Armenian Language Basics

If you’re interested in Armenian, you’ve picked a great language to explore! Armenian is more than just a way to talk with others-it’s a living link to over 3,000 years of history and culture. While many European languages are part of the same families, Armenian is a separate branch in the Indo-European group, so it doesn’t have any close relatives. This makes it an interesting and unique choice, especially if you enjoy learning something a bit different.

What Is the Armenian Language?

Armenian, known to its speakers as hayeren, is an old and unique language. It is the official language of Armenia and is also used in Nagorno-Karabakh. However, Armenian speakers can be found around the world. Between 6 and 12 million people speak Armenian globally, partly because of large Armenian communities in many countries. So, learning Armenian can help you connect with people far beyond Armenia’s borders.

Where Is Armenian Spoken?

Armenia is the homeland of Armenian, but you’ll find speakers in countries such as Georgia, Egypt, Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Israel, the Palestinian Territories, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. There are also big groups in Russia, the United States, and France. This means whether you’re visiting Armenia or meeting Armenians abroad, even basic language skills will come in handy and help you make strong connections.

Armenian has two main types: Eastern and Western. Eastern Armenian is mainly used in Armenia and is what you’ll find in most learning materials. Western Armenian is more common among Armenians living outside Armenia, especially those whose roots come from what is now eastern Turkey, following events like the Armenian Genocide. Understanding either type lets you access Armenian culture and history.

Main Features of Armenian

Armenian has some features that make it stand out. One is its unique alphabet, which was specially created for the language. Its grammar is also quite regular, which makes learning rules a bit easier because there are not as many exceptions. Armenian usually puts the verb at the end of the sentence (Subject-Object-Verb), which is different from English. The language also uses several grammatical cases to show the role of nouns in a sentence, and verbs change based on who is doing the action, when it happened, and how it’s done. Don’t let the grammar scare you-with steady practice, it becomes easier over time.

Like in French or German, Armenian offers both formal and informal ways of addressing people. This helps you show respect depending on the situation. In Armenia’s capital, Yerevan, many young people speak English, but in other areas, Russian is also widely used, and you may also hear words from French or Farsi, showing Armenia’s close ties with many cultures.

The Armenian Alphabet: Letters and Pronunciation

The Armenian alphabet is a source of national pride. It was created in 405 AD by Mesrop Mashtots and serves not just for writing, but also had uses in numbers and even religious traditions. While the script can look complicated, Armenian spelling matches pronunciation closely, and when you learn what each letter sounds like, reading becomes much easier compared to English.

How Many Letters Are in the Armenian Alphabet?

The alphabet started with 36 letters but now has 39, after adding three new ones in the 12th century. Each letter represents a specific sound in the language, so learning the alphabet helps a lot when trying to read or speak Armenian.

Vowels and Consonants

There are 39 letters in the Armenian alphabet, including vowels and consonants. Here are a few basic examples:

• Ա/ա (ayb): like ‘a’ in “father”
• Ե/ե (yech): usually like ‘e’ in “pet”, or ‘ye’ in “yet” at the start of a word
• Է/է (eh): like ‘e’ in “pet”
• Ը/ը (ət): the ‘a’ in “about” (a quick, soft sound)
• Ի/ի (eeni): like ‘i’ in “pit”
• Ո/ո (vo): ‘o’ as in “dog”; ‘vo’ at the start of a word
• Ու/ու (oo): like ‘oo’ in “soon”

Some sounds in Armenian don’t exist in English, such as Խ/խ (kheh), like ‘ch’ in Scottish “loch”, or the rolled Ռ/ռ (ra), similar to the ‘r’ in Spanish. These may take a little practice to get right, but they’re part of the language’s character.

Special Letter: և (yev)

The letter և (yev) is interesting because it combines two letters into one sound. Usually, it sounds like the ‘yev’ in “devil,” but at the start of a word, it is pronounced with a ‘y’ sound. This shows how the Armenian alphabet has changed over time.

Tips for Good Pronunciation

• Listen Often: Try to hear native speakers as much as possible and copy their way of speaking. YouTube channels like “Learn Armenian with Hayk” can be a good place to start.
• Practice Every Day: Set aside a few minutes daily to go over sounds, then practice forming words and sentences.
• Record Yourself: Listening to yourself can show you where your accent is different from how natives talk.
• Word Stress: In Eastern Armenian, most words are stressed on the last syllable. Remembering this will help you sound more natural.
• Work on Unfamiliar Sounds: Spend extra time practicing sounds that aren’t found in English, like խ (kh) or ղ (ghat).
• Use Phonetic Tools: Take advantage of online resources or apps that have sound and spelling guides.

Basic Armenian Grammar Rules

At first, Armenian grammar may look hard, especially with its different word order and script. But it actually has very regular rules, and you’ll find that once you learn the basics, there aren’t too many surprises.

