LingoflyԱյս, այդ, այն: three "this" where you expect two
English splits the world in two: this — near, that — far. Here there are three, and not by distance: what decides is whose hands the thing is in. Այս (ays) — in mine. Այդ (ayt) — in yours: այդ (ayt) գիրքը (kirk'ə) — the book in your hands. Այն (ayn) — in neither of ours: a third person's, out the window, in another city. For example: “Ասիկա (asiga) իմ (im) հեռախօսս (herrakhoss) է, այդ (ayt) մէկը (megə)՝ քուկդ” — This is my phone, and that one is yours.
How it works
English splits the world in two: this — near, that — far. Here there are three, and not by distance: what decides is whose hands the thing is in. Այս (ays) — in mine. Այդ (ayt) — in yours: այդ (ayt) գիրքը (kirk'ə) (ayt kirk'ə) — the book in your hands. Այն (ayn) — in neither of ours: a third person's, out the window, in another city.
Each has two shapes. Before a noun you use the այ- (ay) form: այս (ays) սեղանը (seghanə) (ays seghanə), այդ (ayt) սեղանը (seghanə) (ayt seghanə), այն (ayn) սեղանը (seghanə) (ayn seghanə); the -ը after a demonstrative is obligatory. Standing alone, other words take over: ասիկա (asiga) — this (by me), ատիկա (adiga) — this (by you), անիկա or ան (an) — that one, also "he, she". Ասիկա (asiga) ի՞նչ (inch) է (asiga inch e) — what is this?
Places: հոս (hos) — here, հոդ — there by you, հոն (hon) — over there. Manner: այսպէս (aysbes) — like this, այդպէս (aytbes) — the way you said, այնպէս (aynbes) — that way. Այդպէս չեմ կարծեր (aytbes chem gardzer) — "I don't think so" — answers your words, so այս (ays) will not fit.
The main job of այդ (ayt) is to point at what was already said, not at an object in the room. Այդ (ayt) մասին (masin) խօսինք (khosink) վաղը (vaghə) (ayt masin khosink' vaghə) — let's talk about it tomorrow. Ատիկա (adiga) ճիշդ (jishd) չէ (che) (adiga jishd che) — that is not true.
Table
| Where the thing is | Before a noun | Alone | Place | Manner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| in my hands | այս (ays) գիրքը (kirk'ə) — this book | ասիկա (asiga) — this | հոս (hos) — here | այսպէս (aysbes) — like this |
| in your hands | այդ (ayt) գիրքը (kirk'ə) — this book of yours | ատիկա (adiga) — this | հոդ — there, by you | այդպէս (aytbes) — that way |
| far away, a third person | այն (ayn) գիրքը (kirk'ə) — that book | անիկա, ան (an) — that one, he | հոն (hon) — over there | այնպէս (aynbes) — so |
| about what was said | այդ (ayt) մասին (masin) — about it | ատիկա (adiga) — that | — | այդպէս (aytbes) — exactly so |
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
three "this" where you expect two: how does it work in Western Armenian?
English splits the world in two: this — near, that — far. Here there are three, and not by distance: what decides is whose hands the thing is in. Այս (ays) — in mine. Այդ (ayt) — in yours: այդ (ayt) գիրքը (kirk'ə) — the book in your hands. Այն (ayn) — in neither of ours: a third person's, out the window, in another city.
What does it look like in a Western Armenian example sentence?
“Ասիկա (asiga) իմ (im) հեռախօսս (herrakhoss) է, այդ (ayt) մէկը (megə)՝ քուկդ” (asiga im herrakhoss e, ayt megə k'ugt) — This is my phone, and that one is yours. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.