shalë

See also: Shalë and shale

Albanian

Etymology

From the same source as çalë (“lame”) with the ç-sh alteration which is also visible in shalavriq, the doublet shalavit vs çalavit, and in other pairs such as çaj (“to cleave”) vs shaj (“insult”), etc. Comparable formation with Greek σκολιός (skoliós, “curved, crooked”) from σκέλος (skélos, “leg”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈʃalə/, [ʃaːl]

Noun

shalë f (plural shalë, definite shala, definite plural shalët)

1. inner part of the thigh
2. thigh, the part of a human's body from the knee and up, the inner part of the thigh

   Synonyms: kofshë, çapok, vegë

3. (figurative) top level in an hierarchy

Declension

Declension of shalë

	singular		plural
	indefinite	definite	indefinite	definite
nominative	shalë	shala	shalë	shalët
accusative		shalën
dative	shale	shalës	shalëve	shalëve
ablative			shalësh

Noun

shalë f (plural shala, definite shala, definite plural shalat)

1. horse's saddle; as opposed to donkey's saddle, samar.
2. bicycle or motorcycle saddle

Declension

Declension of shalë

	singular		plural
	indefinite	definite	indefinite	definite
nominative	shalë	shala	shala	shalat
accusative		shalën
dative	shale	shalës	shalave	shalave
ablative			shalash

Derived terms

• • shalak
  • shalas
  • shalase
  • shalazi
  • shalëçibuk
  • shalëdreq
  • shalëgjatë
  • shalëhardhi
  • shalëshejtan
  • shalështrembër
  • shalim
  • shalit
  • shaloj
  • shalore
  • shalthi

Further reading

• “shalë”, in FMGJSH: Fjalor i madh i gjuhës shqipe (in Albanian), 2026