tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3137128160061780212024-03-05T13:26:56.084+00:00FREE ARMENIAN LESSONSLearn Eastern Armenian online (and now Western Armenian too!)Andrew Suzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526696604524560447noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313712816006178021.post-84475327746240679742017-05-16T17:44:00.003+01:002017-05-16T18:28:59.732+01:00LESSON 8B – THE VERB ‘TO HAVE’ (PAST TENSE) IN WESTERN ARMENIAN- ես ունէի * yes ounei * I had<br />
- դուն ունէիր * toun ouneir * you (singular) had<br />
- ան ունէր * an ouner * he/she/it had<br />
- մենք ունէինք * menk ouneink’ * we had<br />
- դուք ունէիք * touk ouneik * you (plural/formal) had<br />
- անոնք ունէին * anonk ounein * they had<br /><br />
Examples:<br /><br />
- վերարկու ունէի * verargou ounei * I had a coat<br />
- գլխարկ ունէիր * klkhark ouneir * you had a hat<br />
- կատու ունէր * gadou ouner * he/she had a cat<br />
- բնակարան ունէինք * pnagaran ouneink * we had a flat (apartment)<br />
- օդանաւ ունէիք * otanav ouneik * you (plural/formal) had an aeroplane<br />
- նաւ ունէին * nav ounein * they had a ship
Andrew Suzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526696604524560447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313712816006178021.post-12206055461126578052017-05-16T17:31:00.003+01:002017-05-16T17:31:14.555+01:00LESSON 8A – THE VERB ‘TO HAVE’ (PAST TENSE) IN EASTERN ARMENIAN- ես ունեի * yes unei * I had<br />
- դու ունեիր * du uneir * you (singular) had<br />
- նա ուներ * na uner * he/she/it had<br />
- մենք ունեինք * menk’ uneink’ * we had<br />
- դուք ունեիք * duk’ uneik’ * you (plural/formal) had<br />
- նրանք ունեին * nrank’ unein * they had<br /><br />
Examples:<br /><br />
- վերարկու ունեի * verarku unei * I had a coat<br />
- գլխարկ ունեիր * glkhark uneir * you had a hat<br />
- կատու ուներ * katu uner * he/she had a cat<br />
- բնակարան ունեինք * bnakaran uneink’ * we had a flat (apartment)<br />
- ինքնաթիռ ունեիք * ink’nat’irr uneik’ * you (plural/formal) had an aeroplane<br />
- նավ ունեին * nav unein * they had a ship
Andrew Suzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526696604524560447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313712816006178021.post-32004579814753772242017-03-26T19:03:00.001+01:002017-03-26T19:03:46.339+01:00LESSON 7B – THE VERB ‘TO HAVE’ (PRESENT TENSE) IN WESTERN ARMENIAN- ես ունիմ * yes ounim * I have<br />
- դուն ունիս * toun ounis * you (singular) have<br />
- ան ունի * an ouni * he/she/it has<br />
- մենք ունինք * menk ounink * we have<br />
- դուք ունիք * touk ounik * you (plural/formal) have<br />
- անոնք ունին * anonk ounin * they have<br /><br />
Examples:<br /><br />
- ինքնաշարժ ունիմ * inknasharzh ounim * I have a car<br />
- տուն ունիս * doun ounis * you have a house<br />
- շուն ունի * shoun ouni * he/she has a dog<br />
- ուտելիք ունինք * oudelik ounenk * we have food<br />
- բարեկամներ ունիք * paregamner ounek * you (plural/formal) have friends<br />
- հաց ունին * hats ounen * they have bread
Andrew Suzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526696604524560447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313712816006178021.post-50173099144394751322017-03-26T19:01:00.001+01:002017-03-26T19:01:05.361+01:00LESSON 7A – THE VERB ‘TO HAVE’ (PRESENT TENSE) IN EASTERN ARMENIAN- ես ունեմ * yes unem * I have<br />
- դու ունես * du unes * you (singular) have<br />
- նա ունի * na uni * he/she/it has<br />
- մենք ունենք * menk’ unenk’ * we have<br />
- դուք ունեք * duk’ unek’ * you (plural/formal) have<br />
- նրանք ունեն * nrank’ unen * they have<br /><br />
Examples:<br /><br />
- մեքենա ունեմ * mek’ena unem * I have a car<br />
- տուն ունես * tun unes * you have a house<br />
- շուն ունի * shun uni * he/she has a dog<br />