Personal Pronouns

Personal pronouns are simply words like “I”, “you”, or “they”. Armenian makes a difference between singular and plural “you”, and between informal and formal situations:

• Ես (Yes): I
• Դու (Doo): You (informal, one person)
• Նա (Nah): He/She/It
• Մենք (Menq): We
• Դուք (Dooq): You (formal, or for more than one person)
• Նրանք (Nranq): They

Use Դու (Doo) with friends or family, but Դուք (Dooq) when speaking to older people or those you don’t know well. This shows politeness and respect in Armenian culture.

Word Order in Sentences

Armenian usually places the verb at the end of a sentence (Subject-Object-Verb). For example, “I eat apples” in English would be “I apples eat” in Armenian. It may feel backwards at first, but you’ll get used to it. For example: “Ես հայերեն եմ սովորում” (Yes hayeren em sovorum) means “I am learning Armenian”, but it translates directly as “I Armenian am learning”.

Also, almost all nouns in Armenian are gender-neutral, so you don’t need to remember if words are “masculine” or “feminine” like in French or German. There’s no “a” or “an” before nouns either, which makes sentences simpler.

Grammatical Cases

Armenian nouns change their endings depending on their job in the sentence. There are five main cases, which are similar to using prepositions like “to” or “with” in English, but the noun itself changes.

• Nominative: The main form (subject or direct object)
• Dative: Shows “to” or possessive relationships
• Ablative: Means “from”
• Instrumental: Means “with” or “by”
• Locative: Means “in” or “at”

Some books mention seven cases, but five are the most important for starting out. Focus on learning when and how to use each, beginning with nominative and dative.

Verbs and Tenses

Verbs in Armenian change their form based on who is doing the action, when it happens, and how. While this may seem tricky, Armenian verbs follow regular patterns. Start by learning present tense for common verbs and add past and future tenses after you feel comfortable.

Positive and Negative Forms

In Armenian, verbs change differently for positive and negative meaning (like “understand” versus “don’t understand”). This is a regular pattern and makes it clear whether you mean yes or no in your sentences. With some practice, you’ll find this gets easier too.

Useful Armenian Words and Phrases

Knowing a few common words and greetings will help you connect with local people. Armenians are very welcoming, and even a small effort in speaking the language is usually appreciated.

Greetings and Social Phrases

• Hello:
  • Formal: Barev dzez (Բարև ձեզ)
  • Informal: Barev (Բարև)
  • Friendly: Voghdjooyn (ողջույն)
• Good Morning: Bari looys (Բարի լույս)
• Good Evening: Bari yereko (Բարի երեկո)
• Good Night: Bari Gisher (Բարի գիշեր)
• How are you?:
  • Formal: Inchpes ek? (Ինչպե՞ս եք)
  • Informal: Vonts es? (Ո՞նց ես)
• Fine, thank you:
  • Formal: Lav em, shnorhakalootyun. (Լավ եմ, շնորհակալություն.)
  • Informal: Lav, mersi. (Լավ, մերսի.)
• What is your name?:
  • Formal: Dzez inchpes dimel? (Ինչպե՞ս ձեզ դիմել?)
  • Informal: Anoond inch e? (Անունդ ի՞նչ է?)
• My name is…: Anoons [your name] e. (Անունս … է.)
• Pleased to meet you: Shat hacheli e. (Շատ հաճելի է.)
• Please: Khndrem (Խնդրեմ)
• Thank you: Shnorhakalutyun (Շնորհակալություն). Note: “Merci” (from French) is also common and understood.
• You’re welcome: Char-jee (Չարժե) or Khndrem (Խնդրեմ)
• Yes: Ayo (Այո) or ha (հա) in casual speech
• No: Voch (Ոչ) or che (չէ)
• Excuse me: Neerhorutsun (Ներողություն, formal), knerek (կներեք, informal)
• I’m sorry: Tsavum em (Ցավում եմ)
• Goodbye: Tstesutsyun! (Ցտեսություն!) or tsae! (ցաե!) informally
• I don’t understand: Chem haskanoom (Չեմ հասկանում)
• I don’t know: Chgitem (չգիտեմ)
• Do you speak English?: Dooq anglieren gheetek? (Դուք անգլերեն գիտե՞ք)
• Can you help me?: Indz koqneq? (Ինձ կօգնե՞ք?)

