Food and drink in Western Armenian
172 words Western Armenian words on the topic “food and drink”: Սուրճ — coffee, Թեյ — tea, Ջուր — water, Հաց — bread.
172 words on the topic
- ՍուրճsurjcoffeeOne drink-verb serves everything:
սուրճ խմել,թեյ խմել,ջուր խմել— drink coffee, tea, water. Order it withմէկ(one) in any café of the diaspora - Թեյt'eyteaWritten with թ — a t with a puff of air. Spelled with տ instead, it would come out 'day'. Say t'-EY and you are drinking tea
- ՋուրchurwaterThe ջ sounds like ch as in 'church': choor, never 'joor'. Hence
ջրվէժ, a waterfall — water + to plunge - ՀացhatsbreadAlso means food in general:
հաց ուտել— to eat, literally 'to eat bread'. Bread stands in for the whole meal - ՊանիրbanircheeseThe պ sounds like b in the West: ba-NEER. Anyone who studied the Eastern standard first knows this letter as p — a quick way to tell which norm you are hearing
- ՄիսmismeatDo not confuse with
միշտ, 'always' — one letter apart. In the adjective the vowel slips out:մսային, 'of meat' - ՁուկtsugfishThe ձ sounds like ts as in 'cats': tsug, not 'dzug'. Hence
ձկնորս, fisherman — the ու slips out in the compound - ՄրգերmrkerfruitThe plural of
միրգ, one fruit: the vowel i drops out and -եր takes its place. գ sounds like g: MER-ger - ԽնձորkhntsorappleThree consonants in a row, խ-ն-ձ: a little ə sneaks in between them, so say khən-TSOR. The ձ is ts, as in 'cats'
- ՊոմիտորbomidortomatoThe Western word, borrowed from Italian: bo-mi-DOR. The Eastern standard uses a different word entirely,
լոլիկ— one vegetable, two norms - ԱղցանaghtsansaladFrom
աղ, salt: literally 'the salted thing'. Same root inաղի, salty - ԱպուրabursoupThe պ sounds like b: a-BOOR, stress at the end. No separate word for broth — just
միսի ապուր, meat soup - ԱղaghsaltTwo sounds, one busy root:
աղցան— salad,աղի— salty,աղանդեր— dessert. The ղ is a throaty gh, deep in the mouth - ՀամեղhameghtastyFrom
համ, taste. Same root inհամային, 'to do with flavor', and inհամերգ— a concert, literally a 'co-taste' - Քաղցրk'aghtsrsweetՔ is k with a puff of air and ղ is the throaty gh: k'-AGH-tsr. The opposite pole to
դառը, bitter - ՃաշարանjasharanrestaurantBuilt from
ճաշ, a meal, +արան, a place: literally 'the meal hall'. The ճ sounds like j as in 'jam': ja-sha-RAN - ՍրճարանsrjarancaféSame architecture as
ճաշարան:սուրճ(coffee) +արան(place) — the coffee hall. The word tells you what is served - Ուտելudelto eatDo not mix with
կայ, 'there is' — eating and existing are different verbs here, just as in English. The տ sounds like d: oo-DEL' - Խմելkhmelto drinkThe խ is a throaty kh — like the ch of Scottish 'loch', not the ch of 'church'. One verb covers water, tea and wine
- Թարմt'armfreshStarts with the breathy թ, a t on an exhale. The key word of every market:
թարմ հաց, fresh bread,թարմ ձուկ, fresh fish - ՀասածhasadzripeFrom
հասնիլ, to arrive or to ripen: a ripe fruit is literally one that has 'arrived'. The -ած ending marks a finished state — you will see it again - Նախաճաշnakhajashbreakfast
նախis 'before',ճաշis 'meal': literally 'the before-meal'. To eat breakfast, one verb:նախաճաշել - Ճաշjashlunchthe ճ sounds like j as in 'jam': 'jash'