- ուտելիք ունենք * utelik’ unenk’ * we have food<br />
- բարեկամներ ունեք * barekamner unek’ * you (plural/formal) have friends<br />
- հաց ունեն * hats’ unen * they have bread
Andrew Suzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526696604524560447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313712816006178021.post-14688060135197197482016-05-05T13:11:00.000+01:002017-03-25T21:28:58.395+00:00LESSON 6B - THE VERB 'TO BE' (PAST TENSE) IN WESTERN ARMENIAN- ես էի * yes ei * I was<br />- դուն էիր * toun eir * you (singular) were<br />- ան էր * an er * he/she/it was<br />- մենք էինք * menk' eink' * we were<br />- դուք էիք * touk eik * you (plural/formal) were<br />- անոնք էին * anonk' ein * they were<br /><br />Examples:<br /><br />- Տունը մեծ էր * Dounë medz er * The house was big<br />- Շունը սեւ էր * Shounë sev er * The dog was black<br />- Ես կ'ուտէր * Yes g'ouder * I was eating<br />- Անոնք կը քալէին * Anonk gë kalein * They were walking<br /><br />With verbs, the ending is added to the verb stem as a suffix, eg. ուտ<b>էր</b>, քալ<b>էին</b>.<br />Dipthongs such as էի, էիր, էինք, էին are pronounced as if they were written էյի, էյիր, էյինք, էյինAndrew Suzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526696604524560447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313712816006178021.post-41703314853120629812016-04-28T12:03:00.002+01:002016-05-05T13:11:45.846+01:00LESSON 6A - THE VERB 'TO BE' (PAST TENSE) IN EASTERN ARMENIAN- ես էի * yes ei * I was<br />- դու էիր * du eir * you (singular) were<br />- նա էր * na er * he/she/it was<br />- մենք էինք * menk' eink' * we were<br />- դուք էիք * duk' eik' * you (plural/formal) were<br />- նրանք էին * nrank' ein * they were<br /><br />Examples:<br /><br />- Տունը մեծ էր * Tunë mets er * The house was big<br />- Շունը սեվ էր * Shunë sev er * The dog was black<br />- Ես ուտում էր * I was eating<br />- Նրանք քայլում էին * They were walking<br />Dipthongs such as էի, էիր, էինք, էին are pronounced as if they were written էյի, էյիր, էյինք, էյինAndrew Suzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526696604524560447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313712816006178021.post-24968377215987200172016-03-06T13:12:00.000+00:002016-05-30T11:39:50.995+01:00Just in case you are interested......here are the links for my other blogs:<br /><br />
<a href="http://thoughtsonwhatsafoot.blogspot.co.uk/">"Thoughts on What's Afoot"</a> (latitudinous lucubrations and other stray cerebrations).<br /><br />
<a href="http://andrewspaintings.blogspot.co.uk/">"Andrew's Art"</a> (drawings and paintings including a few home-made greeting cards).<br /><br />
<a href="http://luthersmarbles.blogspot.co.uk/">"Luther's Marbles"</a> (a blog about the Doctrine of the Trinity).Andrew Suzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526696604524560447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313712816006178021.post-16412194556465344922016-01-12T17:50:00.001+00:002016-01-12T17:50:10.133+00:00LESSON 5B - THE VERB 'TO BE' (PRESENT TENSE) IN WESTERN ARMENIAN- ես եմ * yes em * I am<br />- դուն ես * toun es * you (singular) are<br />- ան է * an e * he/she/it is<br />- մենք ենք * menk enk * we are<br />- դուք էք * touk ek * you (plural/formal) are<br />- անոնք են * anonk en * they are<br /><br />Examples:<br /><br />- Տունը մեծ է * Dounë medz e * The house is big<br />- Շունը սեվ է * Shounë sev e * The dog is black<br />- Դուն ճիշդ ես * Toun jisht es * You are correctAndrew Suzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526696604524560447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313712816006178021.post-48844472627016917142015-12-23T12:32:00.001+00:002015-12-23T12:32:15.991+00:00LESSON 4B - VOCABULARY (WESTERN ARMENIAN)As in Lesson 2 (and 2B), each word is written in Armenian, followed by the English transliteration and then the meaning.