LingoflyՃամպրուկը or ճամպրուկ: where -ը is needed
The article does not stand before the word — it is glued on at the back: -ը after a consonant, -ն after a vowel. ճամպրուկ (jambrug) → ճամպրուկը (jambrugə), but կատու (gadu) → կատուն (gadun), ափսէ (ap'se) → ափսէն (ap'sen). A third case: -ն after a consonant when the next word starts with a vowel — հացն է. Hence "it is my fault" is իմ մեղքն է (im meghk'n e). For example: “Ճամպրուկը (jambrugə) ծանր (dzanr) է” — The suitcase is heavy.
How it works
The article does not stand before the word — it is glued on at the back: -ը after a consonant, -ն after a vowel. ճամպրուկ (jambrug) → ճամպրուկը (jambrugə), but կատու (gadu) → կատուն (gadun), ափսէ (ap'se) → ափսէն (ap'sen). A third case: -ն after a consonant when the next word starts with a vowel — հացն է (hatsn e). Hence "it is my fault" is իմ մեղքն է (im meghk'n e).
It goes where English says "the": the thing is already named or known. Ճամպրուկը (jambrugə) ծանր (dzanr) է (jambrugə dzanr e) — the suitcase in front of us. It is also required after a demonstrative (այս (ays) գիրքը (kirk'ə) (ays kirk'ə)) and on a definite object (հացը (hatsə) կտրէ (gdre) (hatsə gdre) — cut the bread).
Now where it is absent. First, a noun as the predicate: Ես (yes) ուսուցիչ (usutsich) եմ (em) (yes usutsich em) — I am a teacher. Second, with the indefinite մը (mə): ափսէ (ap'se) մը (mə) բեր (per) (ap'se mə per) — any plate. Third, lists and signs: հաց (hats), պանիր (banir), միս (mis) (mis). Fourth, addressing someone: տղայ (dgha) ջան.
One more trap: the endings -ս (my) and -դ (your) take the same slot and push the article out: ճամպրուկս (jambrugs). One slot, one ending.
Table
| Case | How | In English |
|---|---|---|
| A known, named thing | ճամպրուկը (jambrugə) ծանր (dzanr) է | the suitcase is heavy |
| After a vowel | կատուն (gadun) քնացած (k'natsadz) է | the cat is asleep |
| Before the copula է | իմ մեղքն է (im meghk'n e) | it is my fault |
| Predicate — no article | ես (yes) ուսուցիչ (usutsich) եմ (em) | I am a teacher |
| With մը (mə) — no article | բաժակ (pazhag) մը (mə) ջուր (chur) | 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 to add the definite ending?
The article does not stand before the word — it is glued on at the back: -ը after a consonant, -ն after a vowel. ճամպրուկ (jambrug) → ճամպրուկը (jambrugə), but կատու (gadu) → կատուն (gadun), ափսէ (ap'se) → ափսէն (ap'sen). A third case: -ն after a consonant when the next word starts with a vowel — հացն է. Hence "it is my fault" is իմ մեղքն է (im meghk'n e).
Jambrugə or jambrug which is right?
It goes where English says "the": the thing is already named or known. Ճամպրուկը (jambrugə) ծանր (dzanr) է — the suitcase in front of us. It is also required after a demonstrative (այս (ays) գիրքը (kirk'ə)) and on a definite object (հացը (hatsə) կտրէ (gdre) — cut the bread).
Why does im meghn e end in n?
The article does not stand before the word — it is glued on at the back: -ը after a consonant, -ն after a vowel. ճամպրուկ (jambrug) → ճամպրուկը (jambrugə), but կատու (gadu) → կատուն (gadun), ափսէ (ap'se) → ափսէն (ap'sen). A third case: -ն after a consonant when the next word starts with a vowel — հացն է. Hence "it is my fault" is իմ մեղքն է (im meghk'n e).
Where the article is not used?
The article does not stand before the word — it is glued on at the back: -ը after a consonant, -ն after a vowel. ճամպրուկ (jambrug) → ճամպրուկը (jambrugə), but կատու (gadu) → կատուն (gadun), ափսէ (ap'se) → ափսէն (ap'sen). A third case: -ն after a consonant when the next word starts with a vowel — հացն է. Hence "it is my fault" is իմ մեղքն է (im meghk'n e).
Nouns with mə?
The article does not stand before the word — it is glued on at the back: -ը after a consonant, -ն after a vowel. ճամպրուկ (jambrug) → ճամպրուկը (jambrugə), but կատու (gadu) → կատուն (gadun), ափսէ (ap'se) → ափսէն (ap'sen). A third case: -ն after a consonant when the next word starts with a vowel — հացն է. Hence "it is my fault" is իմ մեղքն է (im meghk'n e).
The possessive s instead of the article?
It goes where English says "the": the thing is already named or known. Ճամպրուկը (jambrugə) ծանր (dzanr) է — the suitcase in front of us. It is also required after a demonstrative (այս (ays) գիրքը (kirk'ə)) and on a definite object (հացը (hatsə) կտրէ (gdre) — cut the bread).
What does it look like in a Western Armenian example sentence?
“Ճամպրուկը (jambrugə) ծանր (dzanr) է” (jambrugə dzanr 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.