secili

Distributive Pronoun: 'Secili'

Level 2

Secili (masculine) and secila (feminine) are used to refer to individual members of a group one by one. Unlike the word çdo (every), secili can stand alone as a pronoun or be used as a determiner, and it must change its form based on the case and gender of the noun it refers to.

How It Works

In Standard Albanian, secili is a distributive indefinite pronoun. It is used in two main ways:

1. As a Determiner: It precedes a singular indefinite noun.
Example: secili nxënës (each student).

2. As a Pronoun: It stands alone, often followed by the prepositions prej or nga plus a plural noun or pronoun.
Example: secili prej nesh (each of us).

Declension Table:
Unlike çdo, which never changes, secili must decline to match the grammatical case required in the sentence:

  • Nominative: secili (m) / secila (f)
  • Accusative: secilin (m) / secilën (f)
  • Genitive/Dative/Ablative: secilit (m) / secilës (f)

It is important to remember that secili always triggers a singular verb form, even when referring to a large group.

Examples (4)

  1. Secili ka mendimin e tij.

    Each one has his own opinion.

    Word by Word: Each has opinion-the of his.

    Here 'secili' acts as the subject in the nominative case. Note the singular verb 'ka'.

  2. Mësuesi i dha një detyrë secilit nxënës.

    The teacher gave an assignment to each student.

    Word by Word: Teacher-the to-him gave a task each-to student.

    In this sentence, 'secilit' is in the dative case because it is the indirect object (to whom the task was given).

  3. Secila prej vajzave mori një dhuratë.

    Each of the girls received a gift.

    Word by Word: Each-f from girls-the took a gift.

    We use the feminine form 'secila' because the group being referred to (vajzave) is feminine.

  4. Unë e takova secilin prej tyre.

    I met each of them.

    Word by Word: I him met each-the from them.

    Here 'secilin' is in the accusative case as the direct object of the verb 'takova'.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'secili' as an indeclinable word like 'çdo'.

    I dhashë librin secili vajzë.
    I dhashë librin secilës vajzë.

    In the dative case (to each girl), you must use the form 'secilës'. 'Secili' is only for the nominative masculine.

  • Spelling the word with an extra 'i' as 'seicili'.

    Seicili nxënës erdhi.
    Secili nxënës erdhi.

    Standard Albanian orthography requires 'secili', not 'seicili'.

  • Using a plural verb with 'secili'.

    Secili prej nesh shkojnë.
    Secili prej nesh shkon.

    Even though 'each of us' implies multiple people, 'secili' is grammatically singular and requires a singular verb.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

seciliLevel 2Distributive Pronoun: 'Secili'

Learn This First

To understand 'secili' (each/every one), learners must be familiar with the interrogative 'cili' (which one) as they share the same root and declension rules. Additionally, since 'secili' agrees in gender and case with the noun it refers to, a solid grasp of noun genders and basic case endings is essential.