<br /><br />- գավաթ * kavat * cup<br />- թեյ * tey * tea<br />- մահճակալ * mahjagal * bed<br />- ննջել * nënchel * to sleep (note the unwritten ը sound between the first two letters)<br />- ննջասենյակ * nënchasenyag * bedroom<br />- հայր * hayr * father<br />- մայր * mayr * mother<br />- եղբայր * yeghpayr * brother<br />- քոյր * kouyr * sister<br />- որդի * vorti * son<br />- տղա * dgha * boy<br />- դուստր * dousdër * daughter<br />- աղջիկ * aghchig * girl<br />- սիրել * sirel * to like/love<br />- երթալ * yertal * to go<br />- նավ * nav * ship<br />- շոգեկառք * shokegarrk * train<br />- տեսնել * desnel * to see<br />- գտնել * kdnel * to find (verb)<br />- հիւանդ * hivant * ill, sick<br />- հիւանդանոց * hivantanots * hospital<br />- մեծ * medz * big<br />- ցուրտ * tsourd * cold<br />- սեւ * sev * black<br />- ճիշդ * jisht * true, correct<br /><br />With Armenian words, the stress is always on the final syllable. If the definite article is added, this is not stressed, but the stress is still placed on the final syllable of the word, before the article, eg. շոգե<strong>կառք </strong>(shoke<strong>garrk</strong> - train),<strong> </strong>շոգե<strong>կառք</strong>ը (shoke<strong>garrk</strong>ë - the train), հիւանդա<strong>նոց</strong> (hivanta<strong>nots</strong> - hospital) հիւանդա<strong>նոց</strong>ը (hivanta<strong>nots</strong>ë - the hospital).Andrew Suzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526696604524560447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313712816006178021.post-66514685319434671282015-12-20T19:58:00.003+00:002015-12-20T20:03:38.979+00:00LESSON 3B - WESTERN ARMENIAN PLURAL AND DEFINITE/INDEFINITE ARTICLE<strong>Plural</strong><br />In Western Armenian, as in Eastern, the plural is formed by adding the suffix եր (er) to the noun if it is a one syllable word or by adding the suffix ներ (ner) to the noun if it has more than one syllable.<br /><br />Examples:<br />- տուն * doun * house, տուներ * douner * houses<br />- գիրք * kirk * book, գիրքեր * kirker * books<br />- շուն * shoun * dog, շուներ * shouner * dogs<br />- սենյակ * senyag * room, սենյակներ * senyagner * rooms<br />- սեղան * seghan * table, սեղաններ * seghanner * tables<br /><br /><strong>Definite Article</strong><br />The definite article is the letter ը (uh) added to the end of the noun if the last letter of the noun is a consonant. If the last letter of the noun is a vowel, then the definite article is formed by adding the letter ն (n) at the end of the noun. However, if the noun is followed by a word which begins with a vowel then the letter ն is sometimes used for the definite article, even if the noun ends in a consonant. This is <i>always</i> the case if the noun is followed by the verb 'to be', eg. եմ, ես, է, ենք, էք, են or by the word ալ - meaning <i>also</i>.<br /><br /><strong>Indefinite Article</strong><br />The indefinite article is the word մը (më) which is placed after the noun, for example: գավաթ մը թեյ (kavat më tey - <em>a cup of tea</em>). The indefinite article is not always used, however, but a noun which is not in the definite article is assumed to be indefinite.Andrew Suzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526696604524560447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313712816006178021.post-1543297026179497152015-12-13T19:38:00.000+00:002015-12-13T22:45:17.108+00:00LESSON 2B - SOME BASIC WESTERN ARMENIAN WORDS AND PHRASESHere are some common Western Armenian words and phrases. In each case, the word or phrase has first been written in Armenian, followed by the English transliteration and then the meaning:<br /><br />- Բարեւ * Parev * Hello<br />- Ինչպե՞ս ես * Inchbes es? * How are you?