- Ընթրիքənt'rik'dinnerthe opening ը is barely audible: the word comes out n'-TRIK', with a puff of air on the k at the end
- Ծամելdzamelto chewOpens with the same sharp ծ as
ծերունիandծուխ. Chewing gum is the borrowedմաստակ - Կուլ տալgul dalto swallowTwo words:
կուլmeans nothing on its own and only lives next toտալ, to give — 'to give a swallow'. In fast speech the single verbկլլելdoes the same job - ԱխորժակakhorzhagappetiteAt the table you will hear
Բարի ախորժակ— literally 'good appetite', the wish that opens every shared meal - ԿտորgdorpieceFrom
կտրել, to cut — the same root asկտրոն, the receipt.Կտորalso means a cut of cloth - Հոտhodsmell
համis taste,հոտis smell — two tiny words everyone swaps at first.Հոտ կ'գայ— it smells - ԿարագgarakbutterButter, the dairy kind. Vegetable oil is
ձէթ, andիւղis fat in general - ԿարտոֆիլgardofilpotatoA loanword that came by way of Russian. At the market you will also hear
գետնախնձոր— literally an 'earth apple' - ԱլիւրalyurflourFlour-based food, baking, is
ալիւրեղեն - ՄեղրmeghrhoneyA bee is
մեղու— one root. Mountain honey isլեռնային մեղր - Ընկոյզəngoyznutsthe opening Ը is a fleeting 'uh' grunt: ən-GOYZ
- ՍոխsokhonionGreen onion is
կանաչ սոխ; garlic isսխտոր— a different word - ԳազարkazarcarrotDo not confuse with
գազ, gas. The stress is on the last syllable: ka-ZAR - Պղպեղbghbeghpeppertwo ղ letters, both the throaty gh: bgh-BEGH
- ԼոբիlopibeansBean soup —
լոպով ապուր— is a winter classic of the Armenian table - Համեմունքhamemunk'spicesFrom
համ, taste: spices are 'the things that give taste'. Separately,համեմis thyme - Պատրաստելbadrasdelto prepareTo prepare in the broad sense — food, lessons, documents. Ready is
պատրաստ - Լուանալluanalto washOne root with
լուացք, the laundry. To wash the dishes isսպասք լուանալ - ԴանակtanagknifeScissors have their own separate word,
մգրատ - Եփելyep'elto boilTo cook in water. In conversation the same verb says 'to cook':
ի՞նչ կը եփես - Տապակելdabagelto fryThe bookish word for a frying pan is
տապակ, and the verb comes from it. Fried isտապակած - Թխելt'khelto bakeAbout bread and pies. Baked goods are
թխուածք, cookies areթխուածքաբլիթ - Կտրելgdrelto cutThe same root as
կտրոն, the receipt 'cut off' the roll. To cut small isմանր կտրել - Կաթսաgat'sapotThe same word names the boiler of a house heating system
- Թաւայt'avayfrying panThe թ is a t on an exhale. The bookish word for the pan is
տապակ— the source of the verbտապակել - Գազօջախkazochakhstove
գազis gas andօջախa hearth. On its own,օջախalso means the family home - Ափսեap'seplateIt opens with the same
ափyou know from the shore and the palm of the hand — a way to remember it. A deep plate isխորը ափսե - Գաւաթkavat'cupA cup with a handle and a trophy are one word. The little coffee cup is
սուրճի պաժակ - ԲաժակpazhagglassA glass, a tumbler and a wineglass.
Բաժակս կը բարձրացնեմ— I raise my glass, the start of any toast - ԳդալktalspoonA teaspoon is
թէյի գդալ, a tablespoonճաշի գդալ - Պատառաքաղbadarrak'aghforkfive syllables with a double rr in the middle: ba-tar-ra-KAGH
- ՇիշshishbottleOne of the shortest words at the table.