Numbers and Counting

• 0: Tsrho (Զրո)
• 1: Mek (Մեկ)
• 2: Yerku (Երկու)
• 3: Yerek (Երեք)
• 4: Chors (Չորս)
• 5: Hing (Հինգ)
• 6: Vetz (Վեց)
• 7: Yot (Յոթ)
• 8: Oot (Ութ)
• 9: Ine (Ինը)
• 10: Tas (Տաս)
• 20: Ksan (Քսան)
• 30: Yeresoon (Երեսուն)
• 40: Karasoon (Քառասուն)
• 50: Hisoon (Հիսուն)
• 60: Vatsoon (Վաթսուն)
• 70: Yotanasoon (Յոթանասուն)
• 80: Ootsoon (Ութսուն)
• 90: Inesoon (Իննսուն)
• 100: Haryur (Հարյուր)
• 1000: Hazar (Հազար)
• 1,000,000: Mek Milyon (Մեկ Միլիոն)

Telling Time and Dates

Time of Day

• What time is it?: Djame kanisen eh? (Ժամը քանիսն է՞)
• Morning: arravote (առավոտ)
• Afternoon: tserek (ցերեկ)
• Evening: yereko (երեկո)
• Night: gisher (գիշեր)
• Noon: kesor (կեսօր)
• Midnight: kesgisher (կեսգիշեր)

Days and Months

In Armenian, the week starts on Monday.

• Monday: Yerkushabti (Երկուշաբթի)
• Tuesday: Yerekshabti (Երեքշաբթի)
• Wednesday: Chorekshabti (Չորեքշաբթի)
• Thursday: Hingshabti (Հինգշաբթի)
• Friday: Oorbat (Ուրբաթ)
• Saturday: Shabat (Շաբաթ)
• Sunday: Kiraki (Կիրակի)

• January: Hoonvar (հունվար)
• February: Petervar (փետրվար)
• March: Mart (մարտ)
• April: April (ապրիլ)
• May: Mayis (մայիս)
• June: Hoonis (հունիս)
• July: Hoolis (հուլիս)
• August: Ogostos (օգոստոս)
• September: September (սեպտեմբեր)
• October: Hoktamber (հոկտեմբեր)
• November: Noyember (նոյեմբեր)
• December: Dektember (դեկտեմբեր)

How to Write Dates

Armenia uses the day.month.year format (dd.mm.yy). For example, September 2, 2025: 02.09.25.

Colors

• Black: Sev (Սեւ)
• White: Spitak (Սպիտակ)
• Gray: Mokhraguyn (մոխրագույն)
• Red: Karmir (Կարմիր)
• Blue: Kapuyt (Կապույտ, dark blue), Yerk’naguyn (երկնագույն, light blue)
• Yellow: Deghin (դեղին)
• Green: Kanach (կանաչ)
• Orange: Narandjaguyn (նարնջագույն)
• Purple: Manushakaguyn (մանուշակագույն)
• Pink: Vardaguyn (վարդագույն)
• Brown: Shaghinakaguyn (շագանակագույն)

Directions and Getting Around

How to Ask for Directions

• Where is…? Oor eh? (Ու՞ր է?)
• How do I get to…? Inchpes karogh em hasnel…? (Ինչպե՞ս կարող եմ հասնել _____։)
• Turn right: Arch (Աջ) or Teckvek arch (Թեքվեք աջ)
• Turn left: Dzakh (Ձախ) or Teckvek dzakh (Թեքվեք ձախ)
• Straight ahead: Ughigh (ուղիղ)
• Where is the bathroom? Vortegh e zugarany? (Որտե՞ղ է զուգարանը?)

Transport Phrases

• Where is the bus stop?: Vortegh eh kangareh? (Որտե՞ղ է կանգառը?)
• Bus station: Avtokayan (Ավտոկայան)
• Train station: Kayaran (կայարան)
• Bus: Avtobus (Ավտոբուս)
• Taxi!: Taxi! (Տաքսի՛)
• Take me to… please: Tarek indz _____, khndrum em. (Տարեք ինձ _____, խնդրում եմ։)
• How much is a taxi to…? Inchqan petk e vtsarem minchev… (ինչքան պետք է վճարեմ մինչեւ…)

Taxis in Armenia are usually affordable. For the first five kilometers, the fare is about 600 AMD, and then 100 AMD for each extra kilometer. Always check that the meter is working.

Shopping and the Market

• How much is this?: Es inch arje? (Էս ինչ արժե?) or Inchqan eh? (Ինչքա՞ն է?)
• Shop: Khanoot (Խանութ)
• Grocery Store: Mterayin (Մթերային)
• Market: Bazar (Բազար) or Shuka (շուկա)
• Closed: Pak (Փակ)
• Open: Batz (Բաց)
• Can I have a bag?: Toprak ktak? (Տոպրակ կտա՞ք)
• That’s too expensive: Shat tank eh. (Շատ թանկ է։)
• I don’t want it: Yes ayn chem ouzum. (Ես այն չեմ ուզում։)
• O.K., I’ll take it: Lav, yes ayn vertsnum em. (Լավ, ես այն վերցնում եմ։)

If you want to bargain at the market, try saying “verjin ginn e?” (վերջին գինն է?), to ask if that’s the best price available.

