Either a derivative of tok 'to touch', in the sense of 'dry land', or from an old substrate source, close to Hittite [script needed](tēkan), [script needed](tagnās) 'earth'. Otherwise a substrate word with Ancient Greek τόπος(tópos, “place”), with a proto-form *tò-kʷV- or *tòw-kʷV- (compare the second part of ndërtoj). The alternative form trokë has probably been influenced by truall, plural troje "land, place"