The current form is a participle of an obsolete form*pojë, which is a zero-grade suffixed derivation of*h₃ep-(“to work”). Relationship with Hittite[script needed](ḫappinaḫḫ,“to become rich”) is unclear, even though there have been cases in which an older -i- has become a -u- (ahu(“beech”) is also attested asahi in older dictionaries), making it possible for this word to have been*pina with a different meaning.
Alternatively a derivative in-në of an unused verb*puaj, continuingProto-Albanian*pānja. The latter is related toAncient Greekπένομαι(pénomai,“to strain, work on”) and its deverbativeπόνος(pónos), with uncertain further links.[1]
punë f (pluralpunë, definitepuna, definite pluralpunët)
| singular | plural | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| indefinite | definite | indefinite | definite | |
| nominative | punë | puna | punë | punët |
| accusative | punën | |||
| dative | pune | punës | punëve | punëve |
| ablative | punësh | |||