For language learners aiming to achieve a B1 level in Armenian, it’s essential to expand your vocabulary to include a wide array of words that are commonly used in everyday conversations, texts, and media. At this intermediate level, you will need to understand and use more complex structures, idiomatic expressions, and nuanced vocabulary. This article will help you build that vocabulary by introducing some important Armenian words and phrases that can greatly enhance your language proficiency.
Common Nouns
Nouns form the backbone of any language, and Armenian is no exception. Here are some essential nouns that you should know:
1. **տուն** (*tun*) – House
2. **դպրոց** (*dprots*) – School
3. **աշխատանք** (*ashkhatankh*) – Work
4. **ընկեր** (*ynker*) – Friend
5. **ընտանիք** (*yntanik*) – Family
6. **քաղաք** (*kaghak*) – City
7. **գիրք** (*girkh*) – Book
8. **հարց** (*harts*) – Question
9. **պատասխան** (*pataskhan*) – Answer
10. **լույս** (*luys*) – Light
These nouns are the building blocks for creating more complex sentences and engaging in meaningful conversations.
Key Verbs
Verbs are crucial for expressing actions, events, and states. Here are some important verbs to master at the B1 level:
1. **անել** (*anel*) – To do
2. **ասել** (*asel*) – To say
3. **գրել** (*grel*) – To write
4. **կարդալ** (*kardal*) – To read
5. **նայել** (*nayel*) – To watch
6. **լսել** (*lsel*) – To listen
7. **գնել** (*gnel*) – To buy
8. **ուտել** (*utel*) – To eat
9. **խմել** (*khmel*) – To drink
10. **քնել** (*k’nel*) – To sleep
Understanding these verbs will allow you to describe a wide range of actions and activities in Armenian.
Adjectives for Description
Adjectives help to provide more information about nouns, making your sentences richer and more detailed. Here are some adjectives you should know:
1. **մեծ** (*mets*) – Big
2. **փոքր** (*p’vok’r*) – Small
3. **արագ** (*arag*) – Fast
4. **դանդաղ** (*dandagh*) – Slow
5. **հին** (*hin*) – Old
6. **նոր** (*nor*) – New
7. **հեշտ** (*heshd*) – Easy
8. **դժվար** (*dzhvar*) – Difficult
9. **գեղեցիկ** (*geghetsik*) – Beautiful
10. **տգեղ** (*tgegh*) – Ugly
These adjectives will come in handy when you need to describe people, places, things, and experiences.
Useful Phrases
Knowing some key phrases can make your conversations smoother and more natural. Here are a few to get you started:
1. **Ինչպես եք?** (*Inch’pes ek?*) – How are you?
2. **Ես լավ եմ:** (*Yes lav em:*) – I am fine.
3. **Ի՞նչ է Ձեր անունը:** (*Inch’ e Dzer anun@?*) – What is your name?
4. **Իմ անունը … է:** (*Im anun@ … e:*) – My name is …
5. **Որտեղ եք ապրում?** (*Vortegh ek aprum?*) – Where do you live?
6. **Ես ապրում եմ …** (*Yes aprum em …*) – I live in …
7. **Կարող եմ օգնել?** (*Karogh em ognel?*) – Can I help?
8. **Շնորհակալություն:** (*Shnorhakalut’yun:*) – Thank you.
9. **Խնդրում եմ:** (*Khndrum em:*) – Please.
10. **Կներեք:** (*Knerek’*) – Excuse me.
These phrases will be particularly useful in everyday interactions and help you sound more polite and courteous.
Conjunctions and Connectors
To create more complex sentences, you’ll need to use conjunctions and connectors. Here are some important ones:
1. **և** (*yev*) – And
2. **բայց** (*bayts*) – But
3. **կամ** (*kam*) – Or
4. **որովհետև** (*vorovhetev*) – Because
5. **եթե** (*ete*) – If
6. **մինչև** (*minchev*) – Until
7. **երբ** (*yerb*) – When
8. **մինչ** (*minch*) – While
9. **որ** (*vor*) – That
10. **ինչպես** (*inch’pes*) – Like
These words will help you link ideas and sentences smoothly, making your speech and writing more cohesive.
Time Expressions
Time expressions are essential for talking about events and actions. Here are some you should know:
1. **այժմ** (*ayzhm*) – Now
2. **հետո** (*heto*) – Later
3. **նախկինում** (*nakhkinum*) – Before
4. **հետագայում** (*hetagayeva*) – In the future
5. **հաճախ** (*hajakh*) – Often
6. **երբեմն** (*yerbemn*) – Sometimes
7. **միշտ** (*misht*) – Always
8. **երբեք** (*yerbek*) – Never
9. **վաղը** (*vagh@*) – Tomorrow
10. **երեկ** (*yerek*) – Yesterday
Mastering these expressions will help you clearly indicate when things happen, an important aspect of effective communication.
Numbers and Quantities
Understanding numbers and quantities is crucial for everyday tasks like shopping, telling time, and discussing quantities. Here are some key terms:
1. **մեկ** (*mek*) – One
2. **երկու** (*yerku*) – Two
3. **երեք** (*yerek*) – Three
4. **չորս** (*ch’ors*) – Four
5. **հինգ** (*hing*) – Five
6. **վեց** (*vets*) – Six
7. **յոթ** (*yot’*) – Seven
8. **ութ** (*ut’*) – Eight
9. **ինը** (*in@*) – Nine
10. **տաս** (*tas*) – Ten
These numbers will be useful in various scenarios, from making purchases to planning your schedule.
Prepositions
Prepositions are small but mighty words that help to indicate relationships between different elements in a sentence. Here are some common prepositions:
1. **մեջ** (*mej*) – In
2. **վրա** (*vra*) – On
3. **տակը** (*tak@*) – Under
4. **հետ** (*het*) – With
5. **առանց** (*arrants*) – Without
6. **առջև** (*arrjev*) – In front of
7. **հետևում** (*hetevyum*) – Behind
8. **մոտ** (*mot*) – Near
9. **հեռու** (*herru*) – Far
10. **միջով** (*mijov*) – Through
These prepositions will help you describe locations, directions, and relationships between objects and people.
Expressions of Emotion
Being able to express your emotions is key to effective communication. Here are some Armenian words to help you convey how you feel:
1. **երջանիկ** (*yerjanik*) – Happy
2. **տխուր** (*tkhur*) – Sad
3. **զայրացած** (*zayratsats*) – Angry
4. **վախեցած** (*vakhec’ats*) – Scared
5. **հաճելի** (*hajeli*) – Pleasant
6. **ձանձրալի** (*dzandzrali*) – Boring
7. **հուզված** (*huzvats*) – Excited
8. **խառը** (*kharr@*) – Confused
9. **հպարտ** (*hapart*) – Proud
10. **հոգնած** (*hognats*) – Tired
Knowing these words will enable you to express your feelings and better understand others’ emotions.
Idiomatic Expressions
Idiomatic expressions often provide deeper insights into a culture and can make your speech more natural. Here are a few Armenian idioms:
1. **Ձեռքը բռնել:** (*Dzerrk@ brnel:*) – To hold someone’s hand (to help someone)
2. **Հաց ու պանիր:** (*Hats u panir:*) – Bread and cheese (simple, basic)
3. **Աչք ու ականջ:** (*Achk u akanj:*) – Eye and ear (to be very attentive)
4. **Սիրտը տաքացնել:** (*Sirt@ takac’nel:*) – To warm the heart (to make someone happy)
5. **Գլուխը պահել:** (*Glukh@ pahel:*) – To keep one’s head (to stay calm)
Using idiomatic expressions can make your speech more engaging and authentic.
Practice Makes Perfect
To effectively learn and retain these words, it’s essential to practice them in context. Here are a few tips:
1. **Use Flashcards:** Create flashcards with the Armenian word on one side and the English translation on the other. Review them regularly.
2. **Engage in Conversations:** Try to use these words in your daily conversations with native speakers or fellow learners.
3. **Write Essays:** Write short essays or diary entries using as many of these words as possible.
4. **Read and Listen:** Read Armenian books, watch Armenian movies, and listen to Armenian music or podcasts to see how these words are used in context.
5. **Language Exchange:** Participate in language exchange programs where you can practice speaking with native Armenian speakers.
By incorporating these words into your daily practice, you’ll find yourself becoming more confident and proficient in Armenian. Happy learning!