<br />- շատ * shad * many; much; very<br />- լավ * lav * fine; well<br />- շատ լավ * shad lav * very good; very well<br />- շնորհակալութիւն * shnorhagaloutioun * thanks<br />- շնորհակալ եմ * shnorhagal em * thank-you (literally 'I am grateful')<br />- Շատ լավ եմ, շնորհակալ եմ * Shad lav em, shnorhagal em * I'm very well, thank-you<br />- բարի * pari * good; kind<br />- Բարի իրիկուն * Pari irigoun * good evening<br />- Բարի լոյս * Pari luys * good morning<br />- Բարի գալուստ * Pari kalousd * Welcome!<br />- Գիշեր բարի * Kisher pari * Good night<br />- Ցտեսութիւն * Tsdesoutioun (In many Armenian words there is an unwritten ը sound between two consonants. In this case, the word Ցտեսութիւն is pronounced as if it were written Ցըտեսութիւն) * Goodbye<br />- Իմ անունս Անդրեաս է * Im anouns Antreas e * My name is Antreas (Andrew)<br />- Պարոն * Baron * Sir; Mr.<br />- Տիկին * Digin * Madame; Mrs.<br />- Օրիորդ * Oriort * Miss<br /><br /><b>Pronunciation guide</b><br />
The combination իւ is pronounced as if it were written իու - for example in շնորհակալութիւն (thanks).<br />The combination ոյ is pronounced as if it were written ույ - for example in լոյս (morning).<br />Իմ անունս (my name) is pronounced as if it were written Իմ անունըս
Andrew Suzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526696604524560447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313712816006178021.post-56188613402755609982015-12-13T14:58:00.000+00:002015-12-13T19:07:13.459+00:00SOCIAL MEDIA STUFFThe FREE ARMENIAN LESSONS blog now has a presence on Twitter and Facebook!<br /><br />
The Facebook page can be found <a href="https://www.facebook.com/freearmenianlessons">here</a> and the Twitter account is @armenianlessonsAndrew Suzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526696604524560447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313712816006178021.post-91512206273411887422015-12-12T18:31:00.003+00:002021-12-19T15:42:44.176+00:00LESSON 1B - THE WESTERN ARMENIAN ALPHABETThe Armenian alphabet was devised in the 4th century AD by Saint Mesrop Mashtots - or Mesrob Mashdots in Western Armenian - (Մեսրոպ Մաշտոց) in order to translate the Bible into Armenian. It originally consisted of 36 letters but it now has 38. Western Armenian does not use the և (yev) combination of letters that we learned about in lesson 1. Some of the pronunciations of Western Armenian are different as well. The Western Armenian pronunciations are easier for those used to speaking English, as Western Armenian does away with the tricky, unaspirated consonant sounds, pronouncing them voiced consonants instead.<br />The 38 letters of the Western Armenian alphabet are as follows:</div><div></div><div>(1) Upper case: Ա, Lower case: ա, Name: ayp, Pronunciation: <em>a</em> in f<strong>a</strong>ther, English transliteration: a<br />(2) Upper case: Բ, Lower case: բ, Name: pen, Pronunciation: <em>p</em> in <strong>p</strong>ool, English transliteration: p<br />(3) Upper case: Գ, Lower case: գ, Name: kim, Pronunciation: <em>k</em> in <strong>k</strong>iss, English transliteration: k<br />(4) Դ, դ, ta, <em>t</em> in <strong>t</strong>eam, t<br />(5) Ե, ե, yech', <em>ye</em> in <strong>y</strong>et, ye/e<br />(6) Զ, զ, za, <em>z</em> in <strong>z</strong>oo, z<br />(7) Է, է, eh, <em>e</em> in p<strong>e</strong>t, e<br />(8) Ը, ը, ët, <em>er</em> in lett<strong>er</strong>, ë<br />(9) Թ, թ, t'oh, <em>t</em> in <strong>t</strong>eam, t<br />(10) Ժ, ժ, zheh, <em>s</em> in lei<strong>s</strong>ure, zh<br />(11) Ի, ի, ini, <em>i</em> in sk<strong>i</strong>, i<br />(12) Լ, լ, lioon, <em>l</em> in <strong>l</strong>ion, l<br />(13) Խ, խ, kheh, <em>ch</em> in German a<strong>ch</strong>tung, kh<br />(14) Ծ, ծ, dza, <em>dz</em> in a<strongdz</strong>e, dz<br />(15) Կ, կ, gen, <em>g</em> in <strong>g</strong>as, g<br />(16) Հ, հ, ho, <em>h</em> in <strong>h</strong>ave, h<br />(17) Ձ, ձ, tsa, <em>ts</em> in Pi<strong>zz</strong>a, ts<br />(18) Ղ, ղ, ghad, <em>r</em> in French Pa<strong>r</strong>is, gh<br />(19) Ճ, ճ, jeh, <em>j</em> in <strong>j</strong>ump, j<br />(20) Մ, մ, men, <em>m</em> in <strong>m</strong>other, m<br />(21) Յ, յ, hi, <em>h</em> in <strong>h</strong>ave and <em>y</em> in <strong>y</strong>es, h/y<br />(22) Ն, ն, nu, <em>n</em> in <strong>n</strong>umber, n<br />(23) Շ, շ, sha, <em>sh</em> in <strong>sh</strong>eep, sh<br />(24) Ո, ո, vo, <em>vo</em> in <strong>vo</strong>id, vo/o<br />(25) Չ, չ, ch'a, <em>ch</em> in <strong>ch</strong>eese, ch<br />(26) Պ, պ, beh, <em>b</em> in <strong>b</strong>aby, b<br />(27) Ջ, ջ, cheh, <em>ch</em> in <strong>ch</strong>eese, ch<br />(28) Ռ, ռ, rra, rolled <em>r</em> in Scottish 'mu<strong>r</strong>der', rr<br />(29) Ս, ս, seh, <em>s</em> in <strong>s</strong>ome, s<br />(30) Վ, վ, vev, <em>v</em> in <strong>v</strong>ote, v<br />(31) Տ, տ, dioon, <em>d</em> in <strong>d</strong>eal, d<br />(32) Ր, ր, reh, <em>r</em> in ve<strong>r</strong>y (but with the tongue touching the roof of the mouth), r<br />(33) Ց, ց, tso, <em>ts</em> in Pi<strong>zz</strong>a, ts<br />(34) Ւ, ւ, hioon, <em>v</em> in <strong>v</strong>ote, v<br />(35) Փ, փ, pioor, <em>p</em> in <strong>p</strong>ool, p<br />(36) Ք, ք, keh, <em>k</em> in <strong>k</strong>iss, k<br />(37) Օ, օ, o, <em>o</em> in f<strong>o</strong>il, o<br />(38) Ֆ, ֆ, feh, <em>f</em> in <strong>f</strong>ish, f<br /><br /></div><div></div><div><strong>Pronunciation guide</div><div></div><div></strong>The letter Ե/ե is pronounced as <em>ye</em> at the beginning of a word and as <em>e</em> in the middle of a word.</div><div></div><div>The letter Ո/ո is pronounced as <em>vo</em> at the beginning of a word and as <em>o</em> in the middle of a word.</div><div>The letter Յ/յ is pronounced as <em>h</em> at the beginning of a word and as <em>y</em> in the middle of a word. It is silent at the end of a word.</div><div>The letter The letter Ւ/ւ on its own is pronounced as<em> v </em>but the combination of Ո/ո and Ւ/ւ is pronounced as<em> ou </em>(as in s<b>ou</b>p), eg. դուն (english transliteration: toun, meaning 'you'. Note: I have transliterated this sound as 'ou' rather than 'u' (as I did in the Eastern Armenian lessons) because the vowel sounds tend to be slightly more elongated in Western Armenian.<br />When ՈՒ/ու is followed by a vowel, it is pronounced the same as Վ/վ.Andrew Suzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526696604524560447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313712816006178021.post-25927570080259306612015-12-12T16:38:00.000+00:002015-12-12T16:40:04.155+00:00I'M BACK!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLjKOIzQqm1mROoRvIfGmOYfhrjZKXWDOkZFLVaAiA_ITSUwjpf3ZZjS5V1cXe6H9y-J7HScKCzOUYhyphenhypheniwFpXhdk086HN1iLmcU3gloEmGEFuzK3mNC9FJGtP9V7fLV0OlcWGZdOyORUqL/s1600/UNESCO-Atlas-620x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLjKOIzQqm1mROoRvIfGmOYfhrjZKXWDOkZFLVaAiA_ITSUwjpf3ZZjS5V1cXe6H9y-J7HScKCzOUYhyphenhypheniwFpXhdk086HN1iLmcU3gloEmGEFuzK3mNC9FJGtP9V7fLV0OlcWGZdOyORUqL/s320/UNESCO-Atlas-620x300.jpg" /></a>Sorry I haven't made any new posts for a while (almost six years in fact!) but I've noticed that quite a few people are still checking out this site, so I've decided to continue with it.