How it works
This Albanian alphabet chart lists the 36 letters in order, A to Zh, one letter a row. Each row has the capital, the small letter and the letter's name, such as bë for B and shë for Sh.
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Nine letters of two characters
Dh, Gj, Ll, Nj, Rr, Sh, Th, Xh and Zh each count as one letter with a place of its own: Dh comes after D, Ll after L, Xh after X. Dh sounds like the th of that, th like the th of think and xh like the j of judge.
- C sounds like the ts of hats and ç like the ch of check.
- Today's alphabet is one of two approved at the Congress of Manastir in November 1908.
Questions and answers
How many letters are in the Albanian alphabet?
36: seven vowels and 29 consonants. Nine of the letters are written with two characters, such as dh and sh, and two carry a mark, ç and ë.
What are the Albanian letters in order?
A, B, C, Ç, D, Dh, E, Ë, F, G, Gj, H, I, J, K, L, Ll, M, N, Nj, O, P, Q, R, Rr, S, Sh, T, Th, U, V, X, Xh, Y, Z, Zh.
What are the letters of the Albanian alphabet called?
A vowel is called by its own sound: a, e, ë, i, o, u, y. A consonant is called by its sound with ë after it: bë, cë, çë, dë, dhë and so on to zë and zhë.
Does the Albanian alphabet have a W?
No. The 36 letters are the English alphabet without W, 25 letters, with Ç, Ë and the nine two-letter letters added.