çfarë
Question Word: Çfarë
Çfarë is the primary question word in Albanian for 'what'. It is used to ask for information about objects (What is this?) or actions (What are you doing?).
How It Works
To become proficient in basic communication, you need to know how çfarë functions:
- As a Pronoun: It stands alone to ask about an unknown thing. For example: Çfarë është kjo? (What is this?).
- Attributive Use: It can be placed directly before a noun to ask 'what kind of' or 'which'. Unlike standard adjectives, it does not follow the noun and does not require a linking article (like i or e). Example: Çfarë libri? (What book?).
- Shortened Form: In natural spoken Albanian, çfarë is often shortened to ç’, especially before verbs. For example, Ç’kemi? (What's up?) or Ç’bën? (What are you doing?).
- With Prepositions: It can follow prepositions like për (for) or me (with) to ask 'For what?' (Për çfarë?) or 'With what?' (Me çfarë?).
Examples (4)
- Çfarë është kjo?
What is this?
Word by Word: What is this?
A basic question using 'çfarë' as a pronoun with the verb jam (to be).
- Ç’bën?
What are you doing?
Word by Word: What [do you] do?
A natural, spoken version using the shortened form 'ç’' before the verb bën.
- Çfarë makine ke?
What car do you have?
Word by Word: What car [do you] have?
Here, 'çfarë' functions attributively before the noun 'makine'. Note that unlike standard adjectives, it does not use a linking article.
- Për çfarë po flet?
What are you talking about?
Word by Word: For what [are you] talking?
Using 'çfarë' after the preposition për (for/about).
Common Mistakes
Writing 'ç'farë' with an unnecessary apostrophe.
ç'farëçfarëThe apostrophe is only used for the shortened form 'ç’'. Writing 'ç'farë' is like writing 'wh'at' in English; the full word does not need punctuation inside it.
Trying to change the ending of 'çfarë' for different cases.
Për çfarën?Për çfarë?Unlike many other Albanian words, 'çfarë' is indeclinable. It stays exactly the same no matter its position in the sentence.
How It Connects
Related Patterns
- kushQuestion Word: Kush
While 'çfarë' asks about things, 'kush' is used to ask 'who' about people.
Foundations - cili / cilaInterrogative 'Cili'
'Cili' means 'which' and is used when choosing from a specific group, whereas 'çfarë' is for general 'what' questions.
Level 1 - aYes/No Questions with 'A'
Use 'a' for Yes/No questions, but use 'çfarë' when you need a specific information-based answer.
Foundations - jamVerb 'Jam' (To Be)
'Çfarë' is most frequently paired with the present tense of 'to be' (jam) in basic identification questions.
Foundations
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Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
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