Time, days and hours in Western Armenian
136 words Western Armenian words on the topic “time, days and hours”: Ժամ — hour, Օր — day, Այսօր — today, Առաւօտ — morning.
136 words on the topic
- ԺամzhamhourBoth 'hour' and 'time' in general:
ժամը ինըին— at nine o'clock. Henceժամադրութիւն, a date — an appointed hour. The ժ is zh, as in 'vision' - ՕրordaySame root in
օրացոյց, a calendar — literally a 'shower of days'. One syllable, and it looks like English 'or' - Այսօրaysortoday
այս-(this) +օր(day): 'this day'. Its partnersերէկ(yesterday) andվաղը(tomorrow) complete your first timeline - ԱռաւօտarravodmorningClassical spelling writes աւ and օ:
առաւօտ; the Eastern reformed spelling givesառավոտ. 'In the morning' grows a tail:առաւօտեան - ԵրեկոյyeregoyeveningThe կ sounds like g and the classical final յ stays silent: eh-reh-GO. 'In the evening' adds -ան:
երեկոյան - ԳիշերkishernightYou will meet it in
բարի գիշեր, good night. Same root inգիշերօթիկ, a night shelter. Say KISH-er - ԵրէկyeregyesterdayClassical spelling writes է:
երէկ; the Eastern spelling:երեկ. Do not confuse withերեկոյ, evening — one syllable apart, a whole day apart in meaning - 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 - Ժամը քանիսի՞նzhamə k'anisinat what time?Literally 'the hour at which one':
ժամis the hour you already know from the base course - Կ'ուշանամg'ushanamI'm running late
ուշis late. In messages this is the most-sent phrase of them all - Արդէն ուշ էarten ush eit's already late
արդէնis already, and the rootուշis the same 'late' fromկ'ուշանամ - 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
- Սկիզբըsgizpəat firstThree consonants in a row at the start: skz-BUM
- ՀետոhedothenAt the start of its part, no comma. Second job: 'after' with a neighboring noun, and then the word stands AFTER its noun:
դասէն հետո, after the lesson,մէկ ժամ հետո, an hour later. English puts the 'after' in front; Armenian puts it behind - Այդմէ հետոaytme hedoafter thatThe same
հետո, but with the demonstrative:այդմէ— 'from that', with the -է 'from' ending. The order is rigid: firstայդմէ, thenհետո; never the reverse. Sentence-initial, no comma needed - ՎէրջապէսverchabesfinallyFrom
վէրջ, an end. It stands before the verb and carries relief:Վէրջապէս հասանք— finally we made it. The neutral 'lastly' of a list isվերջումorի վերջոյ;վէրջապէսalways comes with feeling - ՄինչդեռminchterrwhileOne word. It stands at the start of the second part after the comma and always contrasts:
Ես կ'աշխատէի, մինչդեռ ան կը քնէր. Pure coincidence in time, no contrast, goes throughերբorմիաժամանակ - Միաժամանակmiazhamanagat the same time
միis 'one',ժամանակis 'time': 'at one time'. It stands before the verb:միաժամանակ երկու գործ կը ընեմ. As a sentence opener it means 'at the same time, however' — and then a comma follows - Նախքանnakhk'anbeforeOne word, placed BEFORE its clause, and the verb after it drops
պիտի:Նախքան երթաս, զանգիր. With a noun it works the same:նախքան ընթրիքը. The conversational variant of the same thought isմինչեւ - Այն բանէն հետո, երբayn panen hedo, yerpafterThe turn is split:
այն բանէն հետոstands before the comma,երբright behind it, then the clause. Noպիտիin its verb. In speech people almost always cut it down to a bareերբ - Հենց որhents voras soon as
հենցis 'just, precisely',որis 'that'. It opens its clause, the verb there dropsպիտի— while the main clause REQUIRES it:Հենց որ հասնիմ, պիտի զանգեմ. Exactly the split you know fromեթե, if - Այդ ժամանակէն ի վերayt zhamanagen i versince then
ի վերis 'upward, starting from', set AFTER the word with its -է 'from' ending:մանկութենէ ի վեր, since childhood. Sentence-initial, no comma needed. The short conversational variant isայդ օրուանէ - ՄիշտmishdalwaysIt stands before the verb:
միշտ կ'ուշանայ. With the linker է the seat is the same:միշտ լաւն է. 'As always' isինչպէս միշտ; 'forever' is one word with a prefix,ընդմիշտ - ՅաճախyajakhoftenBefore the verb. Hence
յաճախել, to attend regularly. Intensified:շատ յաճախorյաճախակի, very often. Classical spelling starts the word with յ, Eastern with հ - ՀազուագոյտhazuakoydrarelyThe turns matter more than the word: conversational