<br />However, as Western Armenian is now classed as an <a href="http://asbarez.com/83944/western-armenian-in-peril-unescos-recognition-and-the-question-of-contemporary-literature-in-the-exilic-language/">endangered language</a>, I feel I have a duty to do my bit to help preserve it. Consequently, the next five lessons are going to be in Western Armenian - they will be 'mirror' lessons to the ones I have posted so far on the Eastern dialect. From then on I will continue with lessons in both dialects, side by side with each other. So, if you've been following my lessons so far, why not now continue to learn both the Eastern and Western Armenian languages together? Andrew Suzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526696604524560447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313712816006178021.post-90335313672889397462008-03-21T13:11:00.004+00:002015-12-12T16:39:33.880+00:00LESSON 5 - THE VERB 'TO BE' (PRESENT TENSE)- ես եմ * yes em * I am<br />- դու ես * du es * you (singular) are<br />- նա է * na e * he/she/it is<br />- մենք ենք * menk' enk' * we are<br />- դուք եք * duk' ek' * you (plural/formal) are<br />- նրանք են * nrank' en * they are<br /><br />Examples:<br /><br />- Տունը մեծ է * Tunë mets e * The house is big<br />- Շունը սեվ է * Shunë sev e * The dog is black<br />- Դու ճիշտ ես * Du chisht es * You are correctAndrew Suzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526696604524560447noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313712816006178021.post-12665496714813339712008-01-06T22:30:00.003+00:002015-12-23T12:24:42.686+00:00LESSON 4 - VOCABULARYAs in Lesson 2, each word is written in Armenian, followed by the English transliteration and then the meaning.<br /><br />- գավաթ * gavat' * cup<br />- թեյ * t'ey * tea<br />- մահճակալ * mahchakal * bed<br />- ննջել * nënjel * to sleep (note the unwritten ը sound between the first two letters)<br />- ննջասենյակ * nënjasenyak * bedroom<br />- հայր * hayr * father<br />- մայր * mayr * mother<br />- եղբայր * yekhp'ayr (in some words the letter բ is pronounced like the letter փ. Also, when followed by a consonant, the letter ղ tends to be pronounced like the letter խ) * brother<br />- քույր * kuyr * sister<br />- որդի * vorti * son<br />- տղա * tgha * boy<br />- դուստր * dustër * daughter<br />- աղջիկ * akhch'ik (in some words, the letter ջ is pronounced like the letter չ) * girl<br />- սիրել * sirel * to like/love<br />- գնալ * gnal * to go<br />- նավ * nav * ship<br />- գնացք * gnatsk' * train<br />- տեսնել * tesnel * to see<br />- գտնել * gtnel * to find (verb)<br />- հիվանդ * hivand * ill, sick<br />- հիվանդանոց * hivandanots * hospital<br />- մեծ * mets * big<br />- ցուրտ * ts'urt * cold<br />- սեվ * sev * black<br />- ճիշտ * chisht * true, correct<br /><br />With Armenian words, the stress is always on the final syllable. If the definite article is added, this is not stressed, but the stress is still placed on the final syllable of the word, before the article, eg. գն<strong>ացք </strong>(gn<strong>atsk'</strong> - train),<strong> </strong>գն<strong>ացք</strong>ը (gn<strong>atsk'</strong>ë - the train), հիվանդա<strong>նոց</strong> (hivanda<strong>nots'</strong> - hospital) հիվանդա<strong>նոց</strong>ը (hivanda<strong>nots'</strong>ë - the hospital).Andrew Suzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526696604524560447noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313712816006178021.post-783989640246977182008-01-06T21:01:00.008+00:002015-12-20T19:35:44.622+00:00LESSON 3 - PLURAL AND DEFINITE/INDEFINITE ARTICLE<strong>Plural</strong><br />In Armenian, the plural is formed by adding the suffix եր (er) to the noun if it is a one syllable word or by adding the suffix ներ (ner) to the noun if it has more than one syllable.<br /><br />Examples:<br />- տուն * tun * house, տներ * tner * houses (the vowel combination ու in the final syllable of a word sometimes drops out, and is replaced by an unwritten ը, when a suffix is added)<br />- գիրք * girk' * book, գրքեր * grk'er * books (the vowel ի in the final syllable of a word sometimes drops out, and is replaced by an unwritten ը, when a suffix is added)<br />- շուն * shun * dog, շներ * shner * dogs<br />- սենյակ * senyak * room, սենյակներ * senyakner * rooms<br />- սեղան * seghan * table, սեղաններ * seghanner * tables<br /><br /><strong>Definite Article</strong><br />The definite article is the letter ը (uh) added to the end of the noun if the last letter of the noun is a consonant. If the last letter of the noun is a vowel, then the definite article is formed by adding the letter ն (n) at the end of the noun. However, if the noun is followed by a word which begins with a vowel, then the letter ն is often used for the definite article, even if the noun ends in a consonant.