Basic words in Western Armenian
304 words Western Armenian words on the topic “basic words”: Այո — yes, Ոչ — no, Հա — yeah, Լաւ — good.
304 words on the topic
- ԱյոayoyesThe neutral yes that fits anywhere, polite company included. Among your own people the shorter
հաcarries most of the load - ՈչvochnoOne word for 'no' and for 'nor':
ոչ ես, ոչ դուն— neither me nor you. The final ch is crisp, as in 'match' - ՀաhayeahThe casual yes — think 'yeah' or 'uh-huh'. In texting and among friends it shows up more often than the full
այո, but never offer it to an elder - ԼաւlavgoodOne word covers 'good' and 'well':
լաւ եմ— I'm well,լաւ մարդ— a good person. It also seals an agreement, the way 'fine, done' does in English - ՎատvadbadThe partner of
լաւand it behaves the same way:վատ եմ— I feel bad,վատ եղանակ— bad weather - Շատ լաւshad lavvery good
շատis 'very' and stands right before the word it boosts, exactly as in English: very good, very tasty, very big - ԿեսgeshalfAlso works like 'half-' in compounds:
կէս ժամ— half an hour,կէս կիլօ— half a kilo - Պետք չէbedk' cheI don't need itIn writing
պէտք չէ, in living speech almost alwaysպէտք չի. Softened further with a thank-you:պէտք չէ, շնորհակալութիւն - Մի հատ էլmi had elone more
հատmeans 'piece, unit' — the little counting word Armenian inserts almost everywhere:մի հատ սուրճ, one coffee. Here it carries 'another one' - Բաւական էpavagan ethat's enoughWhat you say when the seller keeps piling it on and the pile is big enough. Among friends the blunter
հերիք էdoes the same job - ԸնդամենըəntamenəonlyOpens with Ը, the fleeting 'uh' vowel Armenian uses to break up consonant clusters — barely a sound.
Ընդամենը հազար դրամ— just a thousand drams - Աւելի մեծaveli medzbiggerComparisons are built with
աւելի:մեծis big,աւելի մեծis bigger — no ending to bend. For 'more' in the sense of quantity it'sաւելի շատ - Աւելի փոքրaveli p'ok'rsmallerThe same recipe:
աւելի+փոքր, small. The quantity twin isաւելի քիչ— less - ԾանրdzanrheavySame root in
ծանրոց, a parcel. The opening ծ is a buzzing dz - Թեթեւt'et'evlight (weight)Two breathy թ's in a row: every t exhales — say t'et'ev and feel both puffs. Covers weight and effort alike — a light suitcase, a light task
- ՆորnornewAlso 'just now':
նոր եկայ— I've just arrived. One word covers the two jobs English splits between 'new' and 'just' - ՀինhinoldAbout things: an old city, an old house. An old person is
ծեր— calling a personհինmeans 'long-standing, from way back' - ԿոտրուածgodruadzbrokenFrom
կոտրել, to break. The -ուած ending builds a state: 'broken' — and it stays broken until someone fixes it - Ամեն ինչ կարգին էamen inch garkin eeverything is in order
կարգis order. This leans closer to 'all normal, nothing happened' than to 'good' - Ամեն ինչ լաւ էamen inch lav eeverything is fine
ամեն ինչis 'everything'. The answer toինչպէ՞ս եսfor the days when it really is - ՄարդmartpersonThe plural breaks the rules: not
մարդերbutմարդիկ— people. A plural worth memorizing on its own - ՏասնմէկdasnmegelevenEvery teen number is built the same way:
տասն(ten) plus the unit. Eleven is literally 'ten-one' — no list to memorize - Տասներկուdasnergutwelve
տասն+երկու. There is no special word for a dozen:տասներկու հատand that is that - Տասներեքdasnerek'thirteen
տասն+երեք. The final ք is a k on an exhale, exactly as inերեքalone - Տասնչորսdasnchorsfourteen
տասն+չորս. No vowel between the ն and the չ — the word runs in two beats: dasn-CHORS - Տասնհինգdasnhinkfifteen
տասն+հինգ. In speech the ն all but vanishes before the հ: you hear 'das-hing' - Տասնվեցdasnvetssixteen
տասն+վեց. Theվեցends on its sharp ts and keeps it in the compound unchanged - Տասնեօթdasneot'seventeen
տասն+եօթ: the classical spelling writes օ, the Eastern reformed one writes յոթ — the same seventeen in different letters. Say dasn-ayot' - Տասնութdasnut'eighteen
տասն+ութ. The ու is always one sound, 'oo' — a digraph, not two letters - ՏասնինըdasninənineteenThe only teen that ends in -ը: nine by itself is
ինը, and that ending survives. The rest of the row runs bare - Քսանk'santwentyIts own word, no relation to
տասը. From here on the numbers fuse:քսանմէկ— twenty-one,քսաներկու— twenty-two - ԵրեսունyeresunthirtyEvery ten from thirty to ninety ends in -սուն — an old shape of the word 'ten'. The head is just the number:
երեք→երեսուն - Քառասունk'arrasunfortyFour refuses the regular pattern: not
չորսունbutքառասուն, from an old stemքառ-. The same stem inքառակուսի, square - ՀիսունhisunfiftyFrom
հինգ, with the ն dropping out: hi + sun. It rhymes withհազար, thousand, only at the very start — do not let them meet - Վաթսունvat'sunsixtyFrom
վեց, but with a breathy թ inside: vat + sun. Six itself runs on ts, the sixty on t-h - Եօթանասունyeot'anasunseventyThe longest of the tens:
եօթ+անա+սուն, five syllables. The linker -անա- appears nowhere else in the row - Ութսունut'suneighty
ութ+սուն, with nothing inserted — the most transparent ten in the row - Իննսունinnsunninety
ինն+սուն, with a double ն at the seam: in-sun with a held n. Nine alone isինը; inside the ten it hardens toինն - ՀարիւրharyurhundredThe word where the row of tens stops. Two hundred is two words,
երկու հարիւր— no fused form to learn - ՀազարhazarthousandThe number of every market price: in drams, prices live in thousands.
