Learning a new language can be both exhilarating and challenging. Armenian, with its rich history and unique alphabet, is no exception. Whether you’re planning a trip to Armenia, have Armenian heritage, or simply want to expand your linguistic skills, mastering some basic Armenian words is a great place to start. In this article, we will cover essential Armenian words and phrases that every beginner should know.
Basic Greetings and Farewells
One of the first things you will want to learn when tackling a new language is how to greet people and say goodbye. Here are some fundamental Armenian greetings and farewells:
– Hello – Բարեւ (Barev)
– Goodbye – Ցտեսություն (Tstesutyun)
– Good morning – Բարի լույս (Bari luys)
– Good evening – Բարի երեկո (Bari yereko)
– Good night – Բարի գիշեր (Bari gisher)
These phrases will help you make a good first impression when meeting new people in an Armenian-speaking environment.
Common Polite Expressions
Politeness is crucial in any culture, and knowing how to express yourself politely in Armenian will be greatly appreciated. Here are some essential polite expressions:
– Please – Խնդրում եմ (Khndrum em)
– Thank you – Շնորհակալություն (Shnorhakalutyun)
– You’re welcome – Խնդրեմ (Khndrem)
– Excuse me – Ներեցեք (Nerets’ek)
– I’m sorry – Ներողություն (Neroghootyoon)
Using these words will show that you respect the language and culture, making your interactions smoother and more pleasant.
Basic Questions and Answers
Communication is a two-way street, and asking questions is a fundamental part of learning. Here are some basic questions and responses:
– Yes – Այո (Ayo)
– No – Ոչ (Voch)
– What is your name? – Անունդ ի՞նչ է: (Anund inch e?)
– My name is… – Իմ անունը … է (Im anuny … e)
– How are you? – Ինչպե՞ս ես: (Inchpes es?)
– I am fine, thank you – Լավ եմ, շնորհակալություն (Lav em, shnorhakalutyun)
These questions and answers will allow you to engage in simple conversations and get to know people better.
Numbers
Understanding numbers is crucial for various everyday activities, such as shopping, telling time, or understanding prices. Here are the numbers from one to ten in Armenian:
1. One – Մեկ (Mek)
2. Two – Երկու (Yergu)
3. Three – Երեք (Yerek)
4. Four – Չորս (Chors)
5. Five – Հինգ (Hing)
6. Six – Վեց (Vets)
7. Seven – Յոթ (Yot)
8. Eight – Ութ (Ut)
9. Nine – Ինը (Iny)
10. Ten – Տաս (Tas)
These basic numbers will come in handy in many different situations.
Days of the Week
Knowing the days of the week is essential for planning activities and understanding schedules. Here are the days of the week in Armenian:
– Monday – Երկուշաբթի (Yerkushabti)
– Tuesday – Երեքշաբթի (Yerekshabti)
– Wednesday – Չորեքշաբթի (Chorekshabti)
– Thursday – Հինգշաբթի (Hingshabti)
– Friday – Ուրբաթ (Urbat)
– Saturday – Շաբաթ (Shabat)
– Sunday – Կիրակի (Kiraki)
These words will help you understand and discuss time-related topics.
Essential Verbs
Verbs are the action words of any language and are crucial for constructing meaningful sentences. Here are some essential Armenian verbs:
– To be – Լինել (Linel)
– To have – Ունենալ (Unenal)
– To go – Գնալ (Gnal)
– To come – Գալ (Gal)
– To eat – Ուտել (Utel)
– To drink – Խմել (Khmell)
– To see – Տեսնել (Tesnel)
– To hear – Լսել (Lsel)
– To speak – Խոսել (Khosel)
– To understand – Հասկանալ (Haskanal)
Mastering these verbs will enable you to form basic sentences and express actions.
Common Nouns
Nouns are essential for identifying people, places, and things. Here are some common Armenian nouns that you should know:
– Man – Տղամարդ (Tghamard)
– Woman – Կին (Kin)
– Child – Երեխա (Yerekha)
– House – Տուն (Tun)
– Car – Մեքենա (Mekena)
– Book – Գիրք (Girk)
– Water – Ջուր (Jur)
– Food – Սնունդ (Snund)
– Friend – Ընկեր (Unker)
– Family – Ընտանիք (Untanik)
These nouns will help you identify and discuss basic concepts and objects.
Colors
Colors are an important part of everyday language, especially when describing objects or choosing items. Here are the basic colors in Armenian:
– Red – Կարմիր (Karmir)
– Blue – Կապույտ (Kapuyt)
– Green – Կանաչ (Kanach)
– Yellow – Դեղին (Deghin)
– Black – Սև (Sev)
– White – Սպիտակ (Spitak)
Knowing these colors will enhance your descriptive abilities.
Useful Phrases for Travel
If you are learning Armenian for travel purposes, these phrases will be particularly useful:
– Where is the bathroom? – Որտեղ է զուգարանը? (Vortegh e zoogaran?)
– How much does this cost? – Ինչքա՞ն արժե սա: (Inchkan arzhe sa?)
– I would like… – Ես կցանկանայի… (Yes kts’ankanayi…)
– Can you help me? – Կարո՞ղ եք ինձ օգնել: (Karogh eq indz ognel?)
– I don’t understand – Ես չեմ հասկանում (Yes chem haskanum)
– Do you speak English? – Դուք անգլերեն խոսո՞ւմ եք: (Duk angleren khosum eq?)
These phrases will help you navigate various situations while traveling in an Armenian-speaking region.
Food and Drink
Food and drink are integral parts of any culture. Here are some basic Armenian words related to food and drink:
– Bread – Հաց (Hats)
– Cheese – Պանիր (Panir)
– Meat – Միս (Mis)
– Fruit – Մրգեր (Mrger)
– Vegetables – Բանջարեղեն (Banjareghen)
– Wine – Գինի (Gini)
– Beer – Գարեջուր (Garejur)
– Tea – Թեյ (Tey)
– Coffee – Սուրճ (Surj)
– Water – Ջուր (Jur)
Knowing these words will help you enjoy Armenian cuisine and beverages to the fullest.
Emergency Phrases
In case of emergencies, knowing the right phrases can be crucial. Here are some important emergency phrases in Armenian:
– Help! – Օգնեցեք! (Ognetsek!)
– Call the police – Զանգեք ոստիկանություն (Zangek vostikanutyun)
– I need a doctor – Բժիշկ է պետք (Bzhishk e petk)
– I’m lost – Ես մոլորվել եմ (Yes molorvel em)
– It’s an emergency – Սա արտակարգ իրավիճակ է (Sa artakarg iravijak e)
These phrases will help you seek assistance in critical situations.
Family Members
Discussing family is a common topic in conversations. Here are the Armenian words for family members:
– Father – Հայր (Hayr)
– Mother – Մայր (Mayr)
– Brother – Եղբայր (Yeghbayr)
– Sister – Քույր (Kuyr)
– Son – Որդի (Vordi)
– Daughter – Դուստր (Dustr)
– Husband – Ամուսին (Amusin)
– Wife – Կին (Kin)
These words will help you talk about your family and understand others when they discuss theirs.
Professions
Knowing how to talk about professions can be very useful. Here are some common Armenian words for professions:
– Doctor – Բժիշկ (Bzhishk)
– Teacher – Ուսուցիչ (Usutsich)
– Engineer – Ինժեներ (Inzhener)
– Artist – Նկարիչ (Nkarich)
– Chef – Խոհարար (Khoharar)
– Lawyer – Փաստաբան (P’astaban)
These words will help you discuss occupations and understand what others do for a living.
Conclusion
Learning a new language is a journey, and beginning with essential words and phrases is a great way to start. This article has provided you with a comprehensive list of Armenian words that are crucial for beginners. By practicing these words and incorporating them into your daily conversations, you’ll be well on your way to becoming proficient in Armenian. Remember, consistency and practice are key, so keep practicing and expanding your vocabulary, and soon you’ll find yourself more comfortable and confident in your Armenian language skills. Happy learning!
