LingoflyWestern Armenian grammar
Western Armenian grammar explained in plain words. No grammatical gender, and almost every noun takes the same endings. What is harder: a definite article glued to the end of the word, and the particle կը (gə) before the verb in the present: կը (gə) գրեմ (krem) — “I write”.
Notes
- 📐The verb "to be": em, yes, eThe verb "to be" is a set of little words — em, yes, e. They hook onto the word in front of them and are pronounced…
- Thank you: շնորհակալութիւն (shnorhagalut'yun) or մերսի (mersi)📐Thank you: շնորհակալութիւն (shnorhagalut'yun) or մերսի (mersi)Two thank-yous — and the choice is not about politeness but about register. Shnorhagalut'yun is the full, literary…
- The article -ը / -ն📐The article -ը / -նDefiniteness is an ending, not a separate word. Plain coffee is սուրճ (surj); the coffee, the one we both have in mind, is…
- 📐Negation: չ + copula + the -եր/-իր/-ար formThe copula is negated with the prefix չ- and moves to the front: "I understand" is կը (gə) հասկնամ (hasgnam), "I don't understand" is…
- Two words for "yes": այո (ayo) and հա (ha)📐Two words for "yes": այո (ayo) and հա (ha)Ayo is the full "yes"; it fits everywhere and offends nobody. Ha is the short colloquial one, closer to "yeah": among…
- Please and excuse me: խնդրեմ (khntrem) and ներողութիւն (neroghut'yun)📐Please and excuse me: խնդրեմ (khntrem) and ներողութիւն (neroghut'yun)Khntrem works in three roles: "please" with a request, "after you" with an invitation, and "you're welcome" as the…
- Present tense: կը (gə) + the verb form📐Present tense: կը (gə) + the verb formThe western standard builds the present with the particle կը (gə) (read "gə"; before a vowel — կ'). So երթալ (yert'al) gives կ'երթամ (g'ert'am)…
- Plural: -եր / -ներ📐Plural: -եր / -ներOne-syllable words take -եր, longer words -ներ: միրգ → մրգեր (mrker) — mirg → mrger (fruits); usanogh → usanoghner (students).
- 📐A question without a particle: the ՞ markThe mark is put not at the end of the phrase but directly over the stressed vowel of the word the question is about…
- Ցտեսութիւն (tsdesut'yun) and Յաջող (hachogh): goodbye and bye📐Ցտեսութիւն (tsdesut'yun) and Յաջող (hachogh): goodbye and byeՑտեսութիւն (tsdesut'yun) is built around the verb տեսնել (desnel) — to see — and literally means "until we see each other". It is the neutral…
- 📐More expensive, cheaper: one word, աւելի (aveli)English bends the word itself — cheap, cheaper, the cheapest — and here nothing inside the word moves. The adjective…
- 📐The freshest: the prefix ամենա-"The most" is not a separate word here. The superlative is the prefix ամենա-, glued to the front of the adjective…
- 📐Սենեակին (senyagin) մէջ (mech): "where" without a preposition"In the room", "in the kitchen", "in the city" — no preposition goes in front. The noun takes the ending -ին, and մէջ (mech)…
- Գլուխս կը ցաւի (klukhs gə tsavi): your body without "my"📐Գլուխս կը ցաւի (klukhs gə tsavi): your body without "my"To complain to a doctor you need one habit English lacks: possession is glued onto the word. glukh is a head in…
- 📐Yesterday it was cold: the unfinished pastTo move a story into the past, the ending of the verb itself changes, while the particle կը (gə)/կ' stays where it was.…
- 📐A request, not an order: -եցէք and -էAll the "fill in", "wait", "explain" requests are built the same way. For polite "you", add -եցէք to the verb stem; for…
- 📐Don't open it: a prohibition with the particle մի (mi)"Don't do it" is built with the particle մի (mi) before the verb. The form after it is its own, not the one used in a…
- 📐Վաղը (vaghə) պիտի (bidi) երթամ (yert'am): the future through պիտի (bidi)"Tomorrow I'll go", "I'll call you", "we'll order" — the future is built with the word պիտի (bidi). It stands before…
- Ինծի տուր (indzi dur): to whom and whom📐Ինծի տուր (indzi dur): to whom and whom"Give me", "I'll call you", "tell him" — here the pronoun answers the question to whom. Each pronoun has its own form…
- Ճամպրուկը (jambrugə) or ճամպրուկ (jambrug): where -ը is needed📐Ճամպրուկը (jambrugə) or ճամպրուկ (jambrug): where -ը is neededThe article does not stand before the word — it is glued on at the back: -ը after a consonant, -ն after a vowel.…
- 📐One ending or two: -եր and -ներThe plural is chosen by the length of the word, not by gender or the last letter. The rule is short: a one-syllable…
- Պէտք է (bedk' e), կրնամ (grnam): must, can, worth📐Պէտք է (bedk' e), կրնամ (grnam): must, can, worth"I have to go", "may I try it on?", "it is worth trying" — three turns for every day.