Հինգ հազար դրամ— five thousand drams - ՄիլիոնmilionmillionA loanword with the stress on the last syllable: mi-li-ON. A billion is
միլիարդ, built the same way - ԶրոzrozeroA loanword, short, and with no vowel up front: z-ROH. In a game score it doubles:
զրո-զրո— nil-nil - ԱռաջինarrachinfirstOrdinals behave like adjectives: unchanging, placed before the noun. The first three are irregular; after that everything runs on -երորդ:
չորրորդ,հինգերորդ - ԵրկրորդyergrortsecondFrom
երկու, with the ու dropped: yerk + rord. The same word inերկրորդ հարկ— the second floor - ԵրրորդyerrortthirdFrom
երեք, with a trilled ռ at the seam. One letter apart fromերկրորդ, second — the most confused pair on the stairs - ՎէրջինverchinlastFrom
վէրջ, an end. The partner ofառաջին, first — both happen to end in -ին, though they are built differently - Քանի՞k'anihow manyAsks about countables:
քանի՞ հատ,քանի՞ մարդ. For uncountable amounts and prices the question isորքա՞նorինչքա՞ն. The ՞ sits over the last vowel of the question word - ԶոյգzoykpairTwo of a kind:
մի զոյգ կոշիկ— a pair of shoes. It works for two people too, including a married couple - Հատhadpiece (counter word)The counting word the market cannot do without:
երեք հատ— three pieces. It slips between the number and the thing, and English usually throws it away in translation - ՏոկոսdogospercentAbout discounts and bank rates alike:
տարեկան տոկոս— the annual rate. The sign % is read aloud asտոկոս - ԱմենameneveryStands before the noun and never changes:
ամեն օր,ամեն մարդ. Its partnerբոլորըmeans 'everyone' and replaces the noun —ամենcannot - Ո՞վvovwhoa word-initial ո usually reads 'vo' — որ, ոչ, որդի — but ո՞վ is the famous exception: plain 'ov', as at the start of 'oven'
- Ինչո՞ւinchuwhyBuilt from
ինչ, what. The answer comes withորովհետեւ— because. The question mark ՞ lives inside the word, between the ո and the ւ - Ինչի՞ համարinchi hamarwhat forThere is no single word: Armenians ask
ինչի՞ համար— literally 'for what', the possessiveինչիplusհամար, 'for'.Ինչո՞ւasks about the cause,ինչի՞ համարabout the purpose — though in speechինչո՞ւcovers both - Ինչպիսի՞inchbisiwhat kindthree syllables with the stress at the end: inch-bee-SEE
- Ո՞ւմumwhosethe ու is one 'oo' sound with the question mark ՞ floating inside the word: say 'oom', never 'voom'
- Ոչ ոքvoch vok'no oneTwo words: the familiar
ոչ, not, plus the ancientոք, which never appears alone. The verb stays negative too:ոչ ոք չկայ— literally 'no one is not'. The double negative is not optional in Armenian - Ինչ-որ բանinch-or pansomethingLiterally 'a certain thing':
ինչ-որis 'some',բանis 'a thing'.ինչ-որclings to other words too:ինչ-որ մէկը— someone,ինչ-որ տեղ— somewhere - Երկուսն էլyergusn elbothLiterally 'and the two':
երկուսը— 'the two of them', from theերկուyou know, plus the boosterէլ. About things it works the same, butէլhops onto the noun:երկու տունն էլ— both houses - ՉգիտեմchkidemI don't knowThe negation has grown onto the verb and spells as one word:
գիտեմ— I know,չգիտեմ— I don't know. The sameչ-as inչեմ հասկանար. It already flashed by inորքան գիտեմ— as far as I know - Տեսնելdesnelto seeThe same root as in
ցտեսութիւն, goodbye — literally 'until we see'. The past is irregular: notտեսեցիbutտեսայ— I saw - Լսելlselto hearno vowel between the լ and the ս — the word takes off in a single beat: L-sel
- Քնելk'nelto sleepthe ք is a k on an exhale and a consonant follows at once: k'-NEL, the first cluster in one go
- Տանելdanelto carryThe direction is built in:
տանելcarries from here to there,բերելcarries from there to here. English 'carry' splits in two, and the choice depends on where the speaker stands. Already met inտանելու համար— for taking out - Դնելtnelto putCovers 'put' standing and 'put' lying — Armenian does not care whether the thing stands or lies. Already inside
հաշիւին գումար դնել— to put money on the account - Կոտրելgodrelto breakThe familiar
կոտրուած է— it's broken — is this same verb with -ուած: it broke by itself, no culprit named.Կոտրելmeans someone broke it - Կառուցելgarrutselto buildthe ռ is a full trill, longer than the plain ր: ga-roo-TSEL with a rattled rr
- Շատshadmuch, manyOne word for 'much' and for 'very': before a noun —
շատ մարդ, many people; before an adjective — the familiarշատ լաւ, very good. Counted things stay singular:շատ գիրք - Քիչk'ichlittle, fewthe ք is a k on an exhale: k'-eech, rhyming with 'leech'
- Փափուկp'ap'ugsoftboth փ's are p on a breath: p'a-P'OOK, exhale on every p
- Կարծրgardzrhardthe word ends in two consonants with no vowel between them: GAR-dzr
- Թացt'atswetthe թ is a t with a puff and the ց a sharp ts: t'-ats
- ՉորchordryThe partner of
թաց. Henceչորնալ, to dry, andչիր, a dried fruit. Do not confuse with the numberչորս, four — one letter apart - ԲարակparagthinAbout things: thin fabric, thin ice. The opposite is
հաստ, thick. About people it is not said — for slim there isնիհար - ԽորըkhorədeepIn speech the dictionary form
խորalmost always carries the attached -ը, exactly like the familiarսառը, cold. Henceխորութիւն, depth. About water and about talk:խորը զրոյց— a deep conversation - ԿլորglorroundAbout shape: a round table, a round face.
Կլոր տարի— a round year, the full year. Like all Armenian adjectives it stands before the noun, unchanged - Ո՞ւրurwhere tojust 'oor' — the ու is one 'oo' sound with the question mark ՞ inside the word
- ԱմենուրamenureverywhereAssembled from the familiar
ամեն, every, andուր, where: 'in every place'. The same idea also goes by two words:ամեն տեղ - Ոչ մի տեղvoch mi deghnowhereNever one word:
ոչ մի— not a single,տեղ— place. The verb stays negative too. The phrase answers both 'where' and 'where to':ոչ մի տեղ չեմ երթար— I am not going anywhere - Ռիսկrrisgriskthe opening ռ is a full rolled rr, like the Spanish rr: RREESK
- Պահեստային պլանbahesdayin blanbackup planThe same
պահեստայինas inպահեստային անիւ, a spare tire: the language does not split a spare part from a spare idea. In conversation people often sayերկրորդ տարբերակ, a second option - Անախորժութիւնanakhorzhut'yuntrouble
ախորժis appetite — you know it fromբարի ախորժակ, enjoy your meal — andան-is the 'not-' prefix: the word is assembled exactly like English 'un-pleasantness'. It usually comes plural:անախորժութիւններ ունեցանք - ՊատճառbadjarrcauseIt lives in three ready-made turns, and those are what to memorize:
պատճառը ի՞նչն է— what is the cause,առանց պատճառի— without a reason,պատճառով— because of, set AFTER the word:անձրեւի պատճառով, because of the rain - Արդիւնքartyunk'resultThe result of work, the score of a match, and the lab result alike:
անալիզի արդիւնքները, test results. The turnարդիւնքին մէջmeans 'as a result' and opens the sentence - Անոր համարanor hamarthereforeLiterally 'for that'. It stands at the start of the second half, after the comma, and the word order behind it is ordinary:
Անձրեւ էր, անոր համար տաքսի վերցուցինք. The bookish synonymուստիlives in newspapers - ՈրովհետեւvorovhedevbecauseIt never opens the sentence: first the main clause, then the comma, then
