LingoflyPeople and family in Western Armenian
194 words in Western Armenian on the topic “people and family”: Ընկեր (ənger) — friend, Ընտանիք (əndanik') — family, Մայրիկ (mayrig) — mom, Հայրիկ (hayrig) — dad.
194 words on the topic
- ԸնկերəngerfriendFriend and comrade in one word. Plural:
ընկերներ - Ընտանիքəndanik'familyThe people who live under one roof. Both standards say
ընտանիք(əndanik') - Մայրիկmayrigmom
մայր(mayr) (mother) +-իկ, an affectionate ending that softens the word, the way '-y' does in English 'mommy'.հայրիկ(hayrig), daddy, is built the same way - Հայրիկhayrigdad
հայրis father, and -իկ is an affectionate suffix, just as inմայրիկ(mayrig) - ԵրեխայyerekhachildPlural:
երեխաներ(yerekhaner). The middle խ is a throaty kh, like the ch of Scottish 'loch': eh-reh-KHA - ՎաճառողvajarroghsellerSame root
վաճառ-as in the market counter. The ending -ող turns a verb into its doer: literally 'the selling one' - Ղեկավարghegavarboss
ղեկ(gheg) is a steering wheel or rudder: the boss is 'the one at the wheel'. In casual speech you will hear the borrowedշեֆ - ՄարդmartpersonThe plural breaks the rules: not
մարդերbutմարդիկ(martig) — people. A plural worth memorizing on its own - ԿինginwomanBoth 'woman' and 'wife': the possessive ending decides —
իմ(im) կինը (ginə) is my wife - ՊատանիbadaniteenagerThe years between child and grown-up. The same years are also called
դեռահաս(terrahas), a teenager - Ծերունիdzeruniold manthe opening ծ is a buzzing dz, like the ds in 'kids': dze-roo-NEE
- ԱմբոխampokhcrowdA crowd with a squeeze to it — unmanaged, packed. People gathered for a purpose get the calmer
բազմութիւն - Որդիvortisonhere the opening ո follows the regular rule and reads 'vo': vor-TEE
- ՄազերmazerhairThe singular
մազis one hair. About a hairstyle speak in the plural: մազերդ (mazert)գեղեցիկ(keghetsig) են (en) — your hair is beautiful - Բարձրահասակpartsrahasagtall
բարձր(partsr) is high andհասակ(hasag) is height. A building is simplyբարձր(partsr); a person is this compound - ԵրիտասարդyeridasartyoungThe same word as a noun means a young man, a youth
- ԲեղերpeghermustacheHere Armenian agrees with English and keeps the plural:
բեղեր(pegher) - ՆիհարniharslimTo lose weight is
նիհարել. The word is neutral — nothing rude about it - Արտաքինardak'inappearanceFrom
արտ-, the outer side; the same word means 'external':արտաքին(ardak'in) գործեր — foreign affairs - Զուարթzvart'cheerfulThe same root as
Զուարթնոց, the cathedral and Yerevan's airport — literally a 'place of the vigilant' - ՀանգիստhankisdcalmThe same word means 'rest' and 'quiet':
հանգիստ(hankisd) եղիր (yeghir) — be quiet, calm down - Քաղաքավարիk'aghak'avaripoliteFrom
քաղաք(k'aghak'), a city: being polite is being 'citified, courtly'. English draws the same line in 'urbanity' - ԾոյլdzuyllazyLaziness is
ծուլութիւն(dzulut'yun). Կը (gə) ծուլանամ — I feel lazy - ԽիզախkhizakhbraveThe word carries խ at both edges. The more conversational synonym is
համարձակ - ԱզնիւaznyuhonestHonesty is
ազնիւութիւն.Ազնիւ(aznyu) խօսք — one's honest word - Բնաւորութիւնpnavorut'yuncharacterFrom
բնութիւն(pnut'yun), nature: your character is your 'human nature'. A difficult character isծանր(dzanr)բնաւորութիւն(pnavorut'yun) - Հարսharsbridethe same word means daughter-in-law: for her husband's family she stays
հարս(hars) twenty years on - Փեսայp'esagroomthe փ is a p on a strong exhale: p'e-SA
- Ամուսնանալamusnanalto get marriedfrom
ամուսին(amusin), spouse. It serves man and woman alike — English splits into 'marry' and 'wed', Armenian needs one verb - Ամուսնալուծութիւնamusnaludzut'yundivorcesix syllables, stress on the last: a-mus-na-lu-dzu-T'YUN
- Ծնողներdznoghnerparentsfrom
ծնել, to give birth; one parent is aծնող. The word is long, so the plural takes the heavy -ներ - Եղբայրyeghpayrbrotherthe opening Ե reads 'ye'.