Մի շիշ գինի— a bottle of wine - Անձեռոցիկantserrotsignapkin
ձեռք, the hand, hides inside: literally 'for the hands'. Paper or cloth — one word - Թէյնիկt'eynigkettleBuilt on the familiar
թէյ, tea. The electric kind isելեկտրական թէյնիկ - ՍկուտեղsgudeghtrayAn old and handsome word; in a café you may also hear the borrowed
պոդնոս, but the native one is nicer - Տաքdak'hotYou know it from
տաք ջուր. About food it is 'hot', about weather 'warm'; sweltering heat isշոգ - ՍառըsarrəcoldAbout things and food. About the weather they say
ցուրտ:ցուրտ է— it is cold outside - Քաղցածk'aghtsadzhungryDo not confuse with
քաղցր, sweet: one letter, and hunger turns into sugar - ՀամhamtasteThe familiar
համեղ, tasty, grows from it.Համ չունի— it has no taste - ԱղիaghisaltyFrom
աղ, salt — the very first kitchen word of the course. Over-salted isշատ աղի է - Թթուt't'usoura long breathy t: t'-t'u — two puffs in one word
- ԴառըtarrəbitterAbout taste and about fate alike:
դառը ճշմարտութիւն— the bitter truth - ԿծուgdzuspicyFrom
կծել, to bite: the spicy thing 'bites'. About a sharp knife they sayսուր - ԿուշտgushdfullThe partner of
քաղցած, hungry.Կուշտ եմ, շնորհակալութիւն— I am full, thank you - Համտեսելhamdeselto taste
համis taste andտեսնելto see: literally 'to see the taste'. For trying on clothes there isփորձել - Ճաշացանկjashatsangmenu
ճաշis a meal andցանկa list. In a café the borrowedմենիւwill be understood - ՄատուցողmadutsoghwaiterFrom
մատուցանել, to serve, with the same -ող doer-ending asվաճառող: 'the serving one' - ՊատուերbaduerorderAn order in a café, at a workshop and for goods alike
- Պատուիրելbaduirelto orderThe verb of
պատուեր.Ի՞նչ պիտի պատուիրենք— what shall we order - Ճաշատեսակjashadesagdish
ճաշis a meal andտեսակa kind: a 'kind of meal'. The plate as tableware isափսե - ԲաժինpazhinportionFrom
բաժանել, to divide: a portion, a share and a department in an office are allբաժին - Սեղան երկու հոգու համարseghan yergu hoku hamartable for two
հոգիis a soul — people are counted in souls:երկու հոգիis two people - ԱղանդերaghanterdessertA native word, not a borrowing. Sweets in general are
քաղցրաւենիք - Առանց մսիarrants msiwithout meat
առանցyou know fromառանց դեղատոմսի, without a prescription. After it the word stands in the possessive:միս→մսի - Տորթdort'cakethe final թ keeps its puff of air: t'ort'. A small pastry goes by
խմորեղեն - ՄակարոնmagaronpastaArmenian keeps it singular where English uses the plural:
մակարոն եփել— to cook pasta. One word, no spaghetti-and-noodles sorting to do - ՅոգուրտyokurdyogurtThe store yogurt in its cup. The homemade cultured milk has its own name,
մածուն— tangier, with no additives, and the two are not the same thing - Սերուցքserutsk'creamFrom
սեր— the same word that means 'love': here it is the skin that forms on milk. Sour cream is its own compound,թթուասեր, literally 'sour cream' - Պաղպաղակbaghbaghagice creamfour syllables, the ղ is a soft throat scrape: pagh-pa-GHAGH
- ՇոկոլադshogolatchocolateAn international word, said as spelled. A bar of it is
շոկոլադի սալիկ, and dark chocolate isդառը շոկոլադ— the sameդառը, bitter, you already know - Թխվածքաբլիթt'khvadzk'aplit'cookiefive syllables, both t's breathe: t'khvats-k'a-BLIT'
- Տավարի միսdavari misbeef
տավարis cattle andմիսis meat, your old word. The same recipe buildsխոզի միս, pork, andհաւի միս, chicken: the animal in the possessive, then the meat - Գառան միսkarran mislamb
գառis a lamb andգառանis its possessive. The grown sheep isոչխար, but menus almost always writeգառան միս— the young one is what you order - Ծովախեցգետինdzovakhetskedinshrimpsix syllables, stress at the end: tso-va-khets-ge-TEEN
- Խաղողkhaghoghgrapestwo syllables, both ղ's are soft throat scrapes: kha-GHOGH
