe — Enti botues “Gjergj Fishta”, Tiranë, 2006.
9. Fjalor drejtshkrimor i gjuhës shqipe — Ali Dhrimo and Rami Memushaj, INFBOTUES, Tiranë 2011.
10. Shqipja Standarde - Si ta flasim dhe ta shkruajmë — Rami Memushaj, TOENA, Tiranë 2011.
11. Concise Oxford English Dictionary, 12th edition.
12. The Free Dictionary — thefreedictionary.com
13. Computer Dictionary of Information Technology
14. http://www.webopedia.com
15. http://www.acronymfinder.com

FAQ¶

What’s the modern register for Albanian translation across professional contexts?¶

Warm, conversational, scannable. Standard authoritative Albanian (gjuha letrare shqipe) from the Akademia e Shkencave normative works is the base, but consumer-facing content uses contractions (s’është, s’ka, ç’kemi), short connectors (nëse instead of në qoftë se / në rast se), and informal second-person ti throughout software, marketing, and patient-facing material.

How should I address users in Albanian translation?¶

Use the second-person singular ti. Avoid third-person “përdoruesi” constructions — they sound formal and impersonal across consumer-facing translation. Use first-person constructions only when the customer is telling the program what to do (Kujto fjalëkalimin tim, Më trego kur…); never use first-person when the program is talking to the customer (Programi duhet të kujtojë fjalëkalimin tim — wrong).

How does Albanian translation handle product names and acronyms?¶

Product names stay unchanged with no genitive inflection — Fjalëkalimi i Windows (not i Windows-it), Microsoft IME (not IME e Microsoftit). Acronyms remain in English accompanied by an Albanian descriptor in Albanian word order: gjuha HTML, protokolli HTTP, biblioteka DLL, kodi PIN. On first use, spell out in Albanian followed by the English term and acronym: Objektet e qasjes së të dhënave (Data Access Objects, DAO).

Which anglicisms should I avoid in Albanian translation?¶

Common pitfalls: invalid → i pavlefshëm, akomodo → vendos, eksplicit → i qartë, ekselent → shkëlqyeshëm, aksidental → i rastësishëm. Use Albanian prefixes for negative meaning (jo-, pa-, mos-): non-member → joanëtar, undefined → i papërcaktuar, invisible → i padukshëm, unavailable → jo në dispozicion.

What’s the difference between Albanian for Albania and Albanian for Kosovo?¶

Albanian translation typically serves both markets — Microsoft ships a single Albanian SKU covering Albania and Kosovo. Standard literary Albanian (gjuha letrare shqipe) works for both. Watch for colloquialisms that may be familiar in one market but not the other; default to neutral standard forms from the Akademia e Shkencave normative works. Voiceover videos should use a voice matching the target market specifically (Albania vs. Kosovo).

How should plural and gender be handled in Albanian?¶

Albanian defaults to masculine when gender is unknown, in singular or plural depending on context. For generalizations, use plural noun forms (personat, individët, studentët). Albanian has two main inflection classes — masculine (most nouns ending in consonant) and feminine (most nouns ending in vowel). Negative-meaning markers (jo-, pa-, mos-) are written jointly with unarticulated adjectives but separately with articled adjectives and nouns.

What authoritative Albanian language references should I use?¶

Drejtshkrimi i gjuhës shqipe (Akademia e Shkencave, 1973), Fjalori drejtshkrimor i gjuhës shqipe (1976), Gramatika e gjuhës shqipe I & II (Akademia e Shkencave, 2002), Rregullat e pikësimit në gjuhën shqipe (2002), Fjalor i gjuhës shqipe (2006), and for IT terminology Fjalor i informatikës (Akademia e Shkencave dhe e Arteve e Kosovës, 2005) and Mehmeti’s Fjalor enciklopedik nga teknologjia e informacionit (2006).

Sources¶

• Microsoft Localization Style Guide for Albanian
• Akademia e Shkencave e Shqipërisë
• Fjalor i gjuhës shqipe (online)
• Microsoft Terminology — Globalization