յազվադէպand bookishհազուագոյտ. Before the verb. As an adjectiveհազուագոյտis 'rare' about objects, not about frequency - ԵրբեմնyerpemnsometimesFrom
երբ, when. The freest seat of the frequency words: sentence-initial or before the verb. The conversational synonym isմը մը, literally 'once, once' - Երբեքyerpek'neverThe verb with it MUST stay negative:
Երբեք չեմ եղած, I have never been — the bare positive verb after it is impossible. Armenian, unlike English, demands the double negative here - ՍովորաբարsovoraparusuallyFrom
սովոր, accustomed — the root ofսովորիլ, to study, literally 'to get used to'. Sentence-initial or before the verb, no comma - Երկարyergarfor a long timeThe same word as 'long' about a sleeve: Armenian does not split length in space from length in time. As an adverb it stands before the verb —
երկար սպասեցի; as an adjective before the noun —երկար ճանապարհ. The seat decides the sense - Ամեն անգամamen ankamevery time
անգամis 'an occasion, a time'. Sentence-initial. With a clause it demandsերբ:Ամեն անգամ, երբ կ'գաս, կ'անձրեւէ. Careful: a loneանգամalready means 'even' —անգամ ես չ'գիտէի - Ժամանակ առ ժամանակzhamanag arr zhamanagfrom time to timeThe word doubles around the preposition
առ— 'at, by'; the same pattern inքայլ առ քայլ, step by step, andօր առ օր, day by day. Sentence-initial or before the verb - Մինչ այժմminch ayzhmuntil now
մինչis 'until',այժմis 'now'. Two words, sentence-initial. Most often with a negation:Մինչ այժմ պատասխան չկայ. The conversational variantմինչեւ այժմwins in speech - ՅանկարծyangardzsuddenlyBefore the verb:
յանկարծ լոյսը հանգաւ. Second job — a warning:Յանկարծ մի մոռնար, mind you don't forget; there յանկարծ goes first and the verb must takeմի. Classical spelling starts with յ, Eastern with հ - Նախապէսnakhabesin advanceFrom
նախ, first. Before the verb:նախապէս զանգիր. In conversation people more often takeառաջէն;նախապէսsounds more official and lives in letters and notices - Ժամանակինzhamanaginon timeFrom
ժամանակ, time, in the dative. Before the verb:ժամանակին եկաւ. The same word at the start of a sentence means 'once, back then':Ժամանակին այստեղ դպրոց կար. The seat changes the sense - ՇտապshdaburgentlyThe root of the familiar
շտապօգնութիւն, ambulance. Before the verb:շտապ ըրէ, do it quickly. There is also the verbշտապիլ, to hurry, and the pleaմի շտապիր, don't rush - Անմիջապէսanmichabesimmediately
ան-plusմիջոց, an interval: 'with no interval'. Before the verb. It means 'right away'; English 'right from the start' is a different creature — that isսկիզբէն, and the two must not swap - ԱստիճանաբարasdijanapargraduallySix syllables, stress on the last: as-ti-cha-na-BAR
- Վերջին պահինverchin bahinat the last moment
պահis 'a moment', in the dativeպահին. It stands before the verb or at the end of the sentence:Վերջին պահին չեղարկեցandՉեղարկեց վէրջին պահին— both orders are alive - Վաղ թէ ուշvagh t'e ushsooner or laterHere
թէis not 'that' but 'or' between two words. Sentence-initial, no comma, and the verb after it usually takesպիտի:Վաղ թէ ուշ պիտի իմանայ. Careful:վաղis 'early', whileվաղըwith the article is already 'tomorrow' - Մի անգամmi ankamonceLiterally 'one time'. Stories begin with it, just like the English 'once'. Fairy tales, though, start differently:
Լինում է, չըլլար - Մանկության տարիներինmangut'yan darinerinin childhoodLiterally 'in the years of childhood':
մանկությանthe possessive ofմանկութիւն,տարիներինthe years with the dative -ին, which for time means 'in'. Shorter:մանկուց, from childhood - Այն ժամանակներումayn zhamanagnerumback then
այնis the farthest of the three demonstratives: այս this, այդ that by you, այն that over there.Ժամանակներումis 'in the times', with the -ում location ending - Դա վաղուց էրta vaghuts erthat was long ago
վաղուցmeans long ago, fromվաղ, early. Do not confuse withվաղը, tomorrow: one letter apart, and a whole life between them - Առաջին անգամarrachin ankamthe first time
անգամis a time, an occasion — and the same word means 'even':անգամ ես, even I. Only the place in the sentence tells them apart. The last time isվէրջին անգամ - Ապագաabakathe futureBoth noun and adjective:
ապագաis the future andապագա շաբաթis next week. The future tense of a verb has its own name,ապառնի - Անցյալantsyalthe pastFrom
անցնել, to pass by: what has gone by. It works as an adjective too:անցյալ շաբաթ, last week. The present isներկա - Մոտակա ծրագրերmodaga dzrakrerplans for the near future
մօտnear,մօտակայnearby;ծրագիրis a plan, a program, pluralծրագրերwith the ի dropping out. Weekend plans areհանգստյան օրերի ծրագրերը - Մէկ տարի հետոmeg dari hedoin a year
հետոmeans after — and it stands after the span, not before:մէկ տարի հետո, literally 'a year later'. A year ago isմէկ տարի առաջ, same pattern - ՄշտապեսmshdabesconstantlyThree syllables, a consonant stack at the start: msh-ta-PES
- ԺամանակավորապեսzhamanagavorabestemporarilySeven syllables, stress on the last: zha-ma-na-ka-vo-ra-PES
- Հարմար ժամharmar zhama convenient time
հարմարmeans convenient — about time, an armchair and shoes alike.Ժամis the hour of a meeting;ժամանակis time in general - Ժամ նշանակելzham nshanagelto set a timeFrom
նշան, a sign:նշանակելmeans to mark, to appoint. The same verb means 'to signify':ի՞նչ է նշանակում, what does it mean - Օրվա երկրորդ կեսինorva yergrort gesinin the afternoonLiterally 'in the second half of the day':
օրվաthe possessive ofօր,կէսhalf with the dative -ին. Simpler and livelier:կեսօրից հետո, after midday - Երեկոյան մօտyeregoyan modtoward evening
երեկոյյevening,երեկոյեանin the evening;մօտmeans close, around. The order is the reverse of English: first the evening, then the 'around' - Ցանկացած ժամիtsangatsadz zhamiat any time
ցանկանալis to wish;ցանկացածis 'whichever you wish', that is, any.Ժամիis the possessive that, with time, works as 'at' - Ոչ շուտ, քան հինգըvoch shud, k'an hinkənot before five
քանis 'than', the word of comparison:աւելի լաւ, քան երէկ. Here it holds the time boundary too. More colloquial:հինգից շուտ չեմ կրնար - Ժամանակին պիտի ըլլամzhamanagin bidi əllamI will be on time
ժամանակինis 'at the time', the familiarժամանակwith the dative -ին.Կլինեմis 'I will be', with the future կ-. To be late isուշանալ - Մինչեւ որminchev voruntilThe English 'not' has no place here:
սպասիր, մինչեւ որ գամ— wait until I come. Inserting a չ- is the classic beginner's mistake - ԴարtarcenturyA century as a hundred years:
քսաներորդ դար. A century as an epoch is a century too. The course wordհարիւրամյակis a centenary, an anniversary date; the hundred-year span itself is alwaysդար - Դարաշրջանtarashrchanera
դարcentury +շրջանperiod: 'a circle of centuries'. The word is bookish; in speech people more often sayժամանակներ - Տասնամյակdasnamyagdecade
տասten +ամyear + -յակ, a group. Built the same way:հնգամյակ, a five-year span, andհարիւրամյակ, a centenary - ԺամանակահատվածzhamanagahadvadzperiodSix syllables: zha-ma-an-ga-hat-vadz. The linking -ա- stitches
ժամանակandհատվածtogether - Ակնթարթagnt'art'an instant
ակնeye +թարթելto blink: 'a blink of the eye'. The adverbակնթարթորենmeans instantly - Երկարատեւyergaradevlengthy
երկարlong +տեւելto last. The nounտեւողութիւնis duration - Օրերսorersone of these daysFrom
օրեր, days, with the possessive -ս: literally 'my days'. Works for the future and the past alike — like English 'one of these days' - Մեր օրերումmer orerumnowadaysThe 'where' form of
մեր օրեր, our days: the ending -ում. The synonymայսօրis too narrow: it means today, not an epoch - Հին ժամանակներիցhin zhamanagneritssince time immemorialLiterally 'from old times'. The bookish variant
վաղնջական ժամանակներիցsounds thoroughly archaic - Մի քանի րոպեումmi k'ani robeumin a matter of minutesThe -ում location ending answers 'in how much time':
մէկ ժամում— in an hour,մի քանի րոպեում— in a matter of minutes - Ժամանակակիցzhamanagagitscontemporary
ժամանակtime + -ակից, 'co-': 'of the same time'. The same word for a person and for a trait - ՀնագույնhnakuynancientThe superlative of
հին, old, through -ագույն: 'oldest'. Plainհինmeans old, and in speech an Armenian often makes do with it - Անցած օրերըantsadz orerədays gone byLiterally 'the days that have passed'. There is no single noun for it —
