Shkije
Shkije, Shkje and Shqeh, is a derogatory term used in the Albanian language to refer to Serbs, and to a lesser extent Macedonians and Montenegrins. It is derived from the term "Slavs". The word is found in the two main Albanian dialects of Tosk and Gheg. It was widely used in the Lahuta e Malcís (1937) of Gjergj Fishta (1871–1940).
Word
| Indefinite Singular | Indefinite Plural | Definite Singular | Definite Plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | një shka (a serb male)/një shkinë(female) | shkije (serbs)/shkina | shkau (the serb)/shkina | shkijet/shkinat (the serbs) |
| Accusative | një shka/një shkinë | shkije/shkina | shkaun/shkinën | shkijet/shkinat |
| Genitive | i/e/të/së një shkau/shkine | i/e/të/së shkijeve/shkinave | i/e/të/së shkaut/shkinës | i/e/të/së shkijeve/shkinave |
| Dative | një shkau/një shkine | shkijeve/shkinave | shkaut/shkinës | shkijeve/shkinave |
| Ablative | (prej) një shkau/një shkine | (prej) shkijesh/shkinash | (prej) shkaut/shkinës | (prej) shkijeve/shkinave |
History
Sami Frasheri used the term in his works.[1]
Etymology
It is probably from "sclavus". From Late Latin sclavus or Sclavus < Byzantine Greek σκλάβος (“Slav”) or Σκλάβος (Sklábos), probably from earlier Σλαβῆνος (Slabēnos), from plural Σλαβῆνοι (Slabēnoi), from Proto-Slavic *slověninŭ. The Romanian word seems to have preserved the original ancient ethnic meaning before it took on the sense of "slave" later on, which is the meaning found in the other Romance language descendants of the word, such as Italian schiavo.
- ↑ "...Po me të qënë që sot flasinë serbisht, quhenë Shqeh e jo Shqipëtarë; se gjuha ësht, e para shënj e të çquarit të kombevet."