որովհետեւ:Չեկայ, որովհետեւ հիւանդ էի. If the reason must come first, the language reaches forքանի որ:Քանի որ հիւանդ էի, չեկայ - Այդ պատճառովayt badjarrovbecause of thatThe shade differs from
անոր համար:համարis neutral,պատճառովalways carries annoyance — because of that, things went wrong. The position is the same: after the comma, before the verb - Կախուած ըլլալgakhuadz əllalto depend on
կախելis 'to hang': to depend is literally 'to be hanging'. On what — in the dative BEFORE the turn:եղանակէն է կախուած. The answer to half the questions in life isկախուած է— 'it depends' - Պատճառը բացատրիլbadjarrə patsadrilto explain the cause
բացատրիլis 'to explain', literally 'to open up' — fromբաց, open. To whom — in the dative:ինծի բացատրիր. The article -ը onպատճառis required: the cause is always a specific one - ՆպատակnbadagpurposePurpose as an intention, not a target — at the range you shoot at a
թիրախ. Ready turns:նպատակ ունիմ, I intend,նպատակով, with the aim of,այդ նպատակով, for that purpose - ԻմաստimasdmeaningTwo turns are the reason to learn it:
իմաստ չունի— it is pointless, andայս իմաստով— in this sense. A sage isիմաստուն, from the same nest - Եզրակացութիւնyezragatsut'yunconclusionThe opening ե reads 'ye', seven syllables: ye-zra-ga-tsu-T'YUN
- Հնարաւորութիւնhnaravorut'yunopportunityEight syllables, stress on the last: hna-ra-vo-ru-T'YUN
- Հնարաւոր էhnaravor eit is possibleTwo words that work as one opener: it stands first, and no comma follows —
Հնարաւոր է՝ վաղը գայ. The mark ՝ here plays the role of 'that'. As an answer, a bareհնարաւոր էdoes the job - Անհնար էanhnar eit is impossible
ան-plusհնար, a trick, a means: 'there is no means'. What is impossible follows in the infinitive:անհնար է հասկնալ. The softer variant isդժուար է, it is hard - Անհրաժեշտութիւնanhrazheshdut'yunnecessityNine syllables — the longest word of the theme: an-hra-zhesh-tu-T'YUN
- Անպայմանanbaymanwithout fail
ան-plusպայման, a condition: 'no conditions about it'. It stands before the verb:անպայման պիտի զանգեմ, I will call without fail. Watch the negation:անպայման չէmeans 'not necessarily', not 'definitely not' - Ստիպուած պիտի ըլլամsdibuadz bidi əllamI will have to
ստիպելis 'to force',ստիպուածis 'forced': literally 'I will be forced'. The person sits inըլլալ, so 'you will have to' isստիպուած պիտի ըլլաս. For the past:ստիպուած եղաւ, I had to - Թույլատրուածt'uyladruadzallowedFrom
թույլ տալ, to allow, with the same -ու- that marks the permitted. On signs it comes with է:Լուսանկարելը թույլատրուած է, photography is allowed. In conversation people usually sayկարելի է, it is OK - ԱրգելուածarkeluadzforbiddenFrom
արգելել, to forbid. Signs also use the verb formարգելուի, 'is forbidden' — the difference is the same as between 'forbidden' and 'prohibited'. The conversational 'no way' isչի կարելի - Ընտրութիւնəndrut'yunchoiceSingular — a choice; plural
ընտրութիւններ— already elections, the word from the state lesson. Turns:ընտրութիւն չունիմ, I have no choice,ընտրութիւն կատարել, to make a choice - ՏարբերակdarperagoptionFrom
տարբեր, different: an option is literally 'a different-one'. It also covers an answer option in a test and a software version. Ready uses:երկրորդ տարբերակը, plan B,լաւագոյն տարբերակը, the best option - ԿասկածgasgadzdoubtThe turns matter more than the word:
կասկած չկայ, no doubt,կասկածի տակ է, in doubt,առանց կասկածի, without a doubt. Henceկասկածեալ, the suspect, from the police lesson - Կասկածելgasgadzelto doubtDoubting a thing takes
մէջ:անոր մէջ կը կասկածեմ. Suspecting a person takes the same verb withվրայ:անոր վրայ կը կասկածեն— they suspect him. One word, two governments - ՎստահvsdahsureIt demands the linker:
վստահ եմ, I am sure,վստահ ես, you are sure. Sure of what — withմէջ:անոր մէջ վստահ եմ. The verbվստահել, to trust, grows from the same root — earlier in this wave - Դժուար թէtzhuar t'eunlikelyLiterally 'difficult that'. It stands first, and the verb after it drops
պիտի, taking the same form as afterպէտք է:Դժուար թէ գայ— unlikely he will come, notպիտի գայ. That is the main trap of the turn - ԵրեւիyereviprobablyThe most used hedge in the language. It stands anywhere — first, middle, last — and takes no commas:
Երեւի ուշանայ,Ուշանայ երեւի. The verb often dropsպիտիafter it, since there is no certainty - Հաստատhasdadfor sureThe exact opposite of
երեւի, on the same seats:Հաստատ պիտի գայ, he will come for sure. Careful: 'exactly, precisely' is a different word,ճիշտ:ճիշտ ժամը հինգին, at five o'clock sharp - Ինծի կը թուիindzi gə t'uiit seems to meThe order is rigid: first to whom, then
կը թուի. After it Armenians put not a comma but the mark ՝, and it plays the role of 'that':Ինծի կը թուի՝ սխալ ես. Withoutինծիnobody has said who is doing the seeming - Իրականութեան մէջiraganut'ean mechin factBuilt on
իրական, real: 'in reality'. It opens the sentence and almost always contradicts what was said before:Կ'ըսեն՝ թանկ է. իրականութեան մէջ էժան է - Ենթադրելyent'atrelto assume
ենթա-is 'under-',դնելis 'to put': to 'put under' — the very picture of the Latin behind English 'suppose'. The word is bookish; in talk the same thought isինծի կը թուի. The noun isենթադրութիւն - Վստահ չեմvsdah chemI am not sureThe negation sits not on
վստահbut on the linker:չեմinstead ofեմ. The other persons work the same —վստահ չէ,վստահ չենք. The polite refusal is built on this very phrase:Վստահ չեմ, ստուգեմ ու պիտի ասեմ - Փորձp'ortsexperienceOne word for three English ones: experience (
աշխատանքային փորձ), an attempt (մը փորձ ալ ըրա), and an experiment (քիմիական փորձ). The neighboring word tells them apart. The verbփորձելis 'to try, to try on' - Դէպքtebk'caseThe neutral word: a case, an instance. It lives in turns:
այդ դէպքին մէջ, in that case,ամեն դէպքին մէջ, in any case,դէպքի վայր, the scene of the incident. The newspaper-flavored trouble isպատահար - ՕրինակorinagexampleBoth an example in the notebook and a role model:
լաւ օրինակ ցոյց տալ, to set a good example. To give one:օրինակ բերել, literally 'to bring an example' - Օրինակի համարorinagi hamarfor exampleIt stands right before what it names, with a comma:
Օրինակի համար, Կիւմրին. In fast speech it shrinks to a bareօրինակ— and then it sounds just like the noun 'example'; only the comma and the seat tell them apart - Տարբերութիւնdarperut'yundifferenceTurns:
ի՞նչ տարբերութիւն— what difference does it make,տարբերութիւն չկայ, there is no difference,տարբերութիւնը այն է, որ…, the difference is that… Between what and what — withմիջեւ:անոնց միջեւ - Համեմատութիւնhamemadut'yuncomparisonFrom
համեմատել, to compare — the verb ofգները համեմատելfrom the advertising lesson. The ready formհամեմատած, compared, stands after what you compare with:անցեալ տարուայ հետ համեմատած - Տարբերիլdarperilto differFrom what — with
մէ:անորմէ կը տարբերի. Do not confuse withտարբերելwithout -ի-: that one means 'to tell apart', and there a person does the telling, not the thing - ՆմանnmansimilarSimilar to whom — dative, no preposition:
հօր նման է, he is like his father. Second job: 'such' —նման բան չեմ ասած, I never said any such thing. One word, two senses; the form of the neighbor tells them apart - Նմանութիւնnmanut'yunsimilarityThe partner of
տարբերութիւն:նմանութիւններ եւ տարբերութիւններ, similarities and differences. Between whom — withմիջեւ. The word is written-flavored; in talk people sayնման են, they are alike - Փոփոխութիւնp'op'okhut'yunmodificationTwo փ in a row, each with a strong puff: p'o-p'o-khu-T'YUN
- Առաջին հերթինarrachin hert'infirst of all
հերթis 'queue': literally 'in the first queue'. It stands at the very start, comma after, ordinary order behind it:Առաջին հերթին, գինը թանկ է— and է, as always, drifts to the end. Its pair isերկրորդ հերթին - Երկրորդ հերթինyergrort hert'insecondlyThe second step of the same list, the same seat at the start, comma after. The count goes on —
երրորդ հերթին,չորրորդ հերթին— but in living speech after the second point people switch toբացի այդ, besides - Նախ եւ առաջnakh yev arrachabove allLiterally 'first and forward'. It opens the sentence, comma after. The difference from
առաջին հերթինis weight: հերթին opens a list, whileնախ եւ առաջsingles out the main thing and owes no list - Բացի այդpatsi aytbesides
բացիis 'except, besides', and it demands the demonstrativeայդafter it. It opens the sentence, comma after. Careful:բացի քեզմէ, except you, is already a preposition with the -է 'from' ending — and no comma - Ի դէպi tebby the wayWritten as two words, with ի standing apart. It opens the remark, comma after; mid-sentence Armenian does not put it, unlike English 'by the way'. The same turn changes the subject in conversation
- Ընդհանուր առմամբənthanur arrmampon the whole
ընդհանուրis 'general',առնելis 'to take': 'taking it in general'. Sentence-initial, comma after; it sums up what was said. The filler 'in general' mid-speech is NOT this — there people sayէլիor nothing - Կարճ ասածgarj asadzin short
կարճis 'short',ասածis 'said': literally 'short-said', so the word order runs opposite to English — first 'short', then 'having said'. Start of the sentence, comma after - Այլ կերպ ասածayl gerb asadzin other words
այլis 'other',կերպis 'manner': 'in another manner said'. Assembled likeկարճ ասածand standing in the same seat — first, with a comma. It re-says the previous phrase, so the same thought follows in a new wrapping - Գլխաւորըklkhavorəthe main thingFour consonants in a row at the start, no vowel between them: gl-kha-vo-RE
- Ի վերջոյi verchoyin the endWritten as two words. It stands first but usually takes no comma — the turn has grown onto the phrase:
Ի վերջոյ համաձայնեցաւ. It means both 'eventually' and 'in the end, finally!' with a sigh — intonation decides - Թէեւt'eevalthoughThe opening թ is a t on an exhale, and եւ reads 'ev': t'-EEV
- Փոխարենըp'okharenəin returnFrom
փոխարեն, instead, plus the article -ը. It stands at the start of the second part, after the comma, and brings compensation: there was a minus, in return there is a plus.Թանկ էր, փոխարենը լաւն է - Ընդհակառակըənthagarragəon the contrarySix syllables, the ռ a full trill: ənd-ha-ka-rra-KƏ
- ՉնայածchnayadzdespiteLiterally 'not looking'. With a noun it takes the dative:
չնայած անձրեւին, despite the rain. With a full thought addոր:չնայած որ ուշ էր. It stands at the start of its part, comma between the parts - ՍակայնsagaynhoweverThe bookish sibling of the conversational
բայց. The seats differ: բայց stands only between the parts, whileսակայնcan open the sentence or wedge into the middle with commas —Ան, սակայն, չեկաւ - Մի կողմէնmi goghmenon the one hand
կողմis 'side', -էն the 'from' ending. It opens the first half of the pair and demands the second —միւս կողմէն. Sentence-initial, comma after. A lone half feels to an Armenian ear like a broken phrase - Միւս կողմէնmyus goghmenon the other handThe second half of the pair. It opens a new sentence or a new part after the comma:
Մի կողմէն, թանկ է. միւս կողմէն, որակեալ է.Միւսis 'the other of two' — 'some other entirely' would beուրիշ - ԱյնուամենայնիվaynuamenaynivneverthelessSeven syllables, stress on the last: ay-nu-a-me-nay-NIV
- Անոր փոխարէնanor p'okhareninsteadThe same
փոխարենas inփոխարենը, but with no article and a pronoun in front — and the sense shifts: not compensation but substitution. It stands at the start of the second part, after the comma. 'Instead of you' isքեզ փոխարէն, dative in front - Միեւնոյն էmievnoyn eit's all the sameLiterally 'it is one and the same', and the linker է is part of the turn — it cannot be dropped. Two uses: indifference (
Ինծի միեւնոյն է, it is all the same to me) and stubbornness at the start of a part (Միեւնոյն է, պիտի երթամ) - Պատահաբարbadahaparby chanceFrom
պատահիլ, to happen — the root ofպատահար, incident, earlier in this wave. Before the verb:պատահաբար հանդիպեցանք. The polite 'you wouldn't happen to know?' builds differently:պատահաբար չ'գիտէ՞ք - ՅատուկyadugspeciallyAs an adverb, before the verb:
յատուկ քեզ համար բերեցի, I brought it specially for you. Unchanged, the same word says 'special':յատուկ դէպք, a special case. Only the seat — before a verb or before a noun — tells them apart. Classical spelling starts with յ, Eastern with հ - Անհաջողութիւնanhachoghut'yunfailureThe not- prefix
ան-on the familiarհաջողութիւն, success. Half of the negative nouns are assembled this way:անհարմար,անվճար,անտարբեր - Քայլ առ քայլk'ayl arr k'aylstep by step
առis an old preposition 'to, by' that survives in these chains:մէկ առ մէկ, one by one,տառ առ տառ, letter by letter. A step isքայլ, on an exhaling k - Գործողութիւնների հերթականութիւնkordzoghut'yunneri hert'aganut'yunorder of operationsEleven syllables across two words, stress on the last of each: gor-tso-ghu-t'yun-ne-RI, her-t'a-ka-nu-T'YUN
- Մանրամասնmanramasnin detail
մանրfine, small,մասpart: 'in small parts'. One word works as adverb, adjective and noun:մանրամասները, the details - Քո բառերովk'o parrerovin your own wordsEnglish says 'own'; Armenian says it plainly as 'your':
քո բառերով. About yourself:իմ բառերով; about him:իր բառերով. There is no single 'own' for all persons - Պարզ ասածbarz asadzsimply put
պարզclear, simple,ասածsaid: 'simply said'. Cut from the same cloth:ճիշտն ասած, truth be told,կարճ ասած, in short - Օրինակ բերorinag pergive an exampleAn example is not 'given' but 'brought':
բերել, to bring. Politely:օրինակ բերեք. The wordօրինակalso means 'for example' - Ցույց տուր, թե ինչպէս է արվումtsuyts dur, t'e inchbes e arvumshow me how it is doneAn indirect question takes the particle
թե: notինչպէսalone butթե ինչպէս.Արվում էis 'is done', a -վ- form with no doer named - Հասկանալի՞ էhasganali eis that clear?From
հասկանալwith the tail -ելի/-ալի, 'able to be understood'. The ՞ sits inside the word, over the stressed vowel, not at the end of the sentence - Հիմա հասկանալի էhima hasganali enow it is clearThe same word without the question mark — and it is already the answer.
