cilido

Indefinite 'Cilido'

Level 3

The pronoun cilido (whichever/anyone) is used to refer to an indefinite person or thing from a set. It is a compound of cili (which) and the particle -do.

How It Works

The indefinite pronoun cilido is essential for formal and precise Standard Albanian. It functions both as a standalone pronoun and as a determiner (modifying a noun).

1. Composition and Declension
It is formed by the interrogative cili + the suffix -do. The first part declines fully across all cases and numbers:

  • Nominative: cilido (M.Sg), cilado (F.Sg) / cilëtdo (M.Pl), cilatdo (F.Pl)
  • Accusative: cilindo (M.Sg), cilëndo (F.Sg) / cilëtdo (M.Pl), cilatdo (F.Pl)
  • Genitive/Dative: cilitdo (M.Sg), cilësdo (F.Sg) / cilëvedo (M.Pl), cilavedo (F.Pl)
  • Ablative: (prej) cilitdo (M.Sg), (prej) cilësdo (F.Sg) / (prej) cilëvedo (M.Pl), (prej) cilavedo (F.Pl)

2. Selective Nuance
While kushdo means 'anyone at all' (unrestricted), cilido suggests a choice from a specific category or group. For example, 'whichever student' or 'whichever of these books'.

3. Usage as a Determiner
When used before a noun, it must match the noun's gender and case. Crucially, the noun following cilido must always be in the indefinite form. For example: cilado vajzë (whichever girl) is correct, while cilado vajza is incorrect.

Examples (4)

  1. Cilido që e thyen rregullin, do të ndëshkohet.

    Whichever [person] breaks the rule will be punished.

    Word by Word: Whichever that it breaks rule-the, will be punished.

    Here 'cilido' is the subject in the nominative case, referring to an indefinite person within a group.

  2. Mund të zgjidhni cilindo libër që dëshironi.

    You can choose whichever book you want.

    Word by Word: Can to choose whichever book that [you] want.

    In this sentence, 'cilindo' is in the accusative case because it is the direct object of the verb 'zgjidhni' (choose).

  3. Jepja këtë letër cilësdo vajze që është te dera.

    Give this letter to whichever girl is at the door.

    Word by Word: Give-it this letter whichever girl that is at door-the.

    Here 'cilësdo' is in the feminine dative case, matching the indirect object 'vajzë'.

  4. Cilatdo qofshin pasojat, ne do të vazhdojmë.

    Whatever the consequences may be, we will continue.

    Word by Word: Whichever be consequences-the, we will to continue.

    This uses the feminine plural nominative form 'cilatdo' to match the plural noun 'pasojat'.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the nominative form instead of the accusative.

    Marr cilido libër.
    Marr cilindo libër.

    Since 'libër' is the direct object, the pronoun must be in the accusative case (cilindo), not the nominative (cilido).

  • Using the definite form of the noun after 'cilido'.

    Cilido studenti mund të vijë.
    Cilido student mund të vijë.

    When 'cilido' acts as a determiner, the noun it modifies must remain in the indefinite form. Using the definite form 'studenti' is incorrect.

  • Writing it as two separate words.

    Cili do që vjen...
    Cilido që vjen...

    Writing 'cili do' as two words changes the meaning to 'which one wants'. The indefinite pronoun must be written as one word.

How It Connects

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

cilidoLevel 3Indefinite 'Cilido'

Learn This First

The indefinite pronoun 'cilido' (whichever/any one) is a compound word built upon the interrogative pronoun 'cili'. To use it correctly, learners must understand how 'cili' changes for gender and how it functions as a pronoun within a sentence.

Words in This Pattern

cilido