- Այս (ays), այդ (ayt), այն (ayn): three "this" where you expect two📐Այս (ays), այդ (ayt), այն (ayn): three "this" where you expect twoEnglish splits the world in two: this — near, that — far. Here there are three, and not by distance: what decides is…
- Իմ (im) հեռախօսը (herrakhosə) and հեռախօսս (herrakhoss): two ways to say "my"📐Իմ (im) հեռախօսը (herrakhosə) and հեռախօսս (herrakhoss): two ways to say "my""My phone" can be said two ways here, and both are correct. The first is built as in English: a separate word in front…
- Իհարկէ (iharge), երեւի (yerevi), միգուցէ (mikutse): how sure the speaker is📐Իհարկէ (iharge), երեւի (yerevi), միգուցէ (mikutse): how sure the speaker isThese words measure the speaker's confidence, not quantity. They attach to the whole phrase, usually at the start.…
- Ցուրտ է (tsurd e): a sentence with no actor📐Ցուրտ է (tsurd e): a sentence with no actor"It is cold", "one must go", "it seems" — English fills these with a dummy "it". Here nothing is needed: the copula է…
- Որ (vor), որովհետեւ (vorovhedev), եթէ (yet'e), երբ (yerp): two thoughts in one sentence📐Որ (vor), որովհետեւ (vorovhedev), եթէ (yet'e), երբ (yerp): two thoughts in one sentenceUntil now a sentence held one thought. "Tell him that I am late", "if there is time, I'll drop by". The conjunction…
- Ամենալաւը (amenalavə) and լաւագոյնը: two "best"📐Ամենալաւը (amenalavə) and լաւագոյնը: two "best"Three ways to say "the most". The first is the prefix ամենա-, glued to the front: amenat'arm hatsə — the freshest…
- Շատ (shad) գիրք (kirk'), քանի մը (k'ani mə) օր (or): after a quantity the noun stays singular📐Շատ (shad) գիրք (kirk'), քանի մը (k'ani mə) օր (or): after a quantity the noun stays singularTalking money means "many", "a few", "not a single one". One rule looks like a mistake at first: after a word of…
- Բոլոր (polor) and ամբողջ (ampoghch): two words for "all"📐Բոլոր (polor) and ամբողջ (ampoghch): two words for "all""All" is split in two. Բոլորը (polorə) — everyone, about things you can count: բոլոր (polor) ուսանողները (usanoghnerə), բոլորը (polorə) եկան (yegan). Ամբողջ (ampoghch) — the…
- Այնքան վատ (vad), որքան (vork'an) երէկ (yereg): compare whole situations, not words📐Այնքան վատ (vad), որքան (vork'an) երէկ (yereg): compare whole situations, not wordsOne adjective is compared with աւելի (aveli). At the doctor's, though, you compare whole situations: "today is not as bad as…
- 📐Կ'ուզէի (g'uzei): how to say "I would""I would like" in Armenian is կ'ուզէի (g'uzei). It is the unfinished past, like կը (gə) խօսէի — I was speaking. The same form means…
- Եթէ (yet'e) ունենայի…: how to say "if I had"📐Եթէ (yet'e) ունենայի…: how to say "if I had""If I had…, I would…" is built from two halves. After եթէ (yet'e) comes a form without կը (gə): ունենայի — if I had. This is the…
- Այն (ayn) բնակարանը (pnagaranə), որ (vor) վարձեցինք (vartsetsink): "that" and its shortcut📐Այն (ayn) բնակարանը (pnagaranə), որ (vor) վարձեցինք (vartsetsink): "that" and its shortcutEnglish "the flat that we rented" is made with vor, and here it replaces the noun inside the clause. Ayn almost always…
- Տան (dan) դուռը (turrə): how a noun's word group is built📐Տան (dan) դուռը (turrə): how a noun's word group is builtIn talk about renting, several other words gather around one noun, and their order is strict.