անցյալmeans the past - Երբեմն-երբեմնyerpemn-erpemnonce in a whileDoubling
երբեմն, sometimes, makes it rarer, not more often. Plainհազվադեպmeans rarely - ՕրականoragandailyFrom
օր, day, plus -ական. The word works as adverb and adjective:օրական նորմ— a daily norm.Ամեն օրis the phrase 'every day' - ԿանոնավորganonavorregularlyFrom
կանոն, rule: 'by the rule'. Adverb and adjective:կանոնավոր չվերթ— a regular flight - Առաջին անգամarrachin ankamfor the first timeThe same
Առաջին անգամalready in the course as the phrase 'the first time': Armenian has no other way to say it, and the id splits them by theme - ՎերստինversdinanewA bookish adverb from the same prefix
վեր-as inվերսկսել. In speech people sayնորից, but that one is broader — 'again' - Ավելի ու աւելի հաճախaveli u aveli hajakhmore and more oftenDoubling
աւելիthroughուbuilds a crescendo:աւելի ու ավելի քիչ— less and less - Աշխատանքային օրերինashkhadank'ayin orerinon weekdaysLiterally 'on working days'. The dative plural answers 'when':
ուրբաթներին— on Fridays - Մէկընդմեջmegəntmechevery other time
մէկone +ընդ մէջbetween, written as one word. It means 'every other one': about turns and about rows - Տարին մէկdarin megonce a yearThe order is the reverse of English: first the span in the dative, then the number.
Ամիսը երկու— twice a month - Մերթ ընդ մերթmert' ənt mert'every now and thenA bookish phrase: 'now and then, from time to time'.
Մշտապես, constantly, is about continuity, not about repeats - Այդ ընթացքումayt ənt'atsk'ummeanwhileLiterally 'in that course'.
Ընթացքis a flow, a course — the same word as in the train of thought - Զուգահեռzukaherrin parallel
զույգpair +հեռուfar. The geometric parallel and 'at the same time as something' alike - Մինչ այդminch aytuntil then
Մինչwithoutեւis the bookish form of 'until'.Մինչեւ այդis also correct and sounds more colloquial - Հետագաիւմhedakayumlater onFrom
հետագա, subsequent, with the -ում location ending. The nounհետագաalso means 'the future' - Նախօրեինnakhoreinon the eve
նախbefore +օրday, plus the dative: 'on the previous day'. The eve of what — the noun in front takes its -ի 'of' form:տոնի նախօրեին - Այսուհետaysuhedfrom now on
այսthis +ուand +հետafter: 'from this point on'. Contracts write it exactly so - Այս անգամays ankamthis timeThe partner of
այն անգամ, that time, andմիւս անգամ, another time. No preposition is needed where English says 'on' - Ժամկետինzhamgedinon scheduleFrom
ժամկետ, a deadline, in the dative: 'by the deadline'.Ժամանակինis 'on time' — about the hour;ժամկետինis about the set date - Հետին թվովhedin t'vovbackdated
հետինback +թիւnumber, date. A bookkeeping phrase, and almost always with a shade of wrongdoing - Առանց հապաղելուarrants habagheluwithout delay
առանց, without, requires an infinitive in -ու after it:առանց սպասելու,առանց հարցնելու - Փետրվարp'edrvarFebruaryThe second month, right after the
իւնուարyou know. Փ is a p with a puff of air, as inփակ, closed. 'In February' isփետրուարին— months take the ending -ին - ՄարտmardMarchThe same word means 'a fight':
մարտի դաշտ— a battlefield. The month you recognize by the number beside it:մարտի ութը, the eighth of March - ԱպրիլabrilAprilLooks like the verb
ապրիլ, to live, but there is no kinship: the month came in from Latin - ՄայիսmayisMaytwo syllables, stress on the second: ma-YIS
- ՀունիսhunisJune
Յունիսandիւլիս, July, are one letter apart — ն against լ. To keep them straight on the phone, Armenians addամիսը:յունիս ամիսը— the month of June - ՕգոստոսokosdosAugustThe eighth month, right after the
իւլիսyou know. It opens with Օ — a clean 'oh'; through ո it would read 'vo' and the word would turn unrecognizable - ՍեպտեմբերsebdemperSeptemberThe last four months of the year all end in -եմբեր and differ only at the head:
սեպտ-,հոկտ-,նոյ-,դեկտ- - ՀոկտեմբերhogdemperOctoberhog-dem-BER: the տ softens to a d between the vowels
- ՆոյեմբերnoyemperNovemberThe shortest of the -եմբեր four:
նոյ-and that is all. Spelled with յ, which here sounds like the y of 'yes' - ԴեկտեմբերtegdemperDecemberԴ is a plain d with no puff of air.
