Թող լինի, Աստված պահի, ապրես: the wish is a verb form of its own
A wish is simply the verb form without կ-. On its own it already means 'may it be so'. For example: “Աստված պահի ձեր երեխաներին” — God keep your children. A rule from the Armenian course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.
How it works
A wish is simply the verb form without կ-. On its own it already means 'may it be so'.
Աստված պահի (astvats pahi) is God keep you, առողջ մնաս (arroghj mnas) stay healthy, հաջողություն ունենաս good luck. One letter separates a wish from a statement: կմնաս you will stay, մնաս (mnas) stay.
For a third person put թող (t'ogh), 'let', in front: թող գա (t'ogh ga) let him come, թող լինի (t'ogh lini) let it be. The negative is թող չուշանա.
The trap: Ցավդ տանեմ literally means 'let me carry off your pain' and sounds alarming at first. It is in fact the warmest thing you can say to someone.
Table
| Occasion | What they say | Word for word |
|---|---|---|
| at the table | անուշ լինի | may it be sweet |
| the reply to it | առողջ մնաս | stay healthy |
| a toast | կենացդ | to your life |
| instead of thanks | ապրես | live! |
| a congratulation | շնորհավոր ծնունդդ | congratulated your birthday |
| a wish to a third party | թող լինի | let it be |
| a blessing | Աստված պահի | God, keep |
| condolences | ցավակցում եմ | I share the pain |
| about the deceased | Աստված հոգին լուսավորի | God, illuminate the soul |
By example
- Աստված պահի ձեր երեխաներինastvats pahi dzer yerekhanerinGod keep your children
- Թող տոնը ուրախ լինի, առողջ մնաքt'ogh tonə urakh lini, arroghj mnak'May the holiday be joyful — stay healthy
- Անուշ լինի, ապրես, որ եկարanush lini, apres, vor yekarEnjoy your meal, and thank you for coming
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
the wish is a verb form of its own: how does it work in Armenian?
A wish is simply the verb form without կ-. On its own it already means 'may it be so'.
What does it look like in an example sentence Armenian?
“Աստված պահի ձեր երեխաներին” (astvats pahi dzer yerekhanerin) — God keep your children. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.