Albanian exonyms

Many places have exonyms, names for places that differs from that used in the official or well-established language within that place, in the Albanian language.

Albanian has a relatively small number of true exonyms in areas beyond the current borders of Albania and Kosovo, mostly in neighboring countries, and those are listed here.

In addition, Albanian is a language with phonetic spelling that includes orthographic exonymy, i.e. it renders the names of non-Albanian places and people phonetically according to Albanian orthography. For example, Manchester is written as Mançester, Los Angeles as Los Anxheles, and New York as Nju Jork, etc.

Grammatical forms of Albanian placenames

True Albanian exonyms, not mere orthographic exonyms, like all Albanian placenames can be rendered in two forms the same way as common nouns, the definite and indefinite forms.^[1] These forms are created with postpositions to the placename.

When using English or another foreign language, Albanians tend to use the definite form but on road signs and other similar usage, the indefinite form is used because there is an implied preposition në, meaning "to" or "in", which is followed by the indefinite.^[2] Maps, especially those produced in Albania, consistently use the indefinite form.^[2]

The two forms are applied differently depending on grammatical gender of the word. "Recommended international usage for Albanian toponyms" in Kosovo has feminine place names appearing in the definite form and masculine place names in the indefinite form. However, in Albania, English usage is of the indefinite for both feminine and masculine placenames except for the capital, Tirana. Thus the following usage in English with the preferred form in bold and link to the respective article:

Since Albanian exonyms by nature are rarely seen in English texts, there are no strict rules as to which is the "correct" form for places outside of Albania and Kosovo. When available, both are given with the indefinite followed by the definite separated by a slash (stroke, i.e. "/").

List of Albanian exonyms

Cities are grouped by country and then listed alphabetically by their current best-known name in English. The English version is followed by Albanian variants in order of significance. A blue asterisk generally indicates the availability of an Albanian Wikipedia article for that city under that name which may also provide additional reference for the equivalence. Any other equivalents without further footnotes should be viewed with caution.

