Understanding the Basics: Numbers in Armenian

Before diving into telling time, it’s crucial to have a solid grasp of Armenian numbers, as they form the foundation for expressing hours, minutes, and seconds.

Armenian Numbers from 1 to 12

The Armenian language uses unique words for numbers, especially important since hours on the clock go from 1 to 12. Here are the numbers 1 through 12 in Eastern Armenian, which is the standardized form taught worldwide:

• 1 — մեկ (mek)
• 2 — երկու (yerku)
• 3 — երեք (yerek’)
• 4 — չորս (chors)
• 5 — հինգ (hing)
• 6 — վեց (vets’)
• 7 — յոթ (yot’)
• 8 — ութ (ut’)
• 9 — ինը (iny)
• 10 — տաս (tas)
• 11 — տասնմեկ (tasnmek)
• 12 — տասներկու (tasnerku)

Numbers for Minutes and Seconds

When telling time, you’ll often need numbers up to 59 for minutes and seconds. Here are some key numbers to know:

• 15 — տասնհինգ (tasnhing)
• 20 — քսան (k’san)
• 30 — երեսուն (yeresun)
• 45 — քառասունհինգ (k’arrasunhing)
• 50 — հիսուն (hisun)
• 59 — հիսունինը (hisuniny)

For learners, practicing these numbers regularly will make it easier to comprehend and express times accurately.

How to Ask for the Time in Armenian

Before you can tell the time, you need to know how to ask for it politely. Here are some common phrases:

• Ժամը ինչ է: (Zhamy inch e?) — What time is it?
• Ժամը ժամը քանի՞ է: (Zhamy zhamy kani e?) — What hour is it?

These questions are straightforward and commonly used in conversational Armenian.

Expressing Hours in Armenian

The Structure of Telling Hours

In Armenian, telling the hour is quite direct. The word for “hour” is ժամ (zham). When stating the hour, you simply say the number followed by “ժամ.”

For example:

• 1 o’clock — մեկ ժամ (mek zham)
• 5 o’clock — հինգ ժամ (hing zham)
• 12 o’clock — տասներկու ժամ (tasnerku zham)

Using the 12-Hour and 24-Hour Formats

Armenians commonly use both 12-hour and 24-hour formats, depending on the context:

• 12-hour format: Used in informal speech; often combined with phrases like “in the morning” or “in the evening.”
• 24-hour format: Used in formal contexts like transportation schedules, official documents, and news reports.

Examples of time with periods of day:

• 3 p.m. — Երեքին երեկոյան (Yerekin yerekojan) — literally “three in the evening”
• 7 a.m. — Յոթին առավոտյան (Yotin aravotyan) — “seven in the morning”

Expressing Minutes and Seconds

Using Minutes with Hours

To tell time precisely, you need to add minutes after the hour. The word for minute is րոպե (rope).

The structure is:

[hour] ժամ [minutes] րոպե

Examples:

• 2:15 — երկու ժամ տասնհինգ րոպե (yerku zham tasnhing rope)
• 6:30 — վեց ժամ երեսուն րոպե (vets’ zham yeresun rope)

Using “Half Past” and “Quarter Past/To” Expressions

Just like in English, Armenian has expressions for “half past” and “quarter past/to”:

• Half past (30 minutes): “կես” (kes) meaning “half”
• Quarter past (15 minutes): “չորսորդ” (ch’orsord) meaning “quarter”

Examples:

• Half past 4 — չորս կէս (chors kes)
• Quarter past 2 — երկու չորսորդ (yerku ch’orsord)
• Quarter to 5 — հինգից չորսորդ առաջ (hingits ch’orsord araj)

(literally “a quarter before five”)

Expressing Seconds

Although less commonly needed for daily time-telling, seconds can be expressed with the word վայրկյան (vayrk’yan).

Example:

• 10 seconds — տաս վայրկյան (tas vayrk’yan)

Common Phrases and Examples for Telling Time

To help you practice, here are some frequently used phrases and their translations:

• It’s 7 o’clock — Ժամը յոթ է (Zhamy yot’ e)
• It’s half past 9 — Տասներկու կէս է (Tasnerku kes e) — Note: This means “half past twelve,” so use the correct hour accordingly
• It’s 3:45 — Երեքից քառորդ առաջ է (Yerekits k’arrord araj e) — “a quarter to four”
• It’s 12:30 — Տասներկու և երեսուն (Tasnerku yev yeresun)
• The meeting is at 4 p.m. — Հանդիպումը ժամը չորսին է երեկոյան (Handipumy zhamy chorsin e yerekojan)

Tips for Mastering Time-Telling in Armenian

• Practice Numbers Daily: Consistent practice with Armenian numbers will improve fluency in telling time.
• Use Language Apps Like Talkpal: Interactive platforms such as Talkpal offer real-time conversations and lessons to reinforce your skills.
• Listen to Native Speakers: Engage with Armenian media, like radio or podcasts, to hear how time is naturally expressed.
• Practice Writing Time: Write down different times and say them aloud to build muscle memory.
• Learn Time-related Vocabulary: Familiarize yourself with words like “morning” (առավոտ — aravot), “evening” (երեկո — yereko), “night” (գիշեր — gisher) for context.

Conclusion

Mastering the art of telling time in Armenian is a rewarding step toward fluency and cultural immersion. Understanding numbers, the structure of time expressions, and common phrases empowers learners to communicate effectively and confidently. With tools like Talkpal, practicing these skills becomes interactive and fun, making your language journey smoother and more enjoyable. Incorporate these lessons into your daily routine, and soon telling time in Armenian will become second nature. Whether scheduling your day or simply chatting with friends, knowing how to express time is an invaluable part of your Armenian language toolkit.