Հիմաmeans now. Shorter and livelier: justհասկացա, got it - Շփոթվեցիshp'ot'vetsiI got confusedThree syllables, both փ and թ on a breath: shp'ot'-ve-TSI
- Հիշելhishelto rememberOne word for 'remember' and 'recall':
կը հիշեմI remember,հիշեցիI recalled — the form changes, the root does not. Intensify with a prefix:վերհիշել, to recollect - Մոռանալmorranalto forgetA rolled ռ in the middle. Forgetful is
մոռացկոտ; the forget-me-not isանմոռուկ, literally the 'unforgettable'. The past isմոռացա - Մտադրութիւնmdatrut'yunintentionFive syllables, the first without a vowel: mta-dru-T'YUN
- Մտափոխվելmdap'okhvelto change one's mind
միտք→ մտ- plusփոխվել, to change: literally 'to have one's thought changed'. Also said descriptively:մտքս փոխեցի, I changed my thought - Ամեն ինչ ըստ ծրագրիamen inch əsd dzrakrieverything is going to plan
ըստmeans according to — one of the few true prepositions that stands before the word. The word after it takes the possessive:ըստ ծրագրի - Եթե ստացվիyet'e sdatsviif it works out
եթեis if, and the verb after it takes the form for wishes and doubts, without կ-:ստացվի, notկստացվի. This is the seam everyone trips on - Դեռ չեմ որոշելterr chem voroshelI haven't decided yet
դեռmeans still, yet; with a negation it becomes the English 'not yet'.Որոշելis to decide — henceորոշում, a decision - Ամեն ինչ փոխվեցamen inch p'okhvetseverything changed
փոխելchange something,փոխվելwith -վ- change by oneself, shift.Ամեն ինչis everything, and the verb stays singular, as in English - Դեպի լաւըtebi lavəfor the better
դեպիmeans toward — a true preposition standing before the word.Լաւըis 'the good' with the definite tail -ը: the adjective became a noun - Դեպի վատըtebi vadəfor the worseThe partner of
դեպի լաւը, assembled exactly the same way. No comparative is needed:լաւըandվատըalready stand opposed - Պատկանելbadganelto belongThe owner stands in the dative:
ինծի է պատկանում— it belongs to me. The word is bookish; in life people mostly sayիմն է— 'it is mine' - Ուրիշիurishisomeone else'sLiterally 'of another': the possessive of
ուրիշ, other. The wordօտարis also rendered 'foreign', but about things strange and unfamiliar, not things owned by another - ԸնդհանուրənthanurcommonOne word for both a shared yard and a total sum. The phrase
ընդհանուր առմամբ, 'in general', is already familiar from an earlier wave - Հրելhrelto pushOn doors you will read
հրե՛լ, push, andքաշել, pull — the two verbs of this lesson meet every day - Քաշելk'ashelto pullThe word works wider than English 'pull':
քաշելalso means to weigh,քանի՞ կիլօ ես քաշում, and to drag on a cigarette - Հարվածելharvadzelto hitWhom or what you hit stands in the dative:
գնդակին հարուածել— to hit the ball. The blow itself isհարուած - Մետրmedrmeter (unit of length)On price tags the abbreviation is
մ. Do not confuse withմետրո, the metro — a different word with the stress on the last syllable - ՍանտիմետրsandimedrcentimeterThe hundredth part of a meter, the same prefix as in
սանտիմ, a coin. Clothes are measured inսանտիմետր, not in sizes - ԿիլոմետրgilomedrkilometerRoad signs say
կմ. Speed isկիլոմետր ժամում, literally 'a kilometer in an hour' - ԼիտրlidrliterHalf a liter is
կէս լիտր, one and a half isմէկուկես լիտր. The word does not change after a number:հինգ լիտր, neverլիտրեր - ԳրամkramgramThe kilogram is
կիլոկրամ, in speech justկիլօ. A hundred grams at the market is asked for asհարիւր գրամ - Քաշk'ashweightthe ք is a k on an exhale: the air leaves in a puff, as in English 'kite'
- Երկարութիւնyergarut'yunlength
երկարis long and -ութիւն turns the quality into a noun. The next three words of the lesson are built the same way - Լայնութիւնlaynut'yunwidth
լայնis wide. The same word works figuratively:լայն սիրտ— a big heart, a generous soul - Բարձրութիւնpartsrut'yunaltitude
բարձրis high. But a person's height is measured by another word,հասակ:հասակս մէկ ութսուն է - Խորութիւնkhorut'yundepththe խ is a harsh breath from the throat, as in German 'Bach' — the soft English h will not do here
- ՄոտավորապեսmodavorabesapproximatelyFrom
մօտ, near: the same word before a number means 'about'.Մօտաւորապէսis the bookish, precise one — that is how reports are written - ՀամարյաhamaryanearlyThe colloquial one; its bookish twin is
գրեթէ.Համարեայ ոչինչ— nearly nothing, and the verb with it stays negative - Ճիշտjishdexactlythe ճ is a plain tch without a puff; its partner չ comes out with an exhale, and in a word this short the difference is audible
- Միջին հաշվովmichin hashvovon average
միջինis middle andհաշիւis an account: 'by the middle account'. The average number itself isմիջին թիւ - Երկու անգամyergu ankamtwice as muchLiterally 'two times', and the same phrase means 'twice'. 'Twice as big' is
երկու անգամ աւելի, 'twice as small' isերկու անգամ քիչ - Թվանշանt'vanshandigit
թիւis a number andնշանis a sign: a digit is the sign of a number. English 'figure' covers both; Armenian keeps them apart - Քառորդk'arrortquarterthe ք is a breathy k and the ռ a full trill — two hard sounds in one short word
- Կշռելgshrrelto weighthe ռ is a full trill with the tip of the tongue, longer than the plain ր
- ԱվելորդavelortextraFrom
աւելի, more.Աւելորդ էmeans 'there is no need, it is pointless':աւելորդ է բացատրել— no use explaining - ԴատարկtadargemptyTo empty is
դատարկել, and about a person the same word means hollow, worthless. 'On an empty stomach' isդատարկ ստամոքսին - Խուսափելkhusap'elto avoidWhat you avoid takes the -ից case:
քաղցրից խուսափել. English hands the job to 'from'; Armenian marks it on the word itself - Փաստp'asdfactHence
փաստաթուղթ, a document — literally 'a paper of fact' — andփաստաբան, a lawyer - ՀարցhartsquestionThe same word covers a question as a problem:
այս հարցը լուծենք— let us settle this matter. To ask isհարց տալ, literally 'to give a question' - ԿարեւորgarevorimportantImportance is
կարեւորութիւն, and 'it does not matter' isկարեւոր չէ. 'The most important' isամենակարեւորը, with the ամենա- head - ԴրականtraganpositiveFrom
դնել, to put. It serves the test result and the character alike:դրական պատասխան,դրական մարդ. The plus sign isգումարած - ԲացասականpatsasagannegativeThe verb is
բացասել, to deny. The minus sign isհանած, and negation in grammar isժխտում - Համեմատածhamemadadzcompared toThe verb is
համեմատել, to compare. The thing you compare with comes first withհետ:անցեալ տարուայ հետ համեմատած - Նույնպիսիnuynbisithe same kind
նուինis the same plus -պիսի, '-like'. Beside it liveայսպիսի, this kind, andայնպիսի, that kind - Առավելութիւնarravelut'yunadvantageFrom
առաւել, more. In sport the same word means a lead:մէկ գնդակի առաւելութիւն— a one-ball lead - Թերութիւնt'erut'yundrawback
թերիis incomplete, unfinished. The drawback as a shortage is another word,պակաս - Հետեւանքներhedevank'nerconsequencesFrom
հետեւել, to follow: a consequence is what follows behind. One piece isհետեւանք, and 'therefore' isհետեւաբար - Հաշվի առնելhashvi arrnelto take into account
հաշիւis an account: literally 'to take into the account'.հաշւի առնելով— taking into account, a ready-made opener for a sentence - Ամենայն հաւանականությամբamenayn havanaganut'yampmost likely
ամենայնis 'every, all' in its bookish form, and the -ամբ ending is that same 'by means of'. Long, but that is what is written; in speech people say justերեւի - Անկասկածangasgadzwithout a doubt
կասկածis a doubt plus ան-, 'without'. The colloquialհաստատ, for sure, does the same job - Հավանականութիւնhavanaganut'yunprobability
հաւանականis probable andհաւանաբարis probably. One family, three words - Ենթադրութիւնyent'atrut'yunassumptionThe verb is
ենթադրել, literally 'to put under' — ենթ- is 'under'. The same ենթ- inենթակայ, the subordinate - Կարծես թեgardzes t'eit seems that
կարծելis to suppose, andթէadds 'as if'. The bareկարծեսis the simile 'as if' and lives in another lesson - Պիտի որbidi vormust be
պիտիon its own marks obligation and the future; butպիտի որwith a verb without կ- is a guess, not a duty - Չի կրնար ըլլալchi grnar əllalit cannot beThe negation չ- sits on
կրնար, not onըլլալ. As an exclamation people also sayչի կրնար պատահել— it cannot have happened - Գոնեkoneat leastOne short word where English needs two or three.
Գոնէ մէկ անգամ— at least once; in a request it softens:գոնէ զանգիր— at least give me a call - Ամեն դեպքումamen tebk'umin any case
դէպքis a case, an occurrence, and -ում is the 'in a place' ending. This is the wrap-up: 'whatever happened' - Ամեն դեպքի համարamen tebk'i hamarjust in caseDiffers from the neighbor by one ending, and the meaning changes:
ամեն դէպքումis the wrap-up,ամեն դէպքի համարis the precaution — literally 'for every case' - Եթե միայնyet'e miaynif onlyArmenian has no separate 'if only': the unreality is carried by the verb form,
եթէ իմանայի.Եթէ միայնadds the longing: 'if only I had known sooner' - Պայմանով որbaymanov voron condition that
պայմանis a condition and -ով is 'by': literally 'by the condition that'. The verb after it goes without կ- - Նույնիսկ եթեnuynisg yet'eeven if
նուինիսկis 'even', built fromնուին, the same. Here the condition is reinforced: not just 'if' but 'even if' - Այդ դեպքումayt tebk'umin that case
այդpoints to the thing just mentioned — neitherայս, this here, norայն, that over there: the phrase answers what was just said - Այլապեսaylabesotherwise
այլis other. In speech people swap it forթէ չէ:շտապիր, թէ չէ կուշանանք— hurry, or we will be late - Այն ժամանակayn zhamanagat that timeThis 'then' is about time: 'in those days'. The 'then' after 'if' is another word,
ապա:եթէ կ'ուզես, ապա ըրա - Որպեսզիvorbesziin order toIn speech it shrinks to a plain
որ. The verb after it goes without կ-:որպէսզի հասցնեմ, notկհասցնեմ - Կարծեսgardzesas ifthe ծ here is a plain ts without a puff, and the stress falls on the last syllable
- Փոխանակp'okhanaginstead of
փոխելis to change. The verb after it takes the -ու form:փոխանակ վիճելու. 'Instead of' with a noun isփոխարէն - Հիմնականումhimnaganummainly
հիմքis a foundation andհիմնականis basic. The phrase answers 'on the whole how?' and usually opens the sentence - Որպես կանոնvorbes ganonas a rule
որպէսis 'in the capacity of', as:որպէս մասնագետ— as a specialist. Here the phrase introduces the usual order of things - Համարյա բոլորըhamarya polorəalmost everyone
բոլորըis 'all' about people you can count;ամբողջis 'the whole' about one thing. Here it must beբոլորը - Բացառութիւնpatsarrut'yunexceptionThe verb is
բացառել, to exclude, fromբացի, except. 'With the exception of' isբացառութեամբ, with that 'by means of' ending - Եվ այլնyev aylnand so on
այլis other andայլնis 'and others'. At the start of a sentence the conjunction is spelledԵվ, inside a line it fuses intoեւ— one and the same word - Ի տարբերութիւնi darperut'yununlike
տարբերis different. The prefix ի is a leftover of the old language that survives only in such phrases, and the word after it stands in the possessive - Բացիpatsiexcept forIt demands the -ից case:
բացի ինծմէ,բացի դրանից. The word stands before the noun, but it is the noun's case that does the work - Լրիվ չէlriv chenot quite
լրիւis full, complete. A soft way not to agree:այդպես չէ, 'it is not so', sounds harsher - Քիչ թե շատk'ich t'e shadmore or lessLiterally 'little or much' — Armenian lines the words up in the reverse order. Here
թէmeans 'or' - Դժվարությամբtzhvarut'yampwith difficulty
դժուարis hard plus the -ութեամբ 'by means of' ending: one word where English needs two.հազիւ, barely, is even stronger - Արժե փորձելarzhe p'ortselit is worth trying