- ՎարունգvarunkcucumberIn the salad it is cut together with the tomato you know,
պոմիտոր:վարունգի եւ լոլիկի աղցան— a cucumber and tomato salad - ԿաղամբgaghampcabbageSauerkraut is
թթու կաղամբ, literally 'sour cabbage' —թթուis the word for sour. Stuffed cabbage leaves go byտոլմա, the dish of Armenian feasts - Սխտորskhdorgarlictwo syllables, three consonants queue up at the start: skh-TOR
- ԴդումttumpumpkinThe two դ's at the start are not a misprint. In autumn it is baked whole, and pilaf cooked with it —
դդումով փլաւ— is a dish of its own - ՍմբուկsmpugeggplantThe vegetable of the Armenian summer: it goes into
աջափսանդալ, the layered vegetable stew. There is also a casual word,բադրիջան, that arrived by way of Persian - ԿիտրոնgidronlemonA wedge is
կիտրոնի կտոր— literally 'a piece of lemon'.Կիտրոնով թէյis tea with lemon: what you add it with wears the -ով ending - ՁմերուկtsmerugwatermelonOpens with ձ — a buzzing dz, like the ds in 'kids'. Its partner at the fruit stand is
սեխ, melon, and the two are always sold side by side - ԵլակyelagstrawberryThe initial ե reads 'ye': YEL-ag. Raspberry is
ազնւամորի, and strawberry jam isելակի մուրաբա— jam you met in the shopping words - ՏանձdantspearEnds on ձ, the buzzing dz. Sits next to the apple you know,
խնձոր: the two main fruits of an Armenian garden - Դեղձteghtspeachone syllable, the throat scrape ղ slides into a buzzing dz: degh-DZ
- Բաղադրատոմսpaghatradomsrecipefour syllables, stress at the end: ba-gha-dra-TOMS
- Բանջարեղենը մաքրելpanchareghenə mak'relto peel the vegetables
բանջարեղենis vegetables as one heap, andմաքրելis to clean — fromմաքուր, clean. A potato is peeled with another verb,կեղեւել, which takes the skin off - Եռացնելyerratsnelto bring to a boilFrom
եռալ, to boil by itself; the -ացնել tail turns the heat onto something else: the waterկ'եռայon its own, youեռացնում եքit. Your cooking verbեփելis to boil-cook in it - Խառնելkharrnelto mixMixing in the pot and mixing things up are the same verb:
անունները խառնեցի— I mixed up the names. A mixture isխառնուրդ - Աղելaghelto saltFrom the salt you know,
աղ. In living speech it often goes two words:աղ դնել, to put in salt. To over-salt is simplyշատ աղել— to salt too much - Տաքացնելdak'atsnelto heat upFrom
տաք, hot. Its pairտաքանալis when the thing heats by itself: in the kitchen you heat the food, in the tech unit the laptop heats itself - Հովացնելhovatsnelto cool downFrom
հով, cool shade. Do not confuse withսառեցնել, to freeze:հովացնելbrings the pot to room temperature,սառեցնելsends it to the freezer - Ձու հարելtsu harelto whisk eggs
ձուis an egg andհարելis to whisk. Cream is whisked with the same verb, and the whisk itself isհարիչ— built with the same -իչ tool tail as the grater - Ջուր ավելացնելchur avelatsnelto add water
աւելացնելis to add, fromաւելի, more — the comparison word of the whole course. No article here: water in general, not that particular water - Գրիլի վրա տապակելkrili vra dabagelto grill
տապակելis to fry, andվրաmeans 'on' but stands AFTER its word — Armenian order. Meat over coals goes by another verb,խորովել, the root of the famousխորոված - Պիտանելիության ժամկետbidaneliut'yan zhamgedexpiration dateeight syllables across two words, stress at the end of each: pi-ta-ne-li-u-t'YAN zham-KET
- Փչացել էp'chatsel eto spoilFrom
փչանալ. The word is wide: food, weather, mood and gadgets allկը փչանան— you will meet your phone among them in the tech unit - ԲանկաpangajarA casual word that arrived by way of Russian; everyone understands it in the shop. The label prefers the Armenian
ապակե տարա— a glass container. No connection toբանկ, the bank - Հավելումhaveluman extra helpingFrom