Եղբայր(yeghpayr) ջան — dear brother — is what you call a close friend, related or not - Քոյրk'uyrsisterthe ք is a k on an exhale: k'UYR, one syllable
- Տատիկdadiggrandmother-իկ is the endearment tail, the same as in
մայրիկ(mayrig). The stern form isտատ - Պապիկbabiggrandfatherthe partner of
տատիկ(dadig), wearing the same endearing -իկ - Քեռիk'erriuncleArmenian splits what English merges:
քեռի(k'erri) is the mother's brother,հօրեղբայրthe father's. Mixing them up is the classic learner's slip - Մօրաքոյրmorak'uyraunt
մօր— of the mother — plusքոյր(k'uyr), sister: the mother's sister. The father's isհօրաքոյր, built the same way onհայր - Թոռt'orrgrandsonan aspirated t' straight into a rolled rr: t'ORR
- Ազգականazkaganrelativefrom
ազգ, kin, a people — as inազգային տարազ(azkayin daraz), national costume. The whole clan isազգականներ - Զարմիկzarmigcousina female cousin is
զարմուհի(zarmuhi). In speech people more often just describe: քեռուս տղայն (dghayn) — my uncle's boy - Երեխաներyerekhanerchildrenthe plural of
երեխայ(yerekha), child; the word is long, so the plural is the heavy -ներ - Տղայdghaboythe same word means 'lad' and 'son'.
Տղայ(dgha) ջան is how you address a young man - Աղջիկaghchiggirlthe ղ is a soft throat scrape and ջ sounds like ch as in 'church' here: agh-CHIG
- Դուստրtusdrdaughterthe bookish word, the one for documents. At home a daughter is
աղջիկս— my girl - Քանի՞ տարեկան եսk'ani daregan yeshow old are you?literally 'how-many-years-ed are you'. After
քանի՞(k'ani) there is no plural: it isտարեկան(daregan), not 'years' - Տարիքdarik'agefrom
տարի(dari), year. On forms the field is labeled with exactly this word - Երեսուն տարեկան եմyeresun daregan emI am thirty years oldage is not 'had' and not 'to be' with a 'to me' form: you simply ARE thirty-years-ed.
Երեսուն(yeresun) is thirty - ՃաղատjaghadbaldStarts with ճ, read j in Western Armenian, as in
ճաշ(jash), dinner. Keep it apart fromճաղ, a bar in a fence: a long, thin piece of wood or metal - ՀասակhasagheightThe same word means 'age':
այս(ays) հասակին — at this age. Both senses grow fromհասնիլ(hasnil), to reach. Yourբարձրահասակ(partsrahasag) andցածրահասակ(tsadzrahasag), tall and short, are built from it - ՍլացիկslatsigslenderFrom
սլանալ, to dart: the slender person is a 'darter'. A compliment — the neutralնիհար(nihar), slim can sound like a worry about health - Միջին հասակիmichin hasagiof medium height
միջին(michin) is middle andհասակի(hasagi) is the possessive ofհասակ(hasag), height. Caution: միջին (michin) տարիքի, with the sameմիջին(michin), means 'middle-aged' - Առատաձեռնarradatserrngeneroustwo trilled rr's: ar-ra-da-TSERRN
- ՀամբերատարhamperadarpatientFrom
համբերել, to endure.Համբերէ— hold on, be patient: the phrase you will hear in queues and at the doctor's more than any other - ԱշխատասէրashkhadaserhardworkingYour
աշխատանք(ashkhadank'), work, plusսեր, love: a 'work-lover'. The -սեր tail gathers a whole family:գրքասեր, a book-lover,հիւրասեր, hospitable - Շփուողshp'voghsociabletwo syllables, the փ is a p on a breath: shp'-VOGH
- Հոգատարhokadarcaring
հոգis care andտանիլ(danil) is to carry: a 'care-carrier'. The same root stands inհոգալ, to look after, and inանհոգ, carefree - Դաստիարակուածtasdiaragvadzwell-manneredstress on the -ուած tail: tas-di-a-ra-GVADZ
- Հումորի զգացումhumori zkatsumsense of humor
զգացում(zkatsum) is a feeling, fromզգալ, to feel. The same measure measures taste and proportion: չափի (chap'i) զգացում (zkatsum) — a sense of proportion - Լկտիlgdibrazentwo syllables, three consonants at the start with no vowel: lg-DEE
- Խորամանկkhoramangcunning
խոր(Khor) is deep andմանկcomes fromմանկութիւն(mangut'yun), childhood: 'deep childishness', that is, trickery. In the fairy tales the fox is alwaysխորամանկ(khoramang)աղուէս(aghves) - Ցրուածtsrvadzabsent-mindedFrom
ցրուել, to scatter: about a person and about clouds alike —ցրուած(tsrvadz) ամպեր, scattered clouds. Attention, too, կը (gə) ցրուի — gets scattered - Դիւրաբորբոքtyuraporpok'hot-temperedfour syllables, stress at the end: tyu-ra-por-POK'
- Անտարբերandarperindifferent
ան-is 'un-' andտարբեր(darper) is different: to whom nothing makes a difference. The ան- prefix shelves a whole row of words:անհոգ, carefree,անամօթ, shameless,անշնորհք, graceless - Սովորութիւնsovorut'yunhabitFrom
սովոր, used to (սովորիլ, to get used to). One word covers habit and custom: ազգային (azkayin) սովորութիւններ — national customs - Ընկերուհիəngeruhifemale friendThe -ուհի tail makes the female of the male word:
ուսուցիչ(usutsich) becameուսուցչուհի(usutschuhi), a woman teacher. The same tail can tip 'female friend' toward 'girlfriend' — the sentence tells you which - ՏաղանդdaghanttalentAn international word that came from Greek by way of a unit of weight. Talented is
տաղանդաւոր, with the -աւոր tail meaning 'endowed with' - Ծնիլdznilto be bornThe partner of
ծնել, to give birth:ծնիլ(dznil), to be born oneself. The same root inծնող, a parent, andծնունդ, birth — as in birthday - Մանկութիւնmangut'yunchildhoodFrom
մանուկ, a small child, with the tail -ութիւն. The ու (u) drops out of the root:մանուկ→մանկ-.Երեխայ(yerekha) is a child in general;մանուկis tiny - Պատանեկութիւնbadanegut'yunadolescenceFive syllables, stress on the last: ba-da-ne-gu-T'YUN
- Հայրենի քաղաքhayreni k'aghak'hometownFrom
հայր, father — the same root asՀայրենիք, the homeland. The native language, though, isմայրենի(mayreni), from the mother: Armenian remembers who handed down what - Յուշhusha memoryA short word. Memory as a faculty is
յիշողութիւն— the same word as a phone's storage.Յուշ(hush) is one particular imprint of the past; memoirs areյուշեր - Ճակատագիրjagadakirfate
Ճակատ(jagad), forehead, plusգիր, writing: 'written on the forehead'. The picture is old and oriental, the word alive and common - Ընտանիք կազմելəndanik' gazmelto start a familyA family is not 'started' but 'formed':
կազմել, to compose — the same verb forms a sentence and a list - Աղքատaghk'adpoorthe ղ and ք stand together: a throaty gh followed by a k on an exhale — agh-K'AD
- Մանկութեան ընկերmangut'ean əngerchildhood friend
մանկութիւն(mangut'yun) is childhood in its possessive formմանկութեան(mangut'ean). The phraseմանկուց(manguts) means 'since childhood' and is built on the same root - Երեխաները դաստիարակելyerekhanerə tasdiaragelto raise childrenThe object carries the article -ը:
երեխաները(yerekhanerə) are your own, particular children. The upbringing itself isդաստիարակութիւն(tasdiaragut'yun) - Նշանադրութիւնnshanatrut'yunengagement
նշանis a sign andնշանուածis betrothed. About the day itself people sayնշանտուք - Նորապսակներnorabsagnernewlyweds
նոր(nor) is new andպսակis a wreath, a crowning: 'the newly crowned'. A solemn word, exactly in its place in a toast - Տնօրհնեքdnorhnek'housewarming
տուն(dun) is a house andօրհնելis to bless: in Armenia a priest is invited to the new home, and the feast is named after that rite - ՍուգsukmourningTo mourn is
սգալ, a person in mourning isսգաւոր. The fortieth day is commemorated separately and is calledքառասունք - Ինքնատիրապետումink'nadirabedumself-controlSaid as ink'-na-di-ra-be-dum. The linking -ա- stitches
ինքնandտիրապետելtogether - Համբերութիւնhamperut'yunpatienceThe adjective
համբերատար(hamperadar) means patient. The wishհամբերութիւն(hamperut'yun) is said to someone having a hard time - Եսասիրութիւնyesasirut'yunselfishness
ես(yes) I +սերlove: 'self-love'. The same -սիրութիւն assemblesհայրենասիրութիւն, patriotism, andհետաքրքրասիրութիւն(hedak'rk'rasirut'yun), curiosity - Ծուլութիւնdzulut'yunlazinessFrom
ծոյլ(dzuyl), lazy; inside the word the ոյ turns into ու (u). To idle isծուլանալ - Հետաքրքրասիրութիւնhedak'rk'rasirut'yuncuriosityA tongue-twister of four r's: he-da-k'rk'-ra-si-rut'-yun. Practice it syllable by syllable
- Պարկեշտութիւնbargeshdut'yunintegrityFrom
պարկեշտ, decent, modest.Ազնուութիւնmeans honesty and is about truth;պարկեշտութիւն(bargeshdut'yun) about conduct - Հնարամտութիւնhnaramdut'yunresourcefulness
հնարa way, a device +միտքthought: 'a thought for a way out'.Հնարք(hnark'), a trick, is the same root with a different sign - Անհոգութիւնanhokut'yuncarelessness
ան-without +հոգcare: 'without care'. The Armenian word is a shade softer than the English and not always a reproach - ՎճռականvjrraganresoluteThree consonants up front: վ-ճ-ռ. The ճ is a sharp j, the ռ a fully rolled r
- ԱմաչկոտamachgodshyFrom
ամչնալ(amchnal), to be embarrassed: its rootամաչ-plus -կոտ, the propensity suffix. The same -կոտ buildsլացկոտ, tearful, andվախկոտ, cowardly - ԶիջողzichoghaccommodatingA participle in -ող from
զիջիլ(zichil), to yield: 'the yielding one'. Think 'easy to deal with' rather than anything stronger - Ինքնասէրink'naservain
ինքնself +սերlove. The same prefixինքն-as inինքնատիրապետում(ink'nadirabedum) andինքնամփոփ(ink'namp'op') - Կարեկիցgaregitscompassionate
կարիքneed + -ակից, 'co-': 'feeling with the needy'. The nounկարեկցանք(garegtsank') is compassion - Ինքնամփոփink'namp'op'reserved
ինքնself +ամփոփելto gather into one: 'gathered into oneself'. Not about gloom, about closedness - Ուղղամիտughghamidblunt
ուղիղ(ughigh) straight +միտքthought: 'straight-thinking'. Two ղ's in a row, as inուղղութիւն, direction - ԱնկանխատեսելիangankhadeseliunpredictableThe negation of
կանխատեսելի(gankhadeseli), predictable. A long word, but it assembles from known parts - Զսպուիլzsbuilto hold backThree consonants up front: զ-ս-պ. A tiny 'uh' slips between them — 'zuh-sb-vil'
- Կատակ ընելgadag ənelto play a joke
կատակ(gadag) a joke +ընել(ənel) to do. On whom — the -ի 'of' form withվրայ(vra):անոր(anor) վրայ (vra)կատակ ընել(gadag ənel) - Ինքզինք պարտադրելink'zink' bardatrelto impose oneselfLiterally 'to impose oneself'.
Պարտադրել(bardatrel) is to force, fromպարտք(bardk'), a debt - Խօսքը պահելkhosk'ə bahelto keep one's wordThe same picture as English:
խօսքa word,պահել(bahel) to keep. To break one's word is խօսքը (khosk'ə) դրժել - Արժանանալarzhananalto earnFrom
արժանի, worthy. What you earn is in the 'to whom' form: մրցանակին (mrtsanagin)արժանանալ(arzhananal). The adjectiveանարժանmeans unworthy - Կշտամբելgshdampelto reproachThe noun
կշտամբանքis a reproach. The word is a touch bookish; in speech people sayնախատել(nakhadel) - Պարսաւելbarsavelto censureTo censure a deed.
Դատապարտել(tadabardel) is 'to condemn' and 'to sentence' in court;պարսաւել(barsavel) is only about opinion - Յոյսը չարդարացնելhuysə chartaratsnelto let downLiterally
յոյսը չարդարացնել(huysə chartaratsnel) — 'not to justify the hope'. The image of leading someone somewhere does not carry over: Armenian speaks of hope - Դիտմամբtidmampon purposeFrom
դիտաւորութիւն, intent, with the ending -ամբ. By accident isպատահաբար(badahapar) - Յիմարութենէhimarut'eneout of foolishness
Յիմարութիւն, foolishness, in the 'from' form: -ութիւն → -ութենէ. The English 'out of' is that ending here, not a preposition - Բարի մտադրութեամբpari mdatrut'eampwith the best intentionsLiterally 'with a good intention'.
Մտադրութիւն(mdatrut'yun) is an intention; the ending -եամբ givesմտադրութեամբ(mdatrut'eamp) - Ատիկա տգեղ էadiga dkegh ethat is not niceThe prefix տ- here is negative, and
գեղis beauty: 'unbeautiful'. Looks and deeds alike — just like 'nice' in English - Ան չարութենէ չէan charut'ene chehe means no harm
Չարութիւնis malice, fromչար(char), evil. The 'from' ending -է (-ութենէ) carries the English 'out of' - Վստահութիւնvsdahut'yuntrustFrom
վստահ(vsdah), sure. The verbվստահելis to trust, and the one you trust is in the 'to whom' form: ընկերոջս (əngerochs) կը (gə) վստահեմ - Խղճահարութիւնkhghjaharut'yunpityFour consonants up front: խ-ղ-ճ. Say it 'khuhghj-a-ha-rut'-yun'
- Ազդեցութիւնaztetsut'yuninfluenceFrom
ազդել(aztel), to influence. On whom — withվրայ(vra):անոր(anor) վրայ (vra)ազդեցութիւն(aztetsut'yun) - Հեղինակութիւնheghinagut'yunauthorityFrom
հեղինակ(heghinag), an author: authority is 'authorship' in people's eyes. The adjectiveհեղինակաւորmeans authoritative - Փոխադարձաբարp'okhatartsaparmutualFrom
փոխադարձ, mutual, plus -աբար, the adverb suffix. The answer to a compliment sounds exactly so:փոխադարձաբար(p'okhatartsapar) - Հաւասար հիմունքներովhavasar himunk'nerovon an equal footingLiterally 'on equal foundations'.
Հիմունքis a basis, fromհիմք(himk'); the plural with -ով givesհիմունքներով(himunk'nerov) - Լեզու գտնելlezu kdnelto hit it offLiterally 'to find a tongue' — the same idiom as the English 'find a common language'. With whom — with
հետ(hed):անոր(anor) հետ (hed)լեզու գտնել(lezu kdnel) - Հեռու մնալherru mnalto stay out of itLiterally 'to stay far'. What you stay away from takes the -էն 'from' ending: վէճէն (vejen)
հեռու մնալ(herru mnal) - Սկեսուրsgesurmother-in-law (husband's)The husband's mother. The wife's mother is
զոքանչ(zok'anch) — and no umbrella word covers both; the language insists on precision - Զոքանչzok'anchmother-in-law (wife's)The wife's mother, the pair of
սկեսուր(sgesur). In conversation the two must never be confused — the family tree hangs on it - Սկեսրայրsgesrayrfather-in-law (husband's)The husband's father:
սկեսուր(sgesur) plusայր, man. The wife's father isաներ— a different word again - ԵղբօրորդիyeghporortinephewԵղբօր (yeghpor)
որդի(vorti) fused — a brother's son; a sister's son isքրոջորդի, with no common word - Թոռնուհիt'orrnuhigranddaughter
Թոռ(t'orr) is a grandchild; the feminine tail -ուհի — the same as inուսուցչուհի(usutschuhi), a woman teacher — marks the girl - ԵրկուորեակներyergvoreagnertwinsFrom
երկու(yergu), two; in the singularերկուորեակis one of the twins - Հարազատներharazadnerrelatives
Ազգական(azkagan) is one relative in the dry register;հարազատներ(harazadner) is the whole warm crowd — the word itself feels near - Աւագ եղբայրavak yeghpayrolder brother
Աւագ(avak) is senior in standing; մեծ (medz)եղբայր(yeghpayr) is said of one who is simply bigger - Միակ երեխայmiag yerekhayonly child
Միակ(miag) — 'the only one' — stands before the noun unchanged, and the article lands on the noun: միակ (miag) երեխան (yerekhan) - Զարմուհիzarmuhicousin (female)
Զարմիկ(zarmig) is a boy cousin; the feminine tail -ուհի makes it a girl. Armenian cousins are sorted by sex, not by side - Խորթ մայրkhort' mayrstepmother
Խորթ(khort) means 'not one's own' — the same word builds խորթ (khort)եղբայր(yeghpayr), a half-brother. The fairy tales made this word famous - Խորթ հայրkhort' hayrstepfatherThe pair of
խորթ մայր(khort' mayr). There is also a single word —հօրու - Որբvorporphana word-initial ո reads 'vo': VORP, never 'orp'
- Կողակիցgoghagitsspouse
Կողis a side: 'the one at your side'. Genderless — in documents the word isամուսին(amusin)
Download the word set (CSV) · Open the printable sheet
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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.
What is worth knowing about these words
Ընկեր (ənger) — friend. Friend and comrade in one word. Plural: ընկերներ.
Ընտանիք (əndanik') — family. The people who live under one roof. Both standards say ընտանիք (əndanik').
Մայրիկ (mayrig) — mom. մայր (mayr) (mother) + -իկ, an affectionate ending that softens the word, the way '-y' does in English 'mommy'. հայրիկ (hayrig), daddy, is built the same way.
Հայրիկ (hayrig) — dad. հայր is father, and -իկ is an affectionate suffix, just as in մայրիկ (mayrig).
Test yourself
Recalling a spelling from meaning is harder than recognizing a familiar word — and therefore more useful.
- How do you say “friend” in Western Armenian?
Friend and comrade in one word. Plural:
ընկերներ - How do you say “neighbor” in Western Armenian?
Covers the person next door and the neighboring country alike:
հարեւան(harevan)երկիր(yergir) — a neighboring country - How do you say “woman” in Western Armenian?
Both 'woman' and 'wife': the possessive ending decides —
իմ(im) կինը (ginə) is my wife - How do you say “hair” in Western Armenian?
The singular
մազis one hair. About a hairstyle speak in the plural: մազերդ (mazert)գեղեցիկ(keghetsig) են (en) — your hair is beautiful - How do you say “fat” in Western Armenian?
About a person it sounds blunt; the politer choice is
լիքը(lik'ə) — 'full, plump'
How to learn the set instead of just reading it
Mum, friend, child, neighbour. The first thing people ask you about, and the first thing you tell about yourself.
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.
- Study spread over days wins 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 “friend” in Western Armenian?
«Ընկեր» (ənger), read “ənger”. Friend and comrade in one word. Plural: ընկերներ. It is one of 194 words in the set “people and family” — the rest are in the table above.
How many family words do you need to start?
The whole set on this page is 194 words, but there is no need to start with all of it: the words you will need in the next few days are enough. Take them a few at a time — five to seven new ones per session.