Toskërishte · Standard Albanian basis
The southern Albanian dialect group, centred on Tirana and the south. The basis of the modern Albanian literary standard codified in 1972.
Arbëresh
Also known as: Italo-Albanian
The Albanian variety of the Arbëreshë communities of southern Italy, descended from 15th-century settlers fleeing the Ottoman conquest. A medieval Tosk Albanian preserved through five centuries of relative isolation.
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Frequently asked questions
What language is Arbëresh?
Arbëresh is a dialect of the Albanian language.
Where is Arbëresh spoken?
Arbëresh is primarily spoken in Italy.
Which region is Arbëresh associated with?
Arbëresh is part of the Europe region on DialectAtlas.
Is Arbëresh known by other names?
Yes — Arbëresh is also referred to as Italo-Albanian.
What are the other dialects of Albanian?
Albanian also includes Tosk Albanian, Gheg Albanian. Each variety has its own vocabulary, pronunciation, and cultural context.
Other Albanian dialects
See on the atlas →Gegërishte
The northern Albanian dialect group, spoken across northern Albania, Kosovo, and parts of North Macedonia and Montenegro. Distinguished by nasal vowels and the retention of older Albanian features.
Nearby dialects
See on the atlas →178 km away
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The variety of Naples and surrounding Campania. Often classified as a distinct Italo-Romance language; a major literary and operatic medium.
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The variety of Sicily, often counted as a separate Italo-Romance language. Carries strong Greek, Arabic, Norman, and Spanish influences from the island's history.
354 km away
The southern Albanian dialect group, centred on Tirana and the south. The basis of the modern Albanian literary standard codified in 1972.
406 km away
The most recently codified BCMS national standard, declared official in Montenegro in 2007. Distinguished from Serbian by the recognition of two additional Montenegrin-specific letters and a number of lexical preferences.
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The Western Macedonian dialect group around Lake Ohrid and Prespa. Provided much of the structural basis for the modern literary standard, especially in stress placement and verb morphology.