արժէis 'it costs, it is worth' — the same root as 'how much does it cost'. The negativeչարժէis the polite answer to 'thank you': do not mention it - Պետք էրbedk' ershould have
պէտք էin the past. The verb after it goes without կ-:պէտք էր ասէիր. This is a reproach, not a report - Ամենալաւըamenalavəbest of allամենա- is 'the most', and its bookish twin is
լաւագույնը. Here it is not about the best thing but advice: 'it would be best to…' - Ամենավատըamenavadəworst of allThe partner of
ամենալաւը. The bookish variant isվատագույնը, but in speech it sounds heavy - Հնարավորինս արագhnaravorins arakas soon as possible
հնարաւորis possible and -ինս means 'as ... as possible'. The same recipe givesհնարաւորինս շուտ— as early as possible - Իզուրizurto no avail
իզուր տեղը— completely to no avail, the reinforced version. Do not confuse withանւճար, free of charge: this is about wasted effort, not about price - Հաղթահարելhaght'aharelto copethe ղ and the թ stand together: a voiced throat scrape immediately followed by a t on an exhale
- Փորձp'ortsattemptThe same word means 'experience'. What is meant shows in the counting:
առաջին փորձis a first attempt,մեծ փորձis great experience - Այսինքնaysink'nthat isit ends in -նքն: two n's around a breathy k, with no vowel between them
- Պարզվեցbarzvetsit turned out
պարզis clear, andպարզուելis to become clear. What follows isոր:պարզուեց, որ… - Արդիւնքումartyunk'umas a result
արդիւնքis a result and -ում is the 'in a place' ending. 'As a result of that' isդրա արդիւնքում - Հանգեցնում էhanketsnum eleads to
հանգելis to come to rest in, and the -ցն- suffix turns it into 'to lead'. What it leads to takes the dative:սխալների - Շնորհիվshnorhivthanks to
շնորհis a gift, a grace — the root ofշնորհակալութիւն, thank you. It stands AFTER the word, and the word is in the possessive:ձեր օգնութեան շնորհիւ - Առաջին անգամիցarrachin ankamitson the first tryThe -ից case: 'from the first time'. Without the ending
առաջին անգամsimply means 'for the first time' - Երկու հարիւրyergu haryurtwo hundredThe hundred does not fuse with the number: written and heard as two words —
երկու+հարիւր. The stress lands on the last syllable of each: yer-GU har-yoor - Երեք հարիւրyerek' haryurthree hundred
երեքstays whole here — unlike in the day of the weekերեքշաբթի, Tuesday, where the same numeral got clipped - Չորս հարիւրchors haryurfour hundred
չորսkeeps its full shape. In the ordinal 'fourth', by contrast, it breaks down toչոր-— that word gets a card of its own below - Հինգ հարիւրhink haryurfive hundredThe most used coin in Armenia is the five-hundred-dram piece, and in conversation it goes by the pet name
հինգ հարիւրանոց - Վեց հարիւրvets haryursix hundred
վեցends in a sharp ts andհարիւրbegins with an h — at the seam you hear a short puff of air; the words refuse to melt together - Յոթ հարիւրyot' haryurseven hundred
յոթis written with the breathy թ, and the puff survives inside the hundred: yot'-har-yoor - Ութ հարիւրut' haryureight hundred
ութis a tiny word of two sounds, easy to swallow in a stream of speech. Counting aloud, stretch theութa beat longer - Ինը հարիւրinə haryurnine hundredBefore
հարիւրthe nine stands in its full formինը, not the clippedին. The same holds inինը հազար— nine thousand - ՉորրորդchorrortfourthOrdinals take the ending -երորդ, but four drops out of the row: from
չորսonlyչոր-survives, and-րորդglues onto it - ՀինգերորդhinkerortfifthFrom here on the rule runs smooth: the whole numeral plus -երորդ.
հինգ+երորդ— the word assembles itself - Վեցերորդvetserortsixth
վեց+երորդ. The stress rolls all the way to the end of the word: vet-ser-ORD - Յոթերորդyot'erortseventh
յոթ+երորդ. The breath on the թ does not go away inside the long word either - Ութերորդut'erorteighth
ութ+երորդ. Do not mix up withութսուն, eighty — that one wears a different tail - Իններորդinnerortninth
ինըloses its final ը and doubles the ն:ինն+երորդ. To the ear it is one long held n - Տասներորդdasnerorttenth
տասըputs on theտասն-shape before the ending, exactly as it does inտասնմէկ, eleven - Հարիւրերորդharyurerorthundredth
հարիւր+երորդ, by the general rule. A long word, but assembled from two pieces you already own - ԿամgamorDoubled, it makes 'either... or':
կամ թէյ, կամ սուրճ— either tea, or coffee - ԷլelalsoStands after the word it agrees with:
ես էլ— me too. The equal-meaningնուենպէսis longer and dressier - ՄիայնmiaynmerelyHides
մի, one, inside: 'just the one'. The everydayընդամենըleans more toward 'no more than' - ԱրդենartenalreadyIn the negative the sense shifts:
արդէն չէis 'it is no longer there', not 'not yet'. Not yet isդեռ չէ - ԴեռterrstillAbout continuation:
դեռ կայ— still there. For 'one more' Armenian reaches forեւս մէկ— the two senses English packs into 'still' split apart here - Չափազանցchap'azantsexcessivelyFrom
չափ, a measure: literally 'beyond measure'. Plainշատis just 'very' — this word is the alarm bell - ՄիասինmiasintogetherFrom
մի, one: 'into one'. The bookish twinհամատեղexists but rarely leaves the page - Չի կարելիchi garelinot allowed
կարելի էis 'it is possible'; the negationչիin front slams the door. On signs you will read the formalարգիլուած է— it is forbidden - Պետք էbedk' eone mustNo person inside, no change of form. To whom — the dative:
ինծի պէտք է— I need to, literally 'to me it is necessary' - Կյանքgyank'life
Կեանքս— 'my life' — is a common term of endearment. In the street you will hear it as a caress more often than as a topic - Ուզենալuzenalto wantIn the present it shrinks to
կ'ուզեմ. Want to do something — the infinitive follows bare:կ'ուզեմ գնալ - Կարողանալgaroghanalto be ableIn the present the short form
կրնամrules the speech — the fullկարողանամsounds formal - ԲառparrwordThe word of the dictionary.
