Խնդրեմ and Խնդրում եմ: two pleases
The English 'please' does two utterly different jobs: it softens a request and it answers a 'thank you'. Armenian split these jobs between two forms of one root, խնդր- — 'to ask' — and putting in the wrong one shows at once. The two are khun-DREM and khun-ROOM em: the Խ is a real throaty h, unlike the light puff of հ. For example: “Մեկ սուրճ, խնդրեմ” — One coffee, please. A rule from the Armenian course: worked out…
How it works
The English 'please' does two utterly different jobs: it softens a request and it answers a 'thank you'. Armenian split these jobs between two forms of one root, խնդր- — 'to ask' — and putting in the wrong one shows at once. The two are khun-DREM and khun-ROOM em: the Խ is a real throaty h, unlike the light puff of հ.
Խնդրեմ (khndrem) is the short and light one. It is hung on a request at the café or the shop: Մեկ սուրճ (mek surch), խնդրեմ — one coffee, please; Հաշիվը (hashivə), խնդրեմ — the bill, please. The same word answers a Շնորհակալություն (shnorhakalut'yun), and then it means 'don't mention it'. It also goes with a gesture: you hand over the cup — you say խնդրեմ.
Խնդրում եմ (khndrum em) is literally 'I ask', the present tense of the verb խնդրել (stem plus -um plus the linking verb). It is longer and more insistent: with it you ask for a favour, not hand over a cup. It never answers a 'thank you'. The noun of the same root is խնդրանք, 'a request'.
Table
| the form | word for word | the job | example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Խնդրեմ | a short "I ask" | a polite add-on to a request | Hashivə, khndrem — the bill, please |
| Խնդրեմ | the same word | the answer to "thank you" | — Shnorhakalut’yun. — Khndrem. |
| Խնդրում եմ | "I ask" | a real request, a favour | Khndrum em, ognek’ — please help |
| խնդրանք | "a request" | the noun of the same root | Mi khndrank’ unem — I have a request |
By example
- Մեկ սուրճ, խնդրեմmek surch, khndremOne coffee, please
- — Շնորհակալություն։ — Խնդրեմ։— shnorhakalut'yun. — khndrem.— Thank you. — Don’t mention it.
- Խնդրում եմ, օգնեք ինձkhndrum em, ognek' indzPlease help me
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
How to say please in Armenian?
The English 'please' does two utterly different jobs: it softens a request and it answers a 'thank you'. Armenian split these jobs between two forms of one root, խնդր- — 'to ask' — and putting in the wrong one shows at once. The two are khun-DREM and khun-ROOM em: the Խ is a real throaty h, unlike…
Խնդրեմ vs խնդրում եմ?
Խնդրեմ is the short and light one. It is hung on a request at the café or the shop: Մեկ սուրճ, խնդրեմ — one coffee, please; Հաշիվը, խնդրեմ — the bill, please. The same word answers a Շնորհակալություն, and then it means 'don't mention it'. It also goes with a gesture: you hand over the cup — you say…
How to answer thanks in Armenian?
Խնդրում եմ is literally 'I ask', the present tense of the verb խնդրել (stem plus -um plus the linking verb). It is longer and more insistent: with it you ask for a favour, not hand over a cup. It never answers a 'thank you'. The noun of the same root is խնդրանք, 'a request'.
How to ask politely in Armenian?
Խնդրում եմ is literally 'I ask', the present tense of the verb խնդրել (stem plus -um plus the linking verb). It is longer and more insistent: with it you ask for a favour, not hand over a cup. It never answers a 'thank you'. The noun of the same root is խնդրանք, 'a request'.
What does it look like in an example sentence Armenian?
“Մեկ սուրճ, խնդրեմ” (mek surch, khndrem) — One coffee, please. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.