mollë (Albanian)
Where does "mollë" come from?
The Albanian word 'mollë' traces back to the Proto-Albanian term 'mālā,' likely originating from a borrowing of the Doric Greek word for apple. It shares a common root with the Latin 'mālum' and the Ancient Greek 'mêlon,' reflecting a widespread term for the fruit across the ancient Mediterranean. Similar to the Greek usage, the word's meaning extended metaphorically to describe a 'cheek,' likely due to the round, rosy resemblance of the fruit.
Full etymology tree
- mollë (Albanian), 'apple'
- inherited *mālā (Proto-Albanian), 'apple'
- borrowed μᾶλα (mâla) (Doric Greek)
- inherited *mel- (Proto-Indo-European), 'to worry, be late'
- borrowed μᾶλα (mâla) (Doric Greek)
- inherited *mālā (Proto-Albanian), 'apple'
Ancestors
- *mālā (Proto-Albanian)
Cognates and doublets
- μῆλον (Ancient Greek)
- malum (Latin)
Descendants and derived words
- mollaqe (Albanian)
- mollatartë (Albanian)
- mollët (Albanian)
Updated June 2026
Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris