Home and things in Western Armenian
192 words Western Armenian words on the topic “home and things”: Տուն — home, Կոտրուած — broken, Բնակարան — apartment, Սենեակ — room.
192 words on the topic
- ՏունdunhomeThe տ sounds like d: 'doon'. 'Home' needs no preposition:
կ'երթամ տուն— I'm going home; the word does the work that 'to' does in English - ԿոտրուածgodruadzbrokenFrom
կոտրել, to break. The -ուած ending builds a state: 'broken' — and it stays broken until someone fixes it - ԲնակարանpnagaranapartmentThe first word of every rental listing. Strictly it means 'dwelling', but this is the word people search housing by
- ՍենեակseneagroomSame root in
գրասենեակ, office — literally 'the paper room', where the papers live - ԽոհանոցkhohanotskitchenSame root in
խոհարար, cook — the person of the kitchen - ԼոգարանlokaranbathroomFrom
լոգանք, a bath. Its twinզուգարանmeans toilet — the two words look alike and everyone mixes them up at first - ՊատշգամբbadshkampbalconyThe bookish word; in conversation everyone just says the borrowed
բալկոն - ՀարկhargfloorOne word, two meanings: 'storey' and 'tax'. The context does the sorting —
երրորդ հարկcan only be the third floor - Վերելակverelagelevator
վերis 'up'. Signs sayվէրելակ, but in speech you will hear the borrowedլիֆտat least as often - ԱստիճաններasdijannerstairsThe plural of
աստիճան, a step: Armenian calls the staircase simply 'the steps' - ՍեղանseghantableYou have already met it inside
վաճառասեղան, the market counter — 'the selling table'. Now the plain word - Աթոռat'orrchairAlso 'throne': from a chair to a throne in one word. A small stool gets the diminutive
աթոռակ - Մահճակալmahjagalbedma-ja-GAL, with the stress on the last syllable — the ճ sounds like j as in 'jam'
- ՊահարանbaharanclosetFrom
պահել, to keep or store, plus the place-suffix -արան you know fromլոգարանandսրճարան: 'the keeping place' - Պատուհանbaduhanwindow
պատis 'wall': the window is simply 'the thing in the wall' - ԴուռturrdoorThe double ռ is a full trill — hold it. And watch the lookalike
դուն, 'you': one letter short of a door - ԲանալիpanalikeyFrom
բանալ, to open: a key is literally 'the opener'. The same verb opens windows and, in unit nine, contracts - ԼամպlamblampA loanword that reads exactly as spelled. The light bulb goes by the same word
- Տաք ջուրdak' churhot water
տաքcovers both 'warm' and 'hot' — Armenian gets by without the distinction English draws, and the context decides - Հոսանքhosank'electricityFrom
հոսել, to flow: electricity is 'the current' in the most literal sense.Հոսանքը կտրուած է— the power is cut - ԱղբaghptrashDo not confuse with
աղ, salt — one letter apart, and the kitchen consequences are different. The trash can isաղբաման - Մաքրութիւնmak'rut'yuncleaningFrom
մաքուր, clean. One word serves 'cleanness' and 'cleaning' alike; 'to tidy up' is said asտունը հաւաքել— to gather the house - Լուացքluatsk'laundryFrom
լուանալ, to wash. The same word names the laundry itself:լուացք ընել— to do the laundry, literally 'to make the wash' - Սպասքsbask'dishesWatch the lookalike
սպասիլ, to wait — nearly the same letters, nothing in common in meaning - ՍրբիչsrpichtowelFrom
սրբել, to wipe. The suffix -իչ builds the instrument: literally 'the wiper'. The same suffix returns inուսուցիչ, teacher - Օճառojarrsoapo-JARR, with a full trill on the final ռ — let the r rattle a beat longer than an English r
- ՀարեւանharevanneighborCovers the person next door and the neighboring country alike:
հարեւան երկիր— a neighboring country - Տան տէրdan derlandlord
տունin its possessive form givesտան, 'of the house', plusտէր, master: 'the master of the house'. This is what renting talk calls them - Վարձակալութիւնvartsagalut'yunrentThe root is
վարձ, payment.Վարձով առնել— to rent (take),վարձով տալ— to rent out (give) - ԳրավkravdepositWhat the landlord asks up front — usually one month's rent held as security
- Կոմունալ վճարgomunal vjarutility bill
վճարis 'payment',վճարել'to pay'. The opening word is a borrowing, but it stuck — this is the everyday term - ՎերանորոգումveranorokumrenovationWith
նոր, new, hiding inside: literally a 'renewal'. In casual speech the borrowedռեմոնտis common - Աղմկոտ էaghmgod eit's noisy
աղմուկis noise. There is no separate adverb: Armenian takes the adjectiveաղմկոտ, noisy, and adds the little verbէ— 'is' - Չ'աշխատիրch'ashkhadirit doesn't workThe same verb 'to work' used about people — machines and elevators included. The negation
չ-clamps onto the front of the verb - Կոտրուած էgodruadz eit's brokenPast with a result: it broke and it is still broken now — Armenian packs both into
կոտրուած է - Կը կաթէgə gat'eit leaksLiterally 'it drips'. Said about a faucet, a pipe and a ceiling alike
- Վարպետ կանչեքvarbed ganchek'call a repairman
վարպետis a master of the trade, a respectful word.Կանչեք, 'call', you already used with a taxi - Ե՞րբ պիտի գաքyerp bidi kak'when will you come?The future is built with
պիտի:պիտի գաք— you will come. Note the question mark ՞ sitting overե՞րբ, not at the end of the line - Չեմ կրնար բանալchem grnar panalI can't open it
կրնալis 'to be able', and the negation again rides in front:չեմ կրնար— I cannot. The pattern repeats all over the course - ԼոյսluyslightYou said it in
բարի լոյս, good morning — literally 'good light'. On the electricity bill the word isհոսանք, the current - Ջեռուցելcherrutselto heatthe ճ sounds like j as in 'jam' in one motion, and the ռ is a full trill: je-roo-TSEL
- ՍառնարանsarrnaranrefrigeratorFrom
սառը, cold, with the place-ending -արան you know fromսրճարանandպահարան: a 'cold place' - Տանիքdanik'rooffrom
տուն, house: the house-thing. A leaking roof isտանիքը կը կաթայ— the roof drips, the same verb as the faucet you know - Պատbadwallyou have known it all along from
պատուհան— the window is literally a hole in the wall. Now the wall itself - Ննջասենեակnnchaseneagbedroomtwo n's queue up at the start: nn-ja-se-NYAK
- Բակpagyardthe Yerevan yard is a world of its own:
բակին մէջ խաղալ— to play in the yard — is how childhood is measured - Առաստաղarrasdaghceilingthe room's top face, the partner of the wall and the floor. The double ռ at the start is a full roll
- Դարպասtarbasgatethe same word names the football goal: the goalkeeper is
դարպասապահ— the one who 'keeps the gate' - Ցանկապատtsangabadfence
ցանկis an enclosure,պատis the wall you have just met: a fence is a thin wall of the yard - Աւտոտնակavdodnaggarage
աւտոplusտնակ— a little house: literally a car house. Speech also says the borrowedգարաժ - Փոստարկղp'osdargghmailboxthe
փոստand theարկղyou know, melted into one word. An email inbox is aփոստարկղtoo - Նկուղngughbasementin Yerevan houses the
նկուղis where the winter stores live. An attic isձեղնահարկ - Սպասք լուանալsbask' luanalto wash the dishesthe
սպասքand theլուանալyou know, no article: dishes in general, not these three plates - Աւլելavlelto sweepthe broom is
աւել, of the same root. Careful —աւելիmeans more, one letter and a universe away - Լուացք ընելluatsk' ənelto do the laundryliterally 'to make the wash': Armenian builds many verbs out of a noun plus
ընել— the Western 'to do' - Արդուկելartugelto ironabout laundry only. To stroke a cat is
շոյել— an entirely different verb, luckily for the cat - Ընթրիք պատրաստելənt'rik' badrasdelto cook dinner
ընթրիքis dinner, the third meal after theնախաճաշand theճաշyou know. The cooking itself is the familiarպատրաստել, to prepare - Աղբը հանելaghpə hanelto take out the trashthe
աղբyou know plusհանել, to take out, to extract. The article onաղբըis obligatory: the trash is precisely ours, the household's - Փոշեկուլp'oshegulvacuum cleaner
փոշիis dust,կուլ տալis the swallow you know: literally a dust-swallower. The image is all in the name - Խոզանակkhozanagbrushfrom
խոզ, pig — the bristles: a brush is a pig-thing. The toothbrush isատամի խոզանակ - Դոյլtoylbucketshort and utilitarian. The rag that goes with it is
լաթ - Արդուկartugironthe noun to the
արդուկելyou met a lesson ago: the iron is named after the ironing - Օգնելoknelto helpyou know it from
Օգնեք, խնդրեմ. Whoever is helped takes the -ի tail:ինծի օգնիր— help me - Դուռը փակիրturrə p'agirclose the doorthe
դուռand theփակyou know from every shop door. The article onդուռըis obligatory: the door is the very one in front of you - Պատուհանը բացիրbaduhanə patsiropen the windowthe partner of closing the door:
բաց, open — the word the shop signs print — givesբացիր, open it - Ինձ տուրints durgive it to methe dative
ինծի— to me — plusտուր, give. At the table this is the most-sent phrase of all - Աւելի կամաց, խնդրեմaveli gamats, khntremquieter, please
կամացmeans quiet and slow at once:աւելի կամացasks both for less noise and for slower speech - Բնակարան վարձելpnagaran vartselto rent an apartmentThe apartment word you know, plus
վարձել— to take for a fee; the same root as the rent from the home unit. No article: the apartment is still any apartment - Բնակարան վարձով տալpnagaran vartsov dalto rent out an apartmentLiterally 'to give the apartment for a fee'. The mirror of
վարձել: the renter takes, the landlord gives. Easy to tangle — the whole difference is oneտալ - Վարձակալութեան պայմանագիրvartsagalut'ean baymanakirrental agreementThe lease
վարձակալութիւնand the contractպայմանագիր, both familiar. Note the shape ofվարձակալութեան: the modifier stands in front, in the possessive - Վարձավճարvartsavjarrent payment
վարձis a fee for use — it also pays for the taxi,տաքսու վարձ— andվճարa payment: two near-synonyms fused into one word - Վարձակալութեան ժամկետvartsagalut'ean zhamgedlease termThe same
ժամկետ, due date, that bills and deadlines carry. To extend it isժամկետը երկարացնել— to lengthen the term - Անշարժ գոյքի գործակալansharzh koyk'i kordzagalreal estate agent
ան-not,շարժmoving: real estate is 'immovable property'.Գործակալis an agent. Long, so in life people sayմակլերor justգործակալ - Բնակարանի դիտումpnagarani tidumapartment viewingFrom
դիտել, to look at, to inspect — here exactly 'an inspection'. The video wordտեսանիւթruns on a different root. Booking one:դիտում պայմանաւորուիլ - Կահաւորուած բնակարանgahavoruadz pnagaranfurnished apartmentFrom
կահոյք, furniture:կահաւորուածis 'furniture-equipped'. The empty one isդատարկ բնակարան. These two words rule the listings - Ներս տեղափոխուիլners deghap'okhuilto move in
ներսis inward — the word ofկարելի՞ է ներս մտնել, may I come in.Տեղափոխուիլis to change place:տեղa place,փոխa change - Դուրս տեղափոխուիլturs deghap'okhuilto move out
դուրսis outward, the partner ofներս. The sameդուրսas in the hospital discharge — 'written outwards' - Տեղափոխութիւնdeghap'okhut'yunmovingsix syllables, stress at the end: de-gha-p'o-khoo-TYOON
- Տեղափոխուիլdeghap'okhuilto moveThe verb of moving in and moving out, without saying where.
Տեղափոխելwithout -ու- moves something else:սեղանը տեղափոխեցի— I moved the table - Բեռնակիրperrnagirmoverthe double ռ is a full trill: berr-na-KEER
- Փաթեթաւորելp'at'et'avorelto packthree breathy փ-թ-թ in a row, each with its own puff: p'a-t'e-t'a-vo-REL
- Ապափաթեթաւորելabap'at'et'avorelto unpack
ապա-is the undo-prefix: packed → un-packed, built as transparently as English. Bookish and long; at home people just sayարկղերը բացիր— open the boxes - Նոր հասցէnor hastsenew addressThe address you know, from
հասնիլ, to arrive: an address is 'the thing one arrives at'.Հասցէն փոխեցի— I changed the address - Իրերուն փոխադրումirerun p'okhatrumtransporting the thingsThe things
իրերyou gather withիրերը հաւաքել, plusփոխադրում, a transport. Transport in general isփոխադրամիջոց— literally 'a means of moving across' - Տեղաւորուիլdeghavoruilto settle inFrom
տեղ, place: 'to find one's place'. About things the -ու- drops:իրերը տեղաւորեցի— I put the things in their places - Նոր տեղին ընտելանալnor deghin əndelanalto get used to a new place
ընտելանալis to get used to; what you get used to takes -ին. In speech people often sayսովորիլ նոր տեղին— with the same verb as studying - Կահոյքgahoyk'furnitureA collective word that takes no plural:
կահոյք գնեցինք— we bought furniture. A furniture store isկահոյքի խանութ - ԲազմոցpazmotssofaFrom
բազում, many: the place where many can fit. The fold-out kind isբացուող պազմոց— an opening sofa - Բազկաթոռpazgat'orrarmchairthe final ռ is a full trill: paz-ga-TORR
- ԴարակtaragshelfA shelf on the wall, a desk drawer and a closet shelf — one word for all. A bookshelf is
գիրքի դարակ - ԳորգkorkcarpetThe word an Armenian says with pride:
հայկական գորգ, an Armenian carpet. A small rug is stillգորգ - ՀայելիhayelimirrorInside hides
հայել, an old verb 'to look' — the same that givesհայացք, a gaze. No kinship withհայ, an Armenian — just a soundalike - ՎարագոյրvarakoyrcurtainOne word for the curtain in the room and the stage curtain in the theatre:
վարագոյրը բացուեցաւ— the curtain rose - Բարձpartspillowends in ձ, a voiced dz: PARdz — do not let the ր of the 'high' word sneak in
- ՎերմակvermagblanketFrom
վեր, up: the thing that goes on top. Its cover isվերմակի երես— the same 'face' construction as the pillow's - ՋահchahchandelierIts old meaning was a torch — hence the chandelier as 'a hanging fire'. The plain lamp under the ceiling stays
լամպ - ՆերկnergpaintPaint for walls and for hair alike. The same root as
նկար, a picture, andնկարել, to draw - Պատերը ներկելbaderə nergelto paint the wallsThe wall
պատyou know, pluralպատեր.Ներկելpaints — walls, hair and fences alike, one verb for all - Պաստառbasdarrwallpaperthe double ռ is a full trill, stress at the end: pas-TARR
- ՍալիկsaligtileThe diminutive of
սալ, a stone slab. Sidewalk tiles areսալիկtoo; a chocolate bar is a different beast,շոկոլատի սալիկ - Պտուտակահանbdudagahanscrewdriverfive syllables, stress on the end: bdu-da-ga-HAN
- ԳայլիկոնkayligondrillA wolf,
գայլ, hides inside: the tool that 'gnaws' the wall. Builders also sayդրել; the bit isգայլիկոնի ծայր— the drill's 'tip' - Խողովակkhoghovagpipethe ղ is the soft throat scrape: kho-gho-VAG
- Լամպը այրուած էlambə ayruadz ethe light bulb has burned outThe familiar
լամպplusայրուիլ, to burn — the same root as the burn,այրուածք. In Armenian the bulb genuinely 'burns' - Ջեռուցումcherrutsumheatingrolled double ռ, and the opening is 'ch' as in 'church', not j: cherr-oo-TSOOM
- Վերանորոգում ընելveranorokum ənelto do renovationsThe renovation word you own:
վերա-again,նորnew — 'a renewing'. A light, cosmetic one isթեթեւ վերանորոգում - ՀաշուիչhashuichmeterFrom
հաշուել, to count — the account root. The same word is a calculator, so it gets narrowed:ջուրի հաշուիչ,գազի հաշուիչ - Հաշուիչի ցուցմունքhashuichi tsutsmunk'meter reading
ցոյց տալis to show;ցուցմունքis a reading, an indication. The same root in the listցուցակand the schedule tail-ցուցակ - Ջուրի վճարchuri vjarwater billThe water
ջուրyou know, possessiveջուրի. Built like the utility bill:կոմունալ վճար - Հոսանքի վճարhosank'i vjarelectricity billThe electricity
հոսանքyou know — literally 'a flow', fromհոսել, to flow. The electrician is the borrowedէլեկտրիկ - Ջուրն անջատած ենchurn anchadadz enthe water was shut offThe switch-off verb
անջատելyou know.Անջատած են— 'they have switched it off': Armenian says the doer 'they' where English goes passive. The article is -ն because a vowel follows - Աղբամանaghpamantrash binThe trash
աղբyou know, plusաման, a vessel — the same vessel as inոտնաման, footwear: literally 'a foot vessel' - Մուտքmudk'building entranceThe basic sense is any entrance; a building's stairwell is one too:
երկրորդ մուտք— the second entrance. You know it fromմուտքանուն, the username — 'an entry name' - Դռնախոսtrrnakhosintercomrolled double ռ with no vowel in front of it: trr-na-KHOS
- Հարեւաններուն աղմուկharevannerun aghmugnoise from the neighborsThe neighbor
հարեւանand the noiseաղմուկ, whose adjective givesաղմկոտ է— it is noisy. Literally 'the noise of the neighbors' - Շենքի կանոններshenk'i ganonnerbuilding rules
շենքis the building, the apartment house;տունis your home.Կանոնis a rule — the same root asկանոնաւոր, regular - ՋեռոցcherrotsovenFrom
ջերմ, warm — the same root asջեռուցում, heating, from the base course. The stove top isգազօջախ; the oven is the cabinet beneath it - Միկրոալիքային վառարանmigroalik'ayin varraranmicrowave
ալիքis a wave andվառարանis a stove: a 'microwave stove', exactly what English says. In speech it shrinks toմիկրոալիքային, or simplyմիկրո - Քերիչk'erichgraterFrom
քերել, to grate. The -իչ tail builds the tool — the same one inանջատիչ, the switch, andլիցքաւորիչ, the charger, both waiting in the tech unit - Շերեփsherep'ladleEnds on փ, a p on a breath. Your
գդալ, spoon, is inside the picture: the ladle is simply the big spoon for soup - Կափարիչgap'arichlidFrom
կափել, to cover, with the same -իչ tool tail as the grater. The everyday command:կաթսայի կափարիչը փակիր— put the lid on the pot - Կտրատելու տախտակgdradelu dakhdagcutting boardThe verb
կտրել, to cut, stretched intoկտրատել, to cut up;տախտակis a board. The formկտրատելուsays what the board is FOR — Armenian hangs purpose right on the verb - ԳոգնոցkoknotsapronFrom
գոգ, the lap. The -ոց tail gathers things by their job — the same one you will see inջեռոց, the oven, andսփռոց, the tablecloth - Սփռոցsp'rrotstableclothtwo syllables, a p on a breath up front and a trilled rr inside: sp'-RROTS
- ԲլենդերplenterblenderA loanword with no local rival — say it as spelled. What happens inside is said with
հարել, to whisk, orմանրացնել, to mince - Սննդի տարաsnnti darafood container
սնունդis food (its possessiveսննդիdrops a vowel), andտարաis any container, jar or box — the word does not care what is stored in it - ՍանրsanrcombThe verb
սանրելis to comb, and the haircut isսանրուածք. Four letters, no vowel at the end — the word comes out in a single beat - ԱծելիadzelirazorFrom
ածիլել, to shave. Shaving oneself isածիլուել, and the beard is theմորուքyou know. The electric kind isէլեկտրական ածելի - ՇամպունshambunshampooAn international word, at home here. Armenian has no grammatical gender, so the word needs no agreement. Soap is nearby as
օճառ, and shower gel isցնցուղի գել - ՄկրատmgradscissorsArmenian keeps it singular where English insists on a pair:
մկրատը սուր է— the scissors is sharp. The root is the cuttingկտր-you know fromկտրել - ԱսեղaseghneedleEnds on the throat scrape ղ. The same word names a syringe needle:
ասեղ ընել— to give an injection. The eye of the needle isասեղի ականջ— its 'ear' - Թելt'elthreadStarts with the breathy թ — a t on an exhale, not the flat տ. The same word means wire and fishing line; the electric wire proper is
լար, later in this wave - Դեն գցելten ktselto throw away
դենmeans 'aside, away' andգցելis to throw — two words, inseparable, where English uses one. The destination is yourաղբաման, the trash can - Պահպանելbahbanelto keepA double root:
պահել, to hold, plusպանել, to guard. It works for jam in the cellar, a file in the phone and a tradition in the family - Լվացքի ինքնաշարժlvatsk'i ink'nasharzhwashing machine
լւացքis the laundry, fromլւանալ, to wash;ինքնաշարժis the car word doing 'machine' duty. In speech you will hearմեքենաtoo:լւացքի մեքենա - Սպասք լվացող ինքնաշարժsbask' lvatsogh ink'nasharzhdishwasher
սպասքis the dishes as one set — a single plate isափսէ. Theլւացողis 'the washing one', the -ող doer-tail you know fromշփվող, sociable - Սառցարանsarrtsaranfreezerfour syllables with a trilled rr up front: sarr-tsa-RAN
- Օդափոխիչotap'okhichfan
օդis air,փոխելis to change, and -իչ makes the tool: an 'air-changer'. The kitchen hood goes by the same word; the air conditioner isկոնդիցիոներ - ՋեռուցիչcherrutsichheaterFrom
ջեռուցում, heating, with the -իչ tool tail. Electric isէլեկտրական ջեռուցիչ; its gas-burning cousin on the wall is theվառարանyou met in the kitchen - Ֆենfenhair dryerThe letter ֆ is a rarity in Armenian and nearly always signals a borrowing — as in
ֆիլմ, film. The bookish name,մազերի չորացուցիչ, exists but nobody says it - Երկարացման լարyergaratsman larextension cord
երկարis long,երկարացումis a lengthening, andլարis a cord. In the shop the borrowedպիլոտwill be understood too — that is what power strips are called - Անջատիչanchadichlight switchFrom
անջատել, to switch off, with the -իչ tool tail. The same tail is in the grater, the charger and the fan: -իչ is Armenian's own '-er' for tools - ՊտուտակbdudagscrewFrom
պտտել, to twist. Yourպտուտակահան, screwdriver, is literally a 'screw-puller'. The nail next to it isմեխ— you hammer a nail, you twist a screw - Մանեկաբանալիmanegapanaliwrenchsix syllables, stress at the end: ma-ne-ka-ba-na-LEE
- Աքցանak'tsanpliersSingular in Armenian, like the scissors
մկրատ: paired tools are not doubled. The same word covers tongs and pincers - Մէկուսիչ ժապավենmegusich zhabavenelectrical tape
մէկուսիչis insulating, fromմէկուսացնել, to insulate;ժապաւենis tape — the same word was the film strip in an old cinema - ՍոսինձsosintsglueEnds on ձ, the buzzing dz. The verb next to it is
կպցնել, to glue on;սոսնձելexists too, but speech takes the first - Կպչուն ժապավենgbchun zhabavensticky tape
կպչունmeans sticky, fromկպչել, to stick;ժապաւենis the tape of the insulating kind too. In the shopսկոչ— scotch tape — works as well - ՊարանbaranropeThe clothesline is
լւացքի պարան. Keep it apart fromլար, the wire, andթել, the thread: aպարանis the thick one you tie things with - Կպցնելgbtsnelto glueFrom
կպչել, to stick; the -ցնել tail aims the action at something else, the same pair as heating oneself and heating something. To come unstuck isպոկուիլ - Պտուտակելbdudagelto screw inFrom
պտուտակ, the screw: to screw it in. To unscrew isարձակել, orպտուտակահանով հանել— to pull it out with the screwdriver. Twisting in general isպտտել - Չափելchap'elto measureFrom
չափ, a measure — the root ofչափս, the clothing size. You measure temperature, length and patience with the same verb - Սեփական ձեռքերով նորոգելsep'agan tserrk'erov norokelto fix with one's own hands
սեփականown,ձեռքերովby the hands, with the instrumental -ով. Shorter speech says justձեռքով նորոգել, andինքս եմ նորոգելmeans 'I fixed it myself' - Ցնցուղtsntsughshowertwo ց in a row inside one word: ցնց. The sound is a plain ts on a puff of air
- Զարթուցիչzart'utsichalarm clock
զարթնելis to wake up plus -իչ, the instrument suffix, the one fromսուլիչ, the whistle. To set the alarm isզարթուցիչ դնել - Ջերմաչափchermachap'thermometerboth չ and փ are breathy: the ch and the p each come out on an exhale
- ՏոստերdosdertoasterA loanword that reads exactly as spelled. The bread for it is
տոստի հաց, and lavash does not go into the toaster - Կարի ինքնաշարժgari ink'nasharzhsewing machine
կարելis to sew andկարis a stitch;կարիis its possessive: 'a machine of sewing'. The tailor isդերձակ - Հիմնատակhimnadaga foundation
հիմքbase +տակbottom: 'the under-base'. Plainհիմքmeans a basis in general, including of an argument - ՀարդարումhartarumfinishingFrom
հարդարել, to put in order, to adorn. The finishing of an apartment and the styling of hair alike - Իջեցնելichetsnelto lowerBuilt on
իջնելgo down + -ցն-: make go down. Prices drop the same way - Տեղաշարժելdeghasharzhelto move aside
Տեղplace +շարժելmove: to move off its place. A table, a meeting, anything with a place - Գցելktselto drop (by accident)Both 'drop' and 'throw'. Whether it was an accident, the context says — the word does not
- Գետնից առնելkednits arrnelto pick up off the floor
Գետինis the ground and the floor alike. From where — the -ից 'from' ending:գետնից. The verb is the short marketառնել, take - Կախելgakhelto hang up
Կախիչ, a hanger, is the same root. The thing hangs with no preposition anywhere - Դարակից առնելtaragits arrnelto take off the shelf
Դարակis a shelf. Armenian says simply 'take':դարակից առ— take from the shelf. The -ից ending does the 'off' - Ծալելdzalelto foldFold in two, bend:
ծալքis a fold. The same verb folds chairs and folds hands - Փռելp'rrelto spread outSpread over a surface — a map, a blanket, laundry on the line. The փ breathes: p'-rrel
- Փաթաթելp'at'at'elto wrapp'a-t'a-t'-EL: every փ and թ is a letter on an exhale
- Փաթեթը բացելp'at'et'ə patselto unwrapThere is no verb of unwrapping: the parcel is simply 'opened' —
բացել, the same verb that opens doors and accounts - Բացելpatselto openOpens doors, windows, accounts and meetings. The adjective
բաց, open, is its participle in everyday clothes - Փակելp'agelto close
Փակ— closed — is the word painted on every shop door, next to its partnerբաց. You know the pair from the store unit - Կողպելgoghbelto lock
Կողպեքis a lock. Closing and locking are as distinct in Armenian as in English:փակելshuts,կողպելlocks - Կողպեքը բացելgoghbek'ə patselto unlockNo verb of its own: the lock is simply 'opened' with the key —
բանալիով բացել. The key itself isբանալի, fromբանալ, to open - Լույսը վառելluysə varrelto switch on the light
Վառելis to kindle — light, fire, the stove. The light switches on the way a bonfire does - Լույսը հանգցնելluysə hanktsnelto switch off the light
Հանգցնելis to extinguish, the pair ofվառել. The same -ցն- that makes it happen: make the fire go out - Սեղմելseghmelto pressPress a button and press a hand —
ձեռքը սեղմելis a handshake. One press, two gestures - Բռնակը պտտելprrnagə bddelto turn the handle
Բռնակis a handle, fromբռնել, to hold: the thing you hold.պտտելis to spin — the door opens spinning - Թակելt'agelto knockExactly about doors. Knocking on a table in rhythm is another, onomatopoeic verb —
թխկթխկացնել— the word clatters as it says it - Զանգը տալzankə dalto ring the bell
Զանգis the doorbell and the phone call alike — you 'give' a bell, the way English 'gives' a ring. The same giving as inցույց տալ - ՇեմshemthresholdThe threshold of a door and 'on the eve' of a season:
ձմռան շեմին— on the threshold of winter. Time has thresholds too - Դռան բռնակtrran prrnagdoor handle
Դուռloses its vowel in the possessive:դռան— of the door.Բռնելis to hold: the handle is 'the holder' - Դռան կողպեքtrran goghbek'door lockThe same
կողպեքas the padlock in the shop. The possessiveդռանin front tells you whose - Դռան զանգtrran zankdoorbell
Զանգis the bell and the phone ring alike.Դռան զանգը չի աշխատիր— the doorbell does not work — is a neighbor's first sentence to you - Պատուհանագոգbaduhanakokwindowsill
Պատուհանwindow +գոգ, the hollow: the little shelf-niche at the bottom. The flower's favorite address - Վարագույրvarakuyrcurtain (at the window)One word for the kitchen curtain, the heavy drape and the theater curtain. The stage uses the same cloth
- Գիշերային լամպkisherayin lambnight lightThe tail -ային turns
գիշեր, night, into an adjective: 'of the night'. The child's room burns one all night - Լվացարանlvatsaransink
Լուանալto wash + the place-tail -արան, as inսրճարան, café: 'the washing place'. Dishes gather here - ՎաննաvannabathtubA borrowing — and a precise one:
լոգարանis the whole bathroom, the porcelain tub itself isվաննա - Զուգարանակոնքzukaranagonk'toilet bowl
Զուգարանtoilet +կոնք, basin: the bowl of the toilet. The word is a mouthful, the fixture is a fixture - Ճկափողjgap'oghhose
Ճկունflexible +փողtube: 'the flexible tube'. In speech the borrowedշլանգelbows it aside - ՀարեւանharevanneighboringThere is no separate adjective: the noun
հարեւան, neighbor, steps in front of another word and becomes the attribute —հարեւան սեղան, the neighboring table
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.
- Կ'երթամ տուն, հաջողg'ert'am dun, hachoghI'm going home, bye
- Աթոռը կոտրուած էat'orrə godruadz eThe chair is broken
- Կենտրոնի մէջ բնակարան կը փնտռեմgendroni mech pnagaran gə p'ndrremI am looking for an apartment in the center
- Բնակարանը երկու սենեակ ունիpnagaranə yergu seneag uniThe apartment has two rooms
- Մենք խոհանոցի մէջ ենքmenk' khohanotsi mech enk'We are in the kitchen
- Լոգարանի մէջ տաք ջուր չկայlokarani mech dak' chur chgayThere is no hot water in the bathroom
What is worth knowing about these words
Տուն (dun) — home. The տ sounds like d: 'doon'. 'Home' needs no preposition: կ'երթամ տուն — I'm going home; the word does the work that 'to' does in English
Կոտրուած (godruadz) — broken. From կոտրել, to break. The -ուած ending builds a state: 'broken' — and it stays broken until someone fixes it
Բնակարան (pnagaran) — apartment. The first word of every rental listing. Strictly it means 'dwelling', but this is the word people search housing by
Սենեակ (seneag) — room. Same root in գրասենեակ, office — literally 'the paper room', where the papers live
Test yourself
Recalling a spelling from meaning is harder than recognizing a familiar word — and therefore more useful.
- How do you say “home” in Western Armenian?
The տ sounds like d: 'doon'. 'Home' needs no preposition:
կ'երթամ տուն— I'm going home; the word does the work that 'to' does in English - How do you say “floor” in Western Armenian?
One word, two meanings: 'storey' and 'tax'. The context does the sorting —
երրորդ հարկcan only be the third floor - How do you say “window” in Western Armenian?
պատis 'wall': the window is simply 'the thing in the wall' - How do you say “cleaning” in Western Armenian?
From
մաքուր, clean. One word serves 'cleanness' and 'cleaning' alike; 'to tidy up' is said asտունը հաւաքել— to gather the house - How do you say “rent” in Western Armenian?
The root is
վարձ, payment.Վարձով առնել— to rent (take),վարձով տալ— to rent out (give)
How to learn the set instead of just reading it
Room, key, water, electricity. You will need them on your first day in a rented flat.
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 “home” in Western Armenian?
«Տուն», read “dun”. The տ sounds like d: 'doon'. 'Home' needs no preposition: կ'երթամ տուն — I'm going home; the word does the work that 'to' does in English. It is one of 192 words in the set “home and things” — the rest are in the table above.
How many household words do you need to start?
A dozen is enough. The set of 192 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.