հաւելել, to add — the same root asհաւելուած, an app, in the tech unit. At the table people ask simpler:մի քիչ էլ աւելացրեք— add a little more - Տանելու համարdanelu hamarfor takeawayLiterally 'for taking away':
տանելis to carry off. The café question isԱյստե՞ղ, թէ՞ տանելու համար— here, or to take away? - Առանց շաքարիarrants shak'ariwithout sugar
առանցis 'without', and the word after it takes -ի: the pattern runsառանց աղի, without salt,առանց կաթի, without milk. Sugar itself isշաքար - Ես բուսակեր եմyes pusager emI'm a vegetarian
բոյսis a plant andուտելis to eat: a 'plant-eater'. A vegan isվեգան. During Lent people sayպահքի եմ, and cafés mark those dishesպահքային - Բարի ախորժակpari akhorzhagenjoy your mealThe
բարի, good, you know, plusախորժակ, appetite. People answer withշնորհակալութիւն, thank you, orմիասին— together - Յուղոտ ուտելիքyughod udelik'fatty food
իւղis oil and fat, andիւղոտis fatty. About a person 'fat' is never said this way — that word isգեր - ԿոնֆետgonfedcandySweets in general are
քաղցրաւենիք, fromքաղցր, sweet. The chocolate isշոկոլադ, and it is the bar too - Ազգային ուտեստazkayin udesdnational dish
ազգis a people, a nation;ուտելis to eat, hence the bookishուտեստ, a dish. On menus you will more often readճաշատեսակ - Փողոցային ուտելիքp'oghotsayin udelik'street food
փողոցis a street. Do not confuse withփող, money: the words only look alike - Խոզի միսkhozi misporkArmenian names meat after the animal:
խոզ, pig, plusմիս, meat, in the possessive. There is no separate word for pork - Հավի միսhavi mischicken (meat)The yard bird,
հաւ, becomes meat on the counter:հաւի միս. Its broth isհաւի արգանակ— the broth word comes later in this wave - Բադի միսpati misduck (meat)Assembled exactly like the pork:
բադ, the duck on the pond, plusմիս, meat, in the possessive — the duck as the menu has it - Աղացած միսaghatsadz misground meatFrom
աղալ, to grind: literally ground meat. In the shop you will also hear the borrowedֆարշ - Խոզապուխտkhozabukhdham
Խոզ, pig, plusապուխտ, cured meat — the sameապուխտhides in basturma - ԵրշիկyershigsausageOne word covers the sausage and the frankfurter alike. At the counter people often say the borrowed
սոսիսկա - Թունաձուկt'unatsugtuna
Ձուկ, fish — the word from the market — stands as the second root and keeps all its vowels: t'-oo-na-tsug - ՍաղմոնsaghmonsalmonRecognizably international, yet it lives by Armenian rules: the stress falls on the last syllable and the ղ is a soft throat sound
- ԿրեւետկաgrevedgaprawnThe bookish word,
ծովախեցգետին— literally sea crayfish — names them in the mass. One prawn on a menu goes by the borrowedկրեւետկա - Ծովամթերքdzovamt'erk'seafoodFrom
ծով, the sea, plusմթերք, produce — the sameմթերքas in the grocery store. The word names a whole class of things, which is why it comes late - ՍալորsalorplumThe dried plum has a name of its own:
սալորաչիր. Armenian splits fresh from dried by the word, not by an adjective - Ազնվամորիaznvamoriraspberry
Մորիis the berry of this kind;ազնիւmeans noble — a raspberry is literally the noble berry. The vowel drops in the compound - ՍեխsekhmelonShort and native. Its neighbor
ձմերուկ, the watermelon, is one market stall away — do not mix them up - ՆուռnurrpomegranateThe symbol of Armenia — it shows up in food and in ornaments alike. The stone and the shell are meanings of the Russian word, not of
նուռ: Armenian keeps the fruit apart. In the possessive the vowel shifts:նռան հիւթ - Արքայախնձորark'ayakhntsorpineappleLiterally the king's apple:
արքա, king, plusխնձոր, the apple you know. In conversation people clip it to the borrowedանանաս - ՄանդարինmantarinmandarinA loanword, but it declines like a native:
մանդարինի կեղեւ— the peel of the mandarin. The peel word comes at the end of this wave - Կիվիgivikiwi (fruit)After a number it stays singular:
երկու կիվի— two kiwi. The bird of the same name is a different story; here it is the fruit - ԱվոկադոavogatoavocadoA borrowing that has learned Armenian grammar: the cases attach through an inserted -յ, as in
աւոկադոյով— with avocado - ՉամիչchamichraisinDried grapes have their own name — nobody says
չորացրած խաղող, dried grapes. The չ is the ch of 'church' - Թուզt'uzfigOpens with a t on a breath: t'-ooz. The dried fig keeps the same word with an adjective:
չոր թուզ - Տաքդեղdak'teghbell pepper
Պղպեղis the spice — the pepper of the mill. The vegetable from the garden bed isտաքդեղ, built onտաք, hot - Դդմիկttmigzucchini
Դդումis the pumpkin;դդմիկis its smaller kin — the -իկ tail makes it little, the same tail as inգորգիկ, a small rug - ՃակնդեղjagnteghbeetOpens with ճ, the j-sound of
ճաշ, lunch. In the possessive it stays whole:ճակնդեղի - ԲողկpoghgradishOne word covers the radish and the black radish alike. Three consonants close the word with no vowel between: boghk
- Կանաչիganachifresh herbsFrom
կանաչ, green — the color you know. On the table it means the herbs served alongside the food, not the color - Սամիթsamit'dillEnds on a t with a puff of air, and the puff survives the possessive:
սամիթի— no softening - ՄաղադանոսmaghatanosparsleyA Greek word that kept its Greek throat-sound: the ղ is a soft gargled gh, nothing like a hard g
- Կոճապղպեղgojabghbeghginger
Կոճ, a tuber, plusպղպեղ, pepper — literally pepper root. A mouthful of consonants; say it slowly: go-ja-bgh-begh - ԵգիպտացորենyekibdatsorencornLiterally Egyptian wheat:
Եգիպտոսis Egypt,ցորենis wheat. The boiled cob from the street cart carries this same long word - ՍպանախsbanakhspinachIt shares its opening with
սպանել, to kill, and nothing else — the roots are strangers. Say sba-NAKH - Բուլկիpulgibread roll
Հացis bread in general — the word of every meal. The soft round roll goes by the borrowedբուլկի: bool-KEE - ԿարկանդակgargantagpieA long native word for the stuffed pie. The possessive keeps every vowel:
կարկանդակի - Տորթիկdort'igpastry
Տորթis the whole cake; the single-serving piece adds the diminutive -իկ. In the pastry shop you will also hear the borrowedպիրոժնի - ՊոնչիկbonchigdonutIn Yerevan a
պոնչիկcomes with custard cream inside, by rule — and has its own little shops - Խմորեղենkhmoreghenbaked goods
Խմոր, dough, plus the collective tail -եղեն — the same tail as inկաթնեղեն, dairy. The word names a whole class of things - Ջեմchemjam
Մուրաբաis the preserve with whole fruit;ջեմis the smooth stuff you spread. The ջ reads 'j' as in 'jam' — the word teaches its own sound - ՕշարակosharagsyrupThe pharmacy syrup and the coffee syrup share this word. In cafes you may hear the borrowed
սիրոպ - ԱդիբուդիatiputipopcornA playful native coinage — ati-poo-DEE. The cinema sign, though, says the borrowed
պոպկորն - ՉիպսchibschipsThe word refuses the plural: one bag is
մի տոպրակ չիպս— chibs, with the ch of 'church' - Մաստակmasdagchewing gumThe native word, kin to mastic resin. Children, though, say the borrowed
ժուաչկաinstead - Լիմոնադlimonatlemonade
Կիտրոնis the lemon, but the drink took the European name: li-mo-NAT, stress at the end - Հանքային ջուրhank'ayin churmineral water
Հանքis a mine — the water of the mines. In Armenia people often just name the spring instead - Գազավորված ջուրkazavorvadz chursparkling waterFrom
գազ, gas, with the state-ending -ուած: gas-ed water. The plain kind isառանց գազի— without gas, possessive afterառանց - ԿոկտեյլgogdeylcocktailAn English borrowing spelled by ear: gog-DEYL. The milky kind is
կաթնային կոկտեյլ - ԿակաոgagaococoaTwo vowels in a row betray the borrowing, and an -յ appears before the endings:
կակաոյով— with cocoa - Լուծվող սուրճludzvogh surjinstant coffee
Սուրճis coffee — you know it from the cafe.Լուծուողis dissolving, a participle that never changes - Թեյի ծրարt'eyi dzrartea bag
Ծրարis the envelope — a tea bag is, literally, a tea envelope. The tea stands in the possessive in front:թեյի - Եռման ջուրyerrman churboiling water
Եռացնելis to bring to a boil. Plain hot water isտաք ջուր; water at full boil isեռման ջուր— water of the boiling - ԱլկոհոլalgoholalcoholThe general word for anything strong. Vodka has its own old name,
օղի— say it 'oghi' - Ըմպելիքəmbelik'beverageThe opening ը is the fleeting vowel — barely audible. The bookish verb behind it is
ըմպել, to drink up; everyday speech prefersխմիչք - Հիւթhyut'juiceFreshly squeezed is
թարմ քամած հիւթ. The same word names the juice inside the fruit itself - Ռեստորանrresdoranrestaurant (upscale)Beside the cafe,
սրճարան, and the canteen,ճաշարան, this is the one with tablecloths and a bill — the difference tracks the Russian word exactly
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.
- Մէկ սուրճ, խնդրեմmeg surj, khntremOne coffee, please
- Կաթով թեյ կը խմեմgat'ov t'ey gə khmemI drink tea with milk
- Ջուր կա՞յchur gayIs there water?
- Առաւօտեան թարմ հաց առաarravodean t'arm hats arraIn the morning I bought fresh bread
- Առաւօտեան հաց ու պանիր կ'ուտեմarravodean hats u banir g'udemIn the morning I eat bread and cheese
- Միս չեմ ուտեր, միայն ձուկmis chem uder, miayn tsugI don't eat meat, only fish
What is worth knowing about these words
Սուրճ (surj) — coffee. One drink-verb serves everything: սուրճ խմել, թեյ խմել, ջուր խմել — drink coffee, tea, water. Order it with մէկ (one) in any café of the diaspora
Թեյ (t'ey) — tea. Written with թ — a t with a puff of air. Spelled with տ instead, it would come out 'day'. Say t'-EY and you are drinking tea
Ջուր (chur) — water. The ջ sounds like ch as in 'church': choor, never 'joor'. Hence ջրվէժ, a waterfall — water + to plunge
Հաց (hats) — bread. Also means food in general: հաց ուտել — to eat, literally 'to eat bread'. Bread stands in for the whole meal
Test yourself
Recalling a spelling from meaning is harder than recognizing a familiar word — and therefore more useful.
- How do you say “coffee” in Western Armenian?
One drink-verb serves everything:
սուրճ խմել,թեյ խմել,ջուր խմել— drink coffee, tea, water. Order it withմէկ(one) in any café of the diaspora - How do you say “fruit” in Western Armenian?
The plural of
միրգ, one fruit: the vowel i drops out and -եր takes its place. գ sounds like g: MER-ger - How do you say “sweet” in Western Armenian?
Ք is k with a puff of air and ղ is the throaty gh: k'-AGH-tsr. The opposite pole to
դառը, bitter - How do you say “breakfast” in Western Armenian?
նախis 'before',ճաշis 'meal': literally 'the before-meal'. To eat breakfast, one verb:նախաճաշել - How do you say “smell” in Western Armenian?
համis taste,հոտis smell — two tiny words everyone swaps at first.Հոտ կ'գայ— it smells
How to learn the set instead of just reading it
A menu, a market, a shop sign, the question “what is this?”. Food is the most frequent subject of the first weeks and the safest excuse to start talking.
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 “coffee” in Western Armenian?
«Սուրճ», read “surj”. One drink-verb serves everything: սուրճ խմել, թեյ խմել, ջուր խմել — drink coffee, tea, water. Order it with մէկ (one) in any café of the diaspora. It is one of 172 words in the set “food and drink” — the rest are in the table above.
How many food words do you need to start?
A dozen is enough. The set of 172 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.