LingoflyNegation: չ + copula + the -եր/-իր/-ար form
The copula is negated with the prefix չ- and moves to the front: "I understand" is կը (gə) հասկնամ (hasgnam), "I don't understand" is չեմ հասկնար (chem hasgnar). For example: “Չեմ հասկնար” (chem hasgnar) — I don't understand. A rule from the Western Armenian course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.
How it works
The copula is negated with the prefix չ- and moves to the front: "I understand" is կը (gə) հասկնամ (hasgnam) (gə hasgnam), "I don't understand" is չեմ հասկնար (chem hasgnar).
The verb then takes a form in -եր, -իր (-ir) or -ար, depending on its conjugation: ուտել (udel) → չեմ (chem) ուտեր (uder) (chem uder), խօսիլ (khosil) → չեմ (chem) խօսիր (khosir) (chem khosir), հասկնալ (hasgnal) → չեմ հասկնար (chem hasgnar). In the third person the copula is չի (chi): Ան (an) չի աշխատիր (chi ashkhadir) (an chi ashkhadir).
The eastern standard uses a form in -ում here: "չեմ (chem) հասկանում". Same meaning, different form.
The easiest way to remember it is one phrase you will need on day one: Չեմ հասկնար (chem hasgnar).
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
Chem hasgnar meaning?
The copula is negated with the prefix չ- and moves to the front: "I understand" is կը (gə) հասկնամ (hasgnam), "I don't understand" is չեմ հասկնար (chem hasgnar).
How to say i dont understand?
The copula is negated with the prefix չ- and moves to the front: "I understand" is կը (gə) հասկնամ (hasgnam), "I don't understand" is չեմ հասկնար (chem hasgnar).
The negation prefix ch?
The copula is negated with the prefix չ- and moves to the front: "I understand" is կը (gə) հասկնամ (hasgnam), "I don't understand" is չեմ հասկնար (chem hasgnar).
Negation goes before the verb?
The copula is negated with the prefix չ- and moves to the front: "I understand" is կը (gə) հասկնամ (hasgnam), "I don't understand" is չեմ հասկնար (chem hasgnar).
What does it look like in a Western Armenian example sentence?
“Չեմ հասկնար” (chem hasgnar) — I don't understand. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.