- 📐Ստիպուած (sdibuadz) էի (ei), կարելի (gareli) էր (er): must and can in yesterday and tomorrow"I had to wait", "parking was not allowed", "I'll have to return the car tomorrow" — modality usually lives in…
- Ըսաւ (əsav), որ (vor) պիտի (bidi) գայ (kay): other people's words in your mouth📐Ըսաւ (əsav), որ (vor) պիտի (bidi) գայ (kay): other people's words in your mouthReporting speech rests on one construction, with one huge relief and one trap.
- 📐Դիմումը ընդունուեցաւ (əntunuetsav): one inserted -ու- and no actorOffice language rests on one device: "the application has been accepted", "the visa was refused". The state never says…
- Կը (gə) գրէի or գրեցի (kretsi): two pasts and the question "finished or not"📐Կը (gə) գրէի or գրեցի (kretsi): two pasts and the question "finished or not"English marks "was writing" against "wrote" with an auxiliary verb. Armenian has none: the difference lives in the form…
- Աշխատասէր (ashkhadaser), շատախօս (shadakhos), անտարբեր (andarper): what character is built from📐Աշխատասէր (ashkhadaser), շատախօս (shadakhos), անտարբեր (andarper): what character is built fromYou need not memorize character adjectives one by one. Almost each is a simple root plus a tail, and there are half a…
- Ինծի (indzi) ամօթ (amot') է, ինծի (indzi) դուր (tur) կու (gu) գայ (kay): to whom it is felt📐Ինծի (indzi) ամօթ (amot') է, ինծի (indzi) դուր (tur) կու (gu) գայ (kay): to whom it is feltFeelings split into two piles, and the pile decides what the person is in the sentence.
- Եփելէ առաջ (arrach), եփած (yep'adz) ատեն (aden): one action wrapped around another📐Եփելէ առաջ (arrach), եփած (yep'adz) ատեն (aden): one action wrapped around anotherA recipe is a chain of "first… then…" English holds it together with clauses: "before boiling", "after it cools". Here…
- Կաշիէ (gashie) պայուսակ (bayusag) and դանակով կտրել (gdrel): made of what, done with what📐Կաշիէ (gashie) պայուսակ (bayusag) and դանակով կտրել (gdrel): made of what, done with whatIn a shop two questions come up more than any others. What is it made of? What do you do it with? English answers both…
- Երեւի (yerevi), հաւանաբար, իհարկէ (iharge): how sure the speaker is📐Երեւի (yerevi), հաւանաբար, իհարկէ (iharge): how sure the speaker isHalf the meaning often hangs on how sure the speaker is. "Probably the board burned out", "of course we'll replace it".…
- Ցաւօք (tsavok') at the start, երեւի (yerevi) — anywhere: where certainty words stand📐Ցաւօք (tsavok') at the start, երեւի (yerevi) — anywhere: where certainty words standԵրեւի (yerevi), իհարկէ (iharge) and the other words of certainty share one spot in the sentence — and split apart at the very end. Most…
- Լիճ (lij) → լճակ (ljag), արեւ (arev) → արեւոտ (arevod): how nature words are assembled📐Լիճ (lij) → լճակ (ljag), արեւ (arev) → արեւոտ (arevod): how nature words are assembledMany nature words are simple roots with a tail. Learn the tails and one way of compounding, and you won't have to learn…
- Պանքին (bank'in) դիմաց (timats), շէնքին (shenk'in) ետեւը (yedevə): the word comes after, not before📐Պանքին (bank'in) դիմաց (timats), շէնքին (shenk'in) ետեւը (yedevə): the word comes after, not beforeEnglish puts the little word before the noun; Armenian puts it after. "Opposite the bank" is պանքին (bank'in) դիմաց (timats), literally…
- Կարդալ (gartal) գիտեմ (kidem), կարդալը հեշտ (heshd) է: the infinitive instead of a noun📐Կարդալ (gartal) գիտեմ (kidem), կարդալը հեշտ (heshd) է: the infinitive instead of a noun"I know how to read" and "reading comes easily" use a verb and a noun in English. Armenian gets by with one infinitive…
- Ժամը (zhamə) հինգին (hinkin), մէկ տարի ետք (meg dari yedk'): time without prepositions📐Ժամը (zhamə) հինգին (hinkin), մէկ տարի ետք (meg dari yedk'): time without prepositionsIn English, time hangs on prepositions: "at five", "in a year". Here each question has its own ending, and there is…