<br /><br /><strong>Indefinite Article</strong><br />The indefinite article is the word մի (mi), which precedes the noun, for example: Մի գավաթ թեյ (mi gavat' t'ey - <em>a cup of tea</em>). Often, however, the indefinite article is not used, as a noun which is not in the definite article is assumed to be indefinite.Andrew Suzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526696604524560447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313712816006178021.post-48544778597880414152007-10-31T15:19:00.004+00:002015-12-13T19:42:07.156+00:00LESSON 2 - SOME BASIC WORDS AND PHRASESHere are some common Armenian words and phrases. In each case, the word or phrase has first been written in Armenian, followed by the English transliteration and then the meaning:<br /><br />- Բարեւ * Barev * Hello<br />- Ինչպե՞ս ես * Inchpes es? * How are you?<br />- շատ * shat * many; much; very<br />- լավ * lav * fine; well<br />- շատ լավ * shat lav * very good; very well<br />- շնորհակալություն * shnorhakalut'yun * thanks<br />- շնորհակալ եմ * shnorhakal em * thank-you (literally 'I am grateful')<br />- Շատ լավ եմ, շնորհակալ եմ * Shat lav em, shnorhakal em * I'm very well, thank-you<br />- բարի * bari * good; kind<br />- Բարի երեկո * Bari yereko * good evening<br />- Բարի լույս * Bari luys * good morning<br />- Բարի գալուստ * Bari galust * Welcome!<br />- Բարի գիշեր * Bari gisher * Good night<br />- Ցտեսություն * Ts'tesut'yun (In many Armenian words there is an unwritten ը sound between two consonants. In this case, the word Ցտեսություն is pronounced as if it were written Ցըտեսություն) * Goodbye<br />- Իմ անունը Անդրեաս է * Im anunë Andreas e * My name is Andreas (Andrew)<br />- Պարոն * Paron * Sir; Mr.<br />- Տիկին * Tikin * Madame; Mrs.<br />- Օրիորդ * Oriort' (in some Armenian words the letter դ is pronounced like the letter թ) * MissAndrew Suzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526696604524560447noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313712816006178021.post-60269468680120088842007-10-30T20:00:00.002+00:002015-12-12T18:49:11.467+00:00LESSON 1 - THE ARMENIAN ALPHABET<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid9dOAWs_6nNSlTJtjaSLTApABSX-Qj_fB3NcJ8X8KsWTTa6ozk0kLxcRplTV5LMTCWuDDsZ7AGKZ2sN9vubbPmW9umhgo5nEVg77usIK8d4rUR0pVLkt9PSIQo3VdYhZQL60zNTykUbH7/s1600-h/AC_alphabet.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127222632113256850" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 238px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" height="320" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid9dOAWs_6nNSlTJtjaSLTApABSX-Qj_fB3NcJ8X8KsWTTa6ozk0kLxcRplTV5LMTCWuDDsZ7AGKZ2sN9vubbPmW9umhgo5nEVg77usIK8d4rUR0pVLkt9PSIQo3VdYhZQL60zNTykUbH7/s320/AC_alphabet.jpg" width="231" border="0" /></a><br /><div>The Armenian alphabet was devised in the 4th century AD by Saint Mesrop Mashtots (Մեսրոպ Մաշտոց) in order to translate the Bible into Armenian. It originally consisted of 36 letters but it now has 38 plus one extra letter - the letter և - which is really a combination of two letters (ե and ւ).