Ordering Food and Drinks

• Can I see the menu?: Menyun kbereq? (Մենյուն կբերե՞ք?)
• Can I get the bill?: Hashiveh kbereq? (Հաշիվը կբերե՞ք?)
• Water: Jhur (Ջուր)
• Wine: Gini (Գինի)
• Beer: Garejur (Գարեջուր)
• Coffee: Soorch (Սուրճ)
• Tea: Tey (Թեյ)
• I’m vegetarian: Yes mis chem ootum. (Ես միս չեմ ուտում։)
• It was delicious: Shat hamegh er. (Շատ համեղ եր։)

Money and Currency

Armenia uses the dram (AMD) as its currency.

• Bank: Baank (Բանկ)
• Currency exchange: Drami phokhanakoom (Դրամի փոխանակում)
• Can you change money for me?: Karogh ek indz hamar pogh poxanakel? (Կարո՞ղ եք ինձ համար փող փոխանակել)
• Where can I change money?: Vortegh karogh em poxanakel im poghy? (Որտե՞ղ կարող եմ փոխանակել իմ փողը)
• Do you accept credit cards?: Dooq endunum ek kreditayin qarter? (Դուք ընդունու՞մ եք կրեդիտային քարտեր)

Making Friends and Casual Conversation

• I love you: Siroom em kez (Սիրում եմ քեզ)
• My name is…: Im anunae… (Իմ անունը…)
• I am from…: Es… (Ես…)

The word “djan” (ջան) is often used after a name and shows kindness and friendliness. Phrases like “mernem djanid” and “cavd tanem” express deep affection and care-these are special ways Armenians show love and warmth in conversation.

How to Grow Your Armenian Vocabulary

Learning more words is the base for fluency. Regular practice, even learning 10-15 new words a week, can help a lot. Using these new words in everyday situations makes them easier to remember.

Tips for Growing Your Word List

• Use Flashcards: Write the Armenian word on one side and the English meaning on the other. Apps like Anki and Quizlet help repeat words until you know them well.
• Learn by Theme: Group words by topic (food, travel, family) so you link related words together in your mind.
• Focus on Useful Words: Start with high-frequency words you’ll hear and use the most.
• Learn Words in Sentences: Don’t just memorize single words-quiet sentences help you remember usage and grammar.
• Make Associations: Use images, rhymes, or funny stories to help remember new words. For example, picture a “car mirror” for “karmir” (red).
• Label Things at Home: Put Armenian labels on common items around your living space.
• Keep a Small Notebook: Write down new words and their meanings, with an example sentence if possible.
• Immerse Yourself: Listen to Armenian music, watch TV shows or movies, or read simple books to surround yourself with the language.
• Speak Regularly: Use new words in conversation whenever you can, even if it’s just with yourself at first.

Helpful Resources for Learning Armenian

Learning Armenian is much easier with good materials and support. You can use textbooks, online tools, mobile apps, and language groups or forums. Try a few to see which match your needs best.

Suggested Books and Apps

• Books:
  • “Armenian for Everyone” by Tadevos Khachatryan offers simple explanations and exercises.
  • “Eastern Armenian for the English-Speaking World” by Jasmine Dum-Tragut is helpful for beginners focused on the Eastern dialect.
  • Phrasebooks, like those found on Wikivoyage, are handy for travel and common expressions.
• Apps:
  • Duolingo, Babbel, Memrise: These apps break down Armenian into short lessons and daily practice.
  • Anki, Quizlet: Excellent for reviewing vocabulary with flashcards and spaced repetition.
  • Talkpal: An AI chat tool for practicing speaking, writing, listening, and so on, with features for grammar and conversation practice.

Online Courses and Language Practice Partners

• Websites: Useful free material can be found at armenianlanguage.org, armeniapedia.org, and dictionaries like Glosbe and Wiktionary.
• YouTube: Lessons on “Learn Armenian with Hayk” and similar channels offer listening and pronunciation practice.
• Exchange Sites: Tandem and HelloTalk connect you to native Armenian speakers wanting to practice your language in exchange.
• Online Groups: Subreddits such as r/learnarmenian and Facebook groups provide tips, daily word lists, and a place to ask questions and get support.

Practice with Native Speakers

• Get Feedback: Native speakers can point out pronunciation and help you sound more natural.
• Build Confidence: Talking to Armenians often makes you more comfortable using the language in real life.
• Learn Local Slang: You’ll pick up sayings and cultural habits you won’t find in books.
• Apply New Skills: Putting words and grammar into practice during real conversations helps cement your learning.

If you’re in Armenia, many people in Yerevan know English, but outside the capital, using Armenian or Russian becomes much more useful. Some groups, such as Envoy Tours, even have free Armenian starter lessons for visitors, which are a great way to practice and meet locals. Remember: The more you use the language, even with mistakes, the faster you will improve!