- Ի՞նչ ըսիք (inch əsik') and թէ (t'e) ինչ (inch) ըսիք (əsik): the ՞ mark and a question inside a sentence📐Ի՞նչ ըսիք (inch əsik') and թէ (t'e) ինչ (inch) ըսիք (əsik): the ՞ mark and a question inside a sentenceAsking again is the first thing you do in a foreign language. Two things here are unusual: the question mark does not…
- Շինարար (shinarar), երգիչ (yerkich), այգեպան (aykeban): how an occupation comes out of a deed📐Շինարար (shinarar), երգիչ (yerkich), այգեպան (aykeban): how an occupation comes out of a deedThe name of a doer is built with a suffix, and there are four common ones. Once you know them, an unfamiliar word in…
- 📐Պանքէն, քեզմէ (k'ezme), անկէ (ange): the -է(ն) case and everything it can doThe ending -է(ն) marks a source: it answers "from where", "from whom" and "from what". You add it straight to the word…
- Մարդիկ (martig), կանայք, ժողովուրդ (zhoghovurt): plurals that break the rule📐Մարդիկ (martig), կանայք, ժողովուրդ (zhoghovurt): plurals that break the ruleThe general plural rule is simple: a one-syllable word takes -եր, a longer one -ներ. It covers almost every word, and…
- Կարդացած (gartatsadz) գիրք (kirk'), երգող աղջիկ (aghchig): a modifier instead of a clause📐Կարդացած (gartatsadz) գիրք (kirk'), երգող աղջիկ (aghchig): a modifier instead of a clauseYou can link a thought with որ (vor). But live text rarely does: it puts a participle before the noun, and a whole relative…
- Վազցնել, հագցնել, հասցնել (hastsnel): to make, to give and to bring to📐Վազցնել, հագցնել, հասցնել (hastsnel): to make, to give and to bring toAt the gym, many phrases are about one person making another act: the coach drills the team, a mother dresses her…
- Քսան (k'san), հարիւր (haryur), երկրորդ (yergrort), քառորդ (k'arrort): numbers beyond ten📐Քսան (k'san), հարիւր (haryur), երկրորդ (yergrort), քառորդ (k'arrort): numbers beyond tenNumbers past ten are assembled from the pieces of the first ten. For "two tickets" the first ten is enough; a shop or a…
- Բորբոքում (porpok'um), հետազոտութիւն, ցաւ (tsav): a noun made from a verb📐Բորբոքում (porpok'um), հետազոտութիւն, ցաւ (tsav): a noun made from a verbHalf of medical words are nouns made from verbs by one device: բորբոքիլ → բորբոքում (porpok'um) (inflammation). The suffix -ում…
- Թող (t'ogh) ըլլայ (əllay), Աստուած (asduadz) պահէ (bahe), ապրիս (abris): wishing is a verb form of its own📐Թող (t'ogh) ըլլայ (əllay), Աստուած (asduadz) պահէ (bahe), ապրիս (abris): wishing is a verb form of its ownWishes number in the dozens, and almost all use one verb form — the one after պէտք է (bedk' e) and որպէսզի (vorbeszi): the form without the…
- Ես (yes) եմ (em) ըսած (əsadz) and ես (yes) ըսած (əsadz) եմ (em): wherever եմ (em) stands, that is what is at issue📐Ես (yes) եմ (em) ըսած (əsadz) and ես (yes) ըսած (əsadz) եմ (em): wherever եմ (em) stands, that is what is at issueEnglish marks emphasis with stress and cleft sentences ("It was ME who said it"); here the grammar is stricter. The…
- Բան մը (pan mə), որեւէ (voreve), ցանկացած (tsangatsadz), ոչ ոք (voch vok'): somebody, anybody, any and nobody📐Բան մը (pan mə), որեւէ (voreve), ցանկացած (tsangatsadz), ոչ ոք (voch vok'): somebody, anybody, any and nobodyGeneralizing — "almost everyone", "as a rule" — rests on indefinite words: someone, anything, any, nobody. Each has its…
- Ժանգոտ (zhankod), փայլուն (p'aylun), օվալաձեւ (ovalatsev): how a quality is assembled📐Ժանգոտ (zhankod), փայլուն (p'aylun), օվալաձեւ (ovalatsev): how a quality is assembledMany adjectives for the properties of things need not be memorized: you can build them. A suffix turns a ready-made…
- Դրան (tran) միջով (michov), տան (dan) կողքով (goghk'ov): the relational word stands after the noun📐Դրան (tran) միջով (michov), տան (dan) կողքով (goghk'ov): the relational word stands after the nounIt looks like a list of prepositions, but there are almost none. The relational word stands AFTER the noun, and the…
- Կրկնակի (grgnagi), տասնեակ (dasneag), մէկուկէս (meguges): fractions and multiples📐Կրկնակի (grgnagi), տասնեակ (dasneag), մէկուկէս (meguges): fractions and multiplesThis is not about counting itself but about turning a number into "twice", "a group of ten" and "one and a half". Three…