խօսքis speech — the word as talk and as promise — and Armenian keeps the two apart - ԳործkordzmatterYou have met it in
գործընկեր, colleague — literally 'a comrade in work'. The plain word means both 'work' and 'matter' - Ձեւtsevway (method)The same word means 'form, shape' — you know it from
լրացուցել ձեւը, fill in the form.այս ձեւով— in this way - ՀեշտheshdeasyAdverb and adjective in one:
հեշտ է— it is easy,հեշտ հարց— an easy question. Its oppositeդժուարfollows two cards down - Դժվարtzhvarwith effortThe partner of
հեշտ. With a tail it becomesդժուարութեամբ— with difficulty, the longer form you met in the grammar wave - Որvorso thatThe bookish full form is
որպեսզի; speech almost always shortens it toոր. The verb after it takes the form for wishes and doubts, and the comma before it is not optional - Եթեyet'eif
Եթե ստացվի— if it works out;նույնիսկ եթե— even if. The opening ե sounds 'ye'. The condition comes first, the main clause after the comma - Քանի դեռk'ani terrwhilstTwo words:
քանի, how much, plusդեռ, still — for as long as still. Do not confuse with the farewell 'bye', which is another word entirely - Քանի որk'ani vorsinceThe same
քանիbut withոր: a cause both sides already accept. The plain 'because' isորովհետեւ - Միայն թեmiayn t'eas long as
Միայնis only,թեis 'that, whether'; together they spell a wish at any price. The verb after takes the wish form:չգա, notչի գա - Այնպես որaynbes vorand so
Այնպեսis 'in that way' plusոր. It introduces the conclusion, not the cause — the cause getsքանի որ - ՄիջեւmichevbetweenIt stands after the things it separates, and both nouns take the possessive:
տան եւ դպրոցի միջեւ. The rootմիջ-is the middle — the same as in the corridor,միջանցք - ՄոտmodbyAs a word of its own it means near. As a helper it stands after its noun in the possessive:
տան մօտ— by the house, at the house's near - Փոխարենp'okharenin place of
Դրա փոխարեն— in place of this. It follows its noun in the possessive:իմ փոխարեն, in place of me. The root isփոխել, to change - Դեմtemagainst
Դեմ ըլլալis to be against. As a helper it follows its noun in the dative:պատերազմի դեմ— against the war. The face isդեմք, same root plus a ք - ԱռանցarrantswithoutThe only helper word that stands before its noun — a true preposition. The noun still takes the possessive:
առանց շաքարի, without sugar,առանց մսի, without meat - ՀամարhamarforIt follows its noun in the possessive:
քեզ համար, for you,երեխաների համար, for the children.Ինչի համար— for what, why. The same word counts house numbers; position tells them apart - ՄասինmasinaboutIt follows its noun in the possessive:
ֆիլմի մասին— about the film. Inside the word isմաս, a part: talk about a part of something - ՀետոhedoafterwardsStanding alone it is the adverb 'afterwards, then' — the
հետոyou know. After a noun with the -ից 'from' ending it works as after:դասից հետո - Ընթացքումənt'atsk'umduring
Այդ ընթացքում— in the meantime. After a noun in the possessive it becomes during:դասի ընթացքում, during the lesson. The opening ը is barely a sound - Պատճառովbadjarrovbecause of
Պատճառis the cause.Դրա պատճառով— because of this: the noun stands in the possessive and the cause-word takes the instrumental - ՇուրջshurcharoundIt follows its noun in the possessive:
տան շուրջ, around the house. The same root built the frame,շրջանակ, and the district,շրջան; in speech it usually carries the article:շուրջը - Վրայովvrayovacross
Վրա, on, plus the instrumental: over the top of. After its noun in the possessive:կամրջի վրայով— across the bridge. For time, 'in an hour' is built differently:մէկ ժամից - Ներսիցnersitsfrom insideThree forms of one root:
ներս— in,ներսում— inside,ներսից— from inside. Only the tail separates them - Մոտակայքումmodagayk'umnearby
Մոտ, near, plus-ակայք, the neighborhood, plus the -ում location ending: in the near surroundings. The superlative neighbor isմօտակայ, the nearest - Որտեղիցvordeghitswhere from
Որտեղ, where, plus the -ից 'from' ending.Ո՞ւրasks where to. The question mark ՞ goes over the last syllable:որտեղի՞ց. The opening ո reads 'vo' - ՇատshadveryThe same word counts and intensifies:
շատis much, many — andշատ լաւis very good.Շատ շնորհակալ եմ— thank you very much - Օգնութիւնoknut'yunhelpThe noun from
օգնել, to help.Օգնության կանչել— to call for help - ԵվyevandInside a phrase it is written as the single ligature
եւ; there is no capital for it, so at the start of a line it unfolds intoԵվ. In speech the same job is done by the casualու - ԲայցpaytsbutIt opens the second part rather than standing between words.
Սակայնsays the same thing bookishly and is almost never heard
How it sounds in a sentence
A word list is a blank. Conversation is made of sentences, and these are the ones the words fit into most often.
- Այո, հայերէն կը խօսիմayo, hayeren gə khosimYes, I speak Armenian
- Ոչ, շնորհակալութիւն, բաւական էvoch, shnorhagalut'yun, pavagan eNo, thank you, that's enough
- Հա, գիտեմ, արդէն ասացիրha, kidem, arten asatsirYeah, I know, you already said it
- Շնորհակալութիւն, լաւ եմshnorhagalut'yun, lav emThank you, I'm well
- Երէկ վատ էի զգարyereg vad ei zkarYesterday I felt bad
- Շատ լաւ, պայմանաւորուեցանքshad lav, baymanavoruetsank'Very good, it's a deal
What is worth knowing about these words
Այո (ayo) — yes. The neutral yes that fits anywhere, polite company included. Among your own people the shorter հա carries most of the load
Ոչ (voch) — no. One word for 'no' and for 'nor': ոչ ես, ոչ դուն — neither me nor you. The final ch is crisp, as in 'match'
Հա (ha) — yeah. The casual yes — think 'yeah' or 'uh-huh'. In texting and among friends it shows up more often than the full այո, but never offer it to an elder
Լաւ (lav) — good. One word covers 'good' and 'well': լաւ եմ — I'm well, լաւ մարդ — a good person. It also seals an agreement, the way 'fine, done' does in English
Test yourself
Recalling a spelling from meaning is harder than recognizing a familiar word — and therefore more useful.
- How do you say “yes” in Western Armenian?
The neutral yes that fits anywhere, polite company included. Among your own people the shorter
հաcarries most of the load - How do you say “I don't need it” in Western Armenian?
In writing
պէտք չէ, in living speech almost alwaysպէտք չի. Softened further with a thank-you:պէտք չէ, շնորհակալութիւն - How do you say “light (weight)” in Western Armenian?
Two breathy թ's in a row: every t exhales — say t'et'ev and feel both puffs. Covers weight and effort alike — a light suitcase, a light task
- How do you say “eleven” in Western Armenian?
Every teen number is built the same way:
տասն(ten) plus the unit. Eleven is literally 'ten-one' — no list to memorize - How do you say “eighteen” in Western Armenian?
տասն+ութ. The ու is always one sound, 'oo' — a digraph, not two letters
How to learn the set instead of just reading it
Yes, no, good, bad, very. The small change of a language — and no sentence assembles without it.
A list is read in a minute and forgotten in a day. What works: hide the translation, try to recall, get it wrong — and come back to the same words tomorrow.
- Recalling beats re-reading. Covering the translation and trying to remember it does more than reading it ten more times.checked many timesAdesope, Trevisan & Sundararajan, 2017, Review of Educational Research 87(3) · 188 experiments, 272 comparisons. g = 0.61; against plain re-reading 0.51, against passive review 0.93.
- This holds not only in experiments but in ordinary classrooms, with real students.checked many timesMawson & Kang, 2025, Behavioral Sciences 15(6):771 · 22 studies, d = 0.54 (confidence interval 0.31–0.77). The authors warn that individual studies disagree widely.
Frequently asked
How do you say “yes” in Western Armenian?
«Այո», read “ayo”. The neutral yes that fits anywhere, polite company included. Among your own people the shorter հա carries most of the load. It is one of 304 words in the set “basic words” — the rest are in the table above.
How many basic words do you need to start?
A dozen is enough. The set of 304 words on this page covers nearly every everyday case on the topic — but it is best taken a few at a time, not all at once.