LingoflyՃամպրուկը or ճամպրուկ: where -ը is needed
The tail that means 'that very one' goes on the back: -ը after a consonant, -ն after a vowel. ճամպրուկ (champruk) → ճամպրուկը (champrukə), but կատու (katu) → կատուն (katun). For example: “Ճամպրուկը (champrukə) ծանր (tsanr) է” — The suitcase is heavy. A rule from the Armenian course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.
How it works
The tail that means 'that very one' goes on the back: -ը after a consonant, -ն after a vowel. ճամպրուկ (champruk) → ճամպրուկը (champrukə), but կատու (katu) → կատուն (katun).
You use it where English would say 'the': the thing has been named already, or there is only one of it. Ճամպրուկը (champrukə) ծանր (tsanr) է (champrukə tsanr e) is the suitcase in front of us. After այս (ays) it is compulsory: այս (ays) գիրքը (girk'ə) (ays girk'ə).
One quirk: before a word starting with a vowel you still take -ն — հացն է (hatsn e), never 'հացը է (hatsə e)'. Hence իմ մեղքն է (im meghk'n e), it is my fault.
The trap is where English says 'a'. Armenian then puts nothing: Ես (yes) մատուցող (matutsogh) եմ (em) (yes matutsogh em) is 'I am a waiter', a bare word. After մի (mi) it is empty too: մի (mi) ափսե (ap'se) բեր (ber) (mi ap'se ber).
Table
| Case | How | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Known, already named | ճամպրուկը (champrukə) ծանր (tsanr) է | the suitcase is heavy |
| After a vowel | կատուն (katun) քնած (k'nats) է | the cat is asleep |
| Before the linker է | իմ մեղքն է (im meghk'n e) | it's my fault |
| Predicate — no article | ես (yes) ուսուցիչ (usutsich) եմ (em) | I'm a teacher |
| After մի (mi) — no article | մի (mi) բաժակ (bazhak) ջուր (jur) | a glass of water |
| 'My' instead of the article | ճամպրուկս | my suitcase |
By example
How the rule settles in your head
A rule is not memorized from an explanation. It is memorized from an attempt to use it and a mistake — that is why the app delivers it mixed in with words, not as a separate lesson: it resurfaces exactly where you forgot it.
Frequently asked
When Armenian takes ը and when ն?
The trap is where English says 'a'. Armenian then puts nothing: Ես (yes) մատուցող (matutsogh) եմ (em) is 'I am a waiter', a bare word. After մի (mi) it is empty too: մի (mi) ափսե (ap'se) բեր (ber).
Ճամպրուկ (champruk) vs ճամպրուկը (champrukə)?
The tail that means 'that very one' goes on the back: -ը after a consonant, -ն after a vowel. ճամպրուկ (champruk) → ճամպրուկը (champrukə), but կատու (katu) → կատուն (katun).
Why հացն է and not հացը (hatsə) է?
One quirk: before a word starting with a vowel you still take -ն — հացն է, never 'հացը է'. Hence իմ մեղքն է (im meghk'n e), it is my fault.
When the Armenian ending ը is not needed?
The trap is where English says 'a'. Armenian then puts nothing: Ես (yes) մատուցող (matutsogh) եմ (em) is 'I am a waiter', a bare word. After մի (mi) it is empty too: մի (mi) ափսե (ap'se) բեր (ber).
How to say the suitcase is heavy in Armenian?
You use it where English would say 'the': the thing has been named already, or there is only one of it. Ճամպրուկը (champrukə) ծանր (tsanr) է is the suitcase in front of us. After այս (ays) it is compulsory: այս (ays) գիրքը (girk'ə).
What does it look like in a Armenian example sentence?
“Ճամպրուկը (champrukə) ծանր (tsanr) է” (champrukə tsanr e) — The suitcase is heavy. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.