Language	Native name	Albanian exonym
Afghanistan Afganistani
Persian - Pashto	Kābul - Kabəl	Kabul / Kabuli*
Austria Austria
German	Graz	Graz
	Wien	Vjenë[3] / Vjena*
Azerbaijan Azerbaxhani
Azerbaijani	Bakı	Baku*
Belgium Belgjikë
Dutch - French	Brussel - Bruxelles	Bruksel[3] / Brukseli*
Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnjë Hercegovinë
Bosnian	Banja Luka	Banja Lluka
	Bihać	Bihaç
	Brčko	Bërçka*
	Sarajevo	Sarajevë / Sarajeva
Bulgaria Bullgari
Bulgarian	Sofija	Sofje[3] / Sofja*
	Plovdiv	Plovdiv, Pllovdiv, Filipopojë
Canada Kanadaja
English - French	Ottawa	Otava
China Kinë
Mandarin	Běijīng	Pekin / Pekini*
Croatia Kroacia
Croatian	Arbanasi	Arbëneshi
	Opatija	Opatia
	Rijeka	Rieka
	Šibenik	Shibeniku
	Zadar	Zara
Cyprus Qipro
Greek - Turkish	Lefkosía - Lefkoşa	Nikozia
Czech Republic Çeki
Czech	Praha	Pragë[3] / Praga*
Denmark Danimarkë
Danish	København	Kopenhagë[3] / Kopenhaga, Kopenhagen / Kopenhageni*
Estonia Estoni
Estonian	Tallinn	Talin*
Egypt Egjipt
Arabic	Qāhirah	Kajro*[3]
France Franca
French	Paris	Paris / Parisi*
Germany Gjermani
German	Bonn	Bon
	Braunschweig	Braunshvajg
	Düsseldorf	Dyseldorf
	Hannover	Hanovër
	Heidelberg	Hajdelberg
	Kassel	Kasel
	Kiel	Kiel
	Köln	Këln
	Leipzig	Lajpcig
	Lübeck	Lybek
	Mainz	Majnz
	Mannheim	Manhajm
	München	Mynih
	Schwerin	Shverin
	Stuttgart	Shtutgart
	Wiesbaden	Visbaden
Greece Greqi
Greek	Elassóna	Allasonjë
	Narkíssos	Arcë
	Perdika	Arpicë
	Athína	Athinë
	Drosopiyí	Bellkamen
	Bizáni	Bezhan
	Aetomilítsa	Denckë
	Dhelvinakíon	Delvinaq
	Filiátes	Filat
	Flórina	Follorinë
	Fanári	Frar
	Grevená	Grebené
	Igoumenítsa	Gumenicë
	Gouménissa	Gumenicë
	Ioánnina	Janinë
	Ptolemaïda	Kajlar
	Kalamáta	Kallamatë
	Kalabáka	Kallabakë
	Karditsa	Kardhicë
	Kastríon	Kastrizë
	Kavala	Kavallë
	Kónitsa	Konicë
	Kérkyra	Korfuz, Qarfoz
	Kastoriá	Kostur
	Stavroúpoli	Kristopojë
	Lékhovon	Lehovë
	Thesprotikόn	Lelovë
	Livadeia	Livadhja
	Katavóthra	Luarat
	Margaríti	Margëlliç, Margëllëç
	Métsovo	Mecovë, Meçovë
	Pelopónnisos	Moré, Peloponez
	Mesolóngi	Mesollonjë, Mesolongji
	Arta	Nartë, Artë
	Flámpouron	Negovan
	Paramithiá	Paramithi
	Párga	Pargë
	Patras	Patër
	Platariá	Pllotare
	Préveza	Prevezë
	Anthoúsa	Rrapezë
	Árgos Orestikó	Rupisht, Hurupisht
	Thessaloníki	Selanik
	Sayiádhas	Sajadhë
	Ammoudhiá	Spllancë
	Themélon	Taban
	Trikala	Tërhallë, Trikallë
	Trípoli	Tripolicë
	Othoní	Thonuz
	Parapótamos	Varfanj
	Édessa	Vodenë
	Sývota	Volë
	Pogonianí	Voshtinë
	Vovoúsa	Vuvucë
Iran Irani
Persian	Tehrān	Teheran
Iraq Iraku
Arabic - Kurdish	Baġdād - Bexda	Bagdad
Israel Izraeli
Hebrew - Arabic	Yerushaláyim - al Quds	Jeruzalem
	Natzrát - Naseriyye	Nazaret
Italy Itali
Italian
	Acquaformosa	Firmoza
	Barile	Barilli
	Campomarino	Kemarini
	Caraffa di Catanzaro	Garfara
	Carfizzi	Karfici
	Casavecchio di Puglia	Kazallveqi
	Castroregio	Kasternexhi
	Cavallerizzo	Kajeverici
	Cervicati	Cervikati
	Cerzeto	Qana
	Chieuti	Qefti
	Civita	Cifti
	Eianina	Ejanina
	Falconara Albanese	Fallkunara
	Firenze	Firence
	Firmo	Ferma
	Frascineto	Frasnița
	Genova	Gjenovë
	Ginestra	Xhinestra
	Lungro	Ungra
	Macchia Albanese	Maqi
	Maschito	Mashqiti
	Mezzoiuso	Munxifsi
	Mongrassano	Mungrasana
	Montecilfone	Munxhfuni
	Palazzo Adriano	Pallaci
	Pallagorio	Puheriu
	Piana dei Greci	Hora e Arbereshevet
	Plataci	Pllatani
	Portocannone	Portkanuni
	Ragusa	Raguzë
	Roma	Romë
	San Basile	Shen Vasili
	San Benedetto Ullano	Shen Benedhiti
	San Cosmo Albanese	Strighari
	San Costantino Albanese	Shen Kostadini
	San Demetrio Corone	Shen Mitri
	San Giacomo di Cerzeto	Shen Japku
	San Giorgio Albanese	Mbuzati
	San Martino di Finita	Shen Murtiri