Դեկտեմբերի երեսունմէկին— on the thirty-first of December — is the address of New Year's eve - ՏարիdariyearThe same root returns in
տարեդարձ, anniversary, and inնոր տարի, New Year - Օրուգիշերorukishera day and a night
օր(day) +ու(and) +գիշեր(night): the full 24 hours as one unit. The linkerուglues pairs together elsewhere too —հացուջուր, bread and salt - Հարիւրամյակharyuramyagcentenary
հարիւրis hundred,ամis year in its bookish stem, and -յակ makes it a jubilee. A century as a span of history isդար— the two words live apart - Րոպեrobeminutero-BE, with a soft single-tap r at the front, no roll
- Վայրկյանvayrgyansecond (time unit)In speech
մի վայրկեանis not a measure of time but 'hold on' — exactly the job 'one sec' does in English - Կես ժամges zhamhalf an hour
կէսis half,ժամis an hour — both old friends, and they stay two words, written apart - Կեսօրgesornoon
կէս+օր— but this time in one word.կեսօրից յետոյ— after noon: this is how Armenian says 'in the afternoon' - ԿեսգիշերgeskishermidnightAssembled exactly like
կեսօր:կէս+գիշեր. The pair noon–midnight is visible at a glance - ՀիմաhimanowAbout this very moment.
հենց այժմ— right this instant; the partner word isյետոյ, later - Ժամկետzhamgeddue date
ժամis hour,կէտis point: 'a point in time'. Henceպիտանելիութեան ժամկետ— the expiration date printed on the packaging - ՀաջորդhachortnextIn the queue they call exactly this:
հաջորդը՛— next!հաջորդ շաբաթ— next week, no preposition anywhere - ԱնցյալantsyalpreviousFrom
անցնել, to pass by. The same word works as a noun: the past,անցեալ - Ուշանալushanalto be lateFrom
ուշ, late. Late for what — the dative:աշխատանքին ուշանալ— to be late for work - Հասնելhasnelto be in timeOne verb covers 'to reach', 'to catch up' and 'to make it in time'. Catch a bus — the dative:
աւտոբուսին հասնիլ - ԿրկինgrginagainFrom
կրկնել, to repeat — say it a second time and you have said it again. The casualնորիցliterally means 'from new' - Շուտովshudovsoon
Շուտis 'early' and 'fast', with the tail -ով on top: literally 'at an early time'. Watch the lookalikeշուտalone — that one is plain 'early' - Վաղուցvaghutslong agoThe trap: it looks like
վաղը, tomorrow, but it looks back into the past. The whole difference is the tail - ՎերջերսverchersrecentlyFrom
վէրջ, an end: literally 'in the latest time'. The sameվէրջyou know fromվերջապէս, finally - ՈւշushlateAbout the clock:
ուշ է— it is late. Its verbուշանալis to run late, and the partner word isշուտ, early - ՇուտshudearlyOne word for 'early' and for 'quickly' — the sentence decides. A good anchor: the card above it,
շուտով, means 'soon' - ԱրագarakfastAdverb and adjective in one form — Armenian does not bend it:
արագ գնացք— a fast train,արագ խօսիլ— to speak fast.աւելի արագ— faster - Հենց նորhents norjust nowLiterally 'right new':
հենցsharpens whatever it touches — 'exactly, right now'. Theնորinside is the same 'new' as inնոր տուն - Առավոտյանarravodyanin the morningThe tail -եան carries the whole 'in the': no preposition anywhere.