- Վերսկսիլ (versgsil), դադարեցնել (tataretsnel), ձեռնամուխ ըլլալ (tserrnamukh əllal): a beginning, an end and "all over again"📐Վերսկսիլ (versgsil), դադարեցնել (tataretsnel), ձեռնամուխ ըլլալ (tserrnamukh əllal): a beginning, an end and "all over again""To stop", "to resume", "to set about" are phrases in many languages. Here they are single words, but transparently…
- Մտածողութիւն (mdadzoghut'yun), չափում (chap'um), դիտարկում (tidargum): a noun out of a verb📐Մտածողութիւն (mdadzoghut'yun), չափում (chap'um), դիտարկում (tidargum): a noun out of a verbMany abstract words are nouns made from verbs, built with two predictable suffixes. -ում — the action as a process or a…
- Ուրբաթին, աշնան (ashnan), օրերս (orers): the ending does the talking about time📐Ուրբաթին, աշնան (ashnan), օրերս (orers): the ending does the talking about timeIt looks like a list of adverbs, but there are almost none. "On Friday", "in autumn", "the other day" come from an…
- Սառցադաշտ (sarrtsatashd), հանքավայր (hank'avayr), կանաչապատում (ganachabadum): the -ա- seam in the middle of a word📐Սառցադաշտ (sarrtsatashd), հանքավայր (hank'avayr), կանաչապատում (ganachabadum): the -ա- seam in the middle of a wordAt first glance these are unpronounceable long words. In fact almost each one is two simple words stitched with one…
- Անհետացող տեսակ (anhedatsogh desag): the -ող form instead of an adjective📐Անհետացող տեսակ (anhedatsogh desag): the -ող form instead of an adjective"Endangered species" is անհետացող տեսակ (anhedatsogh desag), literally "disappearing species". The same -ող gives վերականգնուող (veraganknvogh) (renewable)…
- 📐Կ'արտադրուի, ստուգուեցաւ, փաթեթաւորուած: the workshop speaks with no doerFactory texts mostly say what was done to a thing, not who did it. That is not style but the nature of such a text: a…
- Ըսաւ (əsav), որ (vor)… ըսաւ (əsav), թէ (t'e)…: how to pass on other people's words📐Ըսաւ (əsav), որ (vor)… ըսաւ (əsav), թէ (t'e)…: how to pass on other people's wordsReported speech is a choice of conjunction and verb form. Որ (vor) introduces a statement. Ան բացատրեց (an patsadrets), որ (vor) գնացքը (knatsk'ə) յետաձգուած (hedatskuadz)…
- Ամաչկոտ (amachgod), ինքնասեր, եսասիրութիւն (yesasirut'yun): the name of a quality and its owner📐Ամաչկոտ (amachgod), ինքնասեր, եսասիրութիւն (yesasirut'yun): the name of a quality and its ownerThese words come in pairs: a trait and the person who has it. You can assemble half of them yourself. -ութիւն turns an…
What works differently from what you know
The Western Armenian present tense is built with the prefix կը-, read “gə”: կը (gə) խօսիմ (khosim) is “I speak”, literally “gə-khosim”. Eastern Armenian says the same with a different form — խոսում եմ (em), “khosum em” — and that prefix is one of the first marks by which the Western norm gives itself away.
Kevork B. Bardakjian & Robert W. Thomson, «Western Armenian for the Foreigner», 1988
What is hard about Western Armenian and what comes for free
Hard: a definite article glued to the end of the word, and the particle կը (gə) before the verb in the present: կը (gə) գրեմ (krem) — “I write”.
Easy: no grammatical gender, and almost every noun takes the same endings.
This is not a verdict on the language but a hint on where to spend effort. The hard parts are best taken a little at a time and often; the easy parts — left alone while they work by themselves.
Frequently asked
Is the grammar of Western Armenian complicated?
A definite article glued to the end of the word, and the particle կը (gə) before the verb in the present: կը (gə) գրեմ (krem) — “I write” is the main difficulty. In return, no grammatical gender, and almost every noun takes the same endings.
Should grammar be learned separately?
Not as a separate course. A rule learned before you need it is forgotten before you meet it. It is more useful to work it out at the moment you stumble over it.