	San Marzano di San Giuseppe	Shen Marcani
	San Nicola dell'Alto	Shen Kolli
	San Paolo Albanese	Shen Pali
	Santa Caterina Albanese	Picilia
	Santa Cristina Gela	Sendahstina
	Santa Sofia d'Epiro	Shen Sofia
	Spezzano Albanese	Spixana
	Trieste	Trieshtë
	Ururi	Ruri
	Vaccarizzo Albanese	Vakarici
	Vena di Maide	Vina
	Villa Badessa	Badhesa
Venezia	Venedik
Jordan Jordania
Arabic	Ammān	Amani
Lebanon Libani
Arabic - French	Bayrūt - Beyrouth	Bejrut
Libya Libi
Arabic	Ṭarābulus	Tripoli
Macedonia Maqedoni
Macedonian	Berovo	Berovë / Berova*
	Bitola	Manastir[3] / Manastiri*
	Debar	Dibër[3] / Dibra*
	Delčevo	Dellçevë / Dellçeva*
	Gevgelija	Gjevgjeli / Gjevgjelia*
	Kičevo	Kërçovë[3] / Kërçova*
	Kočani	Koçan / Koçani*
	Kratovo	Kratovë / Kratova*
	Kriva Palanka	Kriva Pallankë / Kriva Pallanka*
	Kruševo	Krushevë / Krusheva*
	Kumanovo	Kumanovë / Kumanova*
	Negotino	Negotinë / Negotina*
	Ohrid	Ohër[3] / Ohri*, Ohrit[3]
	Pehčevo	Peçevë / Peçeva*
	Prilep	Prilep / Prilepi*, Përlep / Përlepi
	Probištip	Probishtip / Probishtipi*
	Radoviš	Radovish / Radovishti*
	Resen	Resnjë / Resnja*
	Šar Mountains	Malet e Sharrit, Bjeshkët e Sharrit*, Mali i Sharrit[3]
	Skopje	Shkup / Shkupi*[3]
	Štip	Shtip / Shtipi*
	Struga	Strugë[3] / Struga*
	Strumica	Strumicë / Strumica*
	Sveti Nikole	Sveti Nikollë / Sveti Nikolla*
	Tetovo	Tetovë[3] / Tetova*
	Valandovo	Vallandovë / Vallandova*
	Veles	Veles / Velesi*
	Zajas	Zajaz / Zajazi*
Mongolia Mongolia
Mongolian	Ulaanbaatar	Ulan Bator
Montenegro Mali i Zi
Montenegrin	Andrijevica	Andrejevicë
	Bar	Tivar
	Bijelo Polje	Bellopojë
	Berane	Beranë
	Budva	Buduë
	Cetinje	Cetinë
	Gusinje	Guci, Gusi
	Kolašin	Koloshin
	Kotor	Kotorr
	Nikšić	Nikshiq
	Plav	Plavë
	Pljevlja	Plevlë
	Plužine	Pluzhinë
	Podgorica	Podgoricë, Anamal, Burguriçë
	Rožaje	Rozhajë
	Šavnik	Shavnik
	Ulcinj	Ulqin
	Žabljak	Zhabjak
Nepal Nepali
Nepali	Kantipur	Kat'hmandu
The Netherlands Hollandë
Dutch	Den Haag	Hagë
Oman Omani
Arabic	Masqaṭ	Muskat
Poland Poloni
Polish	Warszawa	Varshavë
Romania Rumani
Romanian	Bucureşti	Bukuresht
	Constanţa	Konstancë
Rwanda Ruanda
Kinyarwanda–French	Kigali	Kigal
Russia Rusii
Russian	Moskva	Moska
	Sankt-Peterburg	Shën-Pjetërburgu
Saudi Arabia Arabia Saudite
Arabic	al-Madīna	Medina
	Makkah	Meka
	Riyāḍ	Riad
Serbia Sërbi
Serbian	Bujanovac	Bujanoc
	Kuršumlija	Kurshumli
	Medveđa	Medvegjë
	Niš	Nish
	Novi Pazar	Pazar i Ri, Treg i Ri
	Preševo	Preshevë
	Prokuplje	Prokuplë
	Raška	Rashkë
	Sandžak	Sanxhak
	Sjenica	Senicë
Somalia Somalia
Somali - Arabic	Muqdisho - Maqadīshū	Mogadishu
Slovakia Sllovaki
Slovakian	Bratislava	Bratisllavë
Slovenia Slloveni
Slovenian	Ljubljana	Ljubjanë
Switzerland Zvicër
German - French	Basel - Bâle	Bazel
	Bern - Berne	Berna
	Chur - Coire	Kur
	Genf - Genèvre	Gjeneva
	Lausanne	Lozana
	Luzern - Lucerne	Luzern
	Schwyz	Shvicë
	Zug - Zoug	Cug
	Zürich	Zyrih
Turkey Turqi
Türkish	İstanbul	Stamboll, Konstantinopojë
	Edirne	Edërne, Adrianopojë
Ukraine Ukrainë
Ukraine	Kyiv	Kiev
United Arab Emirates Emiratet e Bashkuara Arabe
Arabic	Abū Zabī	Abu Dabi
	Dubayy	Dubai
United Kingdom Mbretëria e Bashkuar
English	Birmingham	Birmingem
	Cardiff	Kardif
	Coventry	Koventri
	Durham	Dërem
	Dundee	Dandi
	Edinburgh	Edinburg
	Liverpool	Liverpul
	London	Londër
	Manchester	Mançester
	Glasgow	Glasgou
	Portsmouth	Portsmuth
United States Shtetet e Bashkuara të Amerikës
English	Connecticut	Kenerik
	Los Angeles	Los Anxheles
	Miami	Majemi
	New York	Nju Jork
	Washington D.C.	Uashington
	Worcester	Ustër
Uzbekistan Uzbekistani
Uzbek	Toshkent	Tashkent
Language	Native name	Albanian exonym

See also

• List of European exonyms

References