Առաւօտis the morning itself - Ցերեկըtseregəin the daytimetse-re-GƏ: the ց is a sharp ts, and the final ը is a fleeting 'uh'
- Երեկոյանyeregoyanin the eveningThe same -եան tail as
առաւօտեան: morning and evening are built alike.Երեկոյան զանգիր ինծի— in the evening, call me - Գիշերըkisherəat nightHere it is not -եան but the article -ը doing the job:
գիշերը. The adjective 'night-time' isգիշերային - Ամեն օրamen orevery dayAfter
ամենthe noun stands bare: no article, no plural.Ամեն օր,ամեն մարդ— the pattern never bends - Ամբողջ օրըampoghch orəall dayUnlike
ամեն օր, this one demands the article -ը:ամբողջ օրը. 'Whole' wants its article in Armenian - ՊահbahmomentA moment, an instant — the same root as
պահել, to keep: the moment you hold. In time phrases it takes the dative:այդ պահին— at that moment - Ժամացույցzhamatsuytswatch (device)
Ժամhour +ցույցshowing: 'the hour-shower'. The calendar on the next card is built by the same recipe - Ժամը քանիսն էzhamə k'anisn ewhat time is it?Literally 'the hour — which is it?':
քանիսըisքանիwith the article. The politest opener isներողութիւն— excuse me - ԵրբեւէyerpeveeverAssembled like
որեւէ:երբ, when, plus the same tail. It asks about past experience; about the future they sayմի օր— one day
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.
- Ժամը քանի՞ էzhamə k'ani eWhat time is it?
- Այս օրը շատ լաւ էays orə shad lav eThis day is very good
- Այսօր շատ զբաղած եմaysor shad zpaghadz emToday I am very busy
- Առաւօտեան սուրճ կը խմեմarravodean surj gə khmemIn the morning I drink coffee
- Երեկոյան գիրք մը կը կարդամyeregoyan kirk' mə gə gartamIn the evening I read a book
- Գիշերը լաւ քուն առաkisherə lav k'un arraAt night I slept well
What is worth knowing about these words
Ժամ (zham) — hour. Both 'hour' and 'time' in general: ժամը ինըին — at nine o'clock. Hence ժամադրութիւն, a date — an appointed hour. The ժ is zh, as in 'vision'
Օր (or) — day. Same root in օրացոյց, a calendar — literally a 'shower of days'. One syllable, and it looks like English 'or'
Այսօր (aysor) — today. այս- (this) + օր (day): 'this day'. Its partners երէկ (yesterday) and վաղը (tomorrow) complete your first timeline
Առաւօտ (arravod) — morning. Classical spelling writes աւ and օ: առաւօտ; the Eastern reformed spelling gives առավոտ. 'In the morning' grows a tail: առաւօտեան
Test yourself
Recalling a spelling from meaning is harder than recognizing a familiar word — and therefore more useful.
- How do you say “hour” in Western Armenian?
Both 'hour' and 'time' in general:
ժամը ինըին— at nine o'clock. Henceժամադրութիւն, a date — an appointed hour. The ժ is zh, as in 'vision' - How do you say “when will you come?” in Western Armenian?
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 - How do you say “at first” in Western Armenian?
From
սկիզբ, a beginning, with the article. Sentence-initial, no comma:Սկիզբը դժուար էր. Its pair isհետո. Careful: 'from the beginning again', anew, isնորէն - How do you say “after” in Western Armenian?
The turn is split:
այն բանէն հետոstands before the comma,երբright behind it, then the clause. Noպիտիin its verb. In speech people almost always cut it down to a bareերբ - How do you say “never” in Western Armenian?
The verb with it MUST stay negative:
Երբեք չեմ եղած, I have never been — the bare positive verb after it is impossible. Armenian, unlike English, demands the double negative here
How to learn the set instead of just reading it
Today, tomorrow, in the morning, at six. You cannot arrange to meet without these — let alone understand the answer.
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 “hour” in Western Armenian?
«Ժամ», read “zham”. Both 'hour' and 'time' in general: ժամը ինըին — at nine o'clock. Hence ժամադրութիւն, a date — an appointed hour. The ժ is zh, as in 'vision'. It is one of 136 words in the set “time, days and hours” — the rest are in the table above.
How many time words do you need to start?
A dozen is enough. The set of 136 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.