</div><div></div><div>The 39 letters of the Armenian alphabet are as follows:</div><div></div><div>(1) Upper case: Ա, Lower case: ա, Name: ayb, Pronunciation: <em>a</em> in f<strong>a</strong>ther, English transliteration: a<br />(2) Upper case: Բ, Lower case: բ, Name: ben, Pronunciation: <em>b</em> in <strong>b</strong>aby, English transliteration: b<br />(3) Upper case: Գ, Lower case: գ, Name: gim, Pronunciation: <em>g</em> in <strong>g</strong>as, English transliteration: g<br />(4) Դ, դ, da, <em>d</em> in <strong>d</strong>eal, d<br />(5) Ե, ե, yech', <em>ye</em> in <strong>y</strong>et, ye/e<br />(6) Զ, զ, za, <em>z</em> in <strong>z</strong>oo, z<br />(7) Է, է, eh, <em>e</em> in p<strong>e</strong>t, e<br />(8) Ը, ը, ët, <em>er</em> in lett<strong>er</strong>, ë<br />(9) Թ, թ, t'oh, <em>t</em> in <strong>t</strong>eam, t'<br />(10) Ժ, ժ, zheh, <em>s</em> in lei<strong>s</strong>ure, zh<br />(11) Ի, ի, ini, <em>i</em> in sk<strong>i</strong>, i<br />(12) Լ, լ, lyun, <em>l</em> in <strong>l</strong>ion, l<br />(13) Խ, խ, kheh, <em>ch</em> in German a<strong>ch</strong>tung, kh<br />(14) Ծ, ծ, tsa, <em>ts</em> in <strong>ts</strong>ar, ts<br />(15) Կ, կ, ken, <em>k</em> in s<strong>k</strong>y, k<br />(16) Հ, հ, ho, <em>h</em> in <strong>h</strong>ave, h<br />(17) Ձ, ձ, dza, <em>dz</em> in a<strong>dz</strong>e, dz<br />(18) Ղ, ղ, ghad, <em>r</em> in French Pa<strong>r</strong>is, gh<br />(19) Ճ, ճ, cheh, <em>ch</em> in chur<strong>ch</strong>, ch<br />(20) Մ, մ, men, <em>m</em> in <strong>m</strong>other, m<br />(21) Յ, յ, yi, <em>y</em> in <strong>y</strong>es, y<br />(22) Ն, ն, nu, <em>n</em> in <strong>n</strong>umber, n<br />(23) Շ, շ, sha, <em>sh</em> in <strong>sh</strong>eep, sh<br />(24) Ո, ո, vo, <em>vo</em> in <strong>vo</strong>id, vo/o<br />(25) Չ, չ, ch'a, <em>ch</em> in <strong>ch</strong>eese, ch'<br />(26) Պ, պ, peh, <em>p</em> in s<strong>p</strong>am, p<br />(27) Ջ, ջ, jeh, <em>j</em> in <strong>j</strong>oke, j<br />(28) Ռ, ռ, rra, rolled <em>r</em> in Scottish 'mu<strong>r</strong>der', rr<br />(29) Ս, ս, seh, <em>s</em> in <strong>s</strong>ome, s<br />(30) Վ, վ, vev, <em>v</em> in <strong>v</strong>ote, v<br />(31) Տ, տ, tyun, <em>t</em> in s<strong>t</strong>ep, t<br />(32) Ր, ր, reh, <em>r</em> in ve<strong>r</strong>y (but with the tongue touching the roof of the mouth), r<br />(33) Ց, ց, ts'o, <em>ts</em> in Pi<strong>zz</strong>a, ts'<br />(34) Ւ, ւ, yiun, <em>u</em> in ch<strong>u</strong>te, u<br />(35) Փ, փ, p'yur, <em>p</em> in <strong>p</strong>ool, p'<br />(36) Ք, ք, k'eh, <em>k</em> in <strong>k</strong>iss, k'<br />(37) և(lower case only), yev, <em>yev</em> in tennis player <strong>Yev</strong>geny Kafelnikov, yev/ev<br />(38) Օ, օ, o, <em>o</em> in f<strong>o</strong>il, o<br />(39) Ֆ, ֆ, feh, <em>f</em> in <strong>f</strong>ish, f</div><div></div><div><strong>Pronunciation guide:</strong></div><div>The letters Կ/կ, Պ/պ, Տ/տ, Ծ/ծ and Ճ/ճ are <em><strong>un</strong>aspirated</em> sounds. That means that they should be pronounced without air escaping from your mouth! Practise by holding a piece of paper in front of your mouth and trying to pronounce the letters without the paper moving. The կ/Կ is similar to the normal English<em> k</em> but the sound is made slightly further back in the throat.</div><div></div><div>The letters Ք/ք, Փ/փ, Թ/թ, Ց/ց and Չ/չ are <em>aspirated</em> sounds and so should be pronounced with air behind them.</div><div></div><div>The letter Ե/ե is pronounced as <em>ye</em> at the beginning of a word and as <em>e</em> in the middle of a word.</div><div></div><div>The letter Ո/ո is pronounced as <em>vo</em> at the beginning of a word and as <em>o</em> in the middle of a word</div><div>The letter Ւ/ւ on its own is pronounced as<em> v </em>but the combination of Ո/ո and Ւ/ւ is pronounced as<em> u</em>, eg. դու (english transliteration: du, meaning 'you'). <div></div></div>Andrew Suzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526696604524560447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313712816006178021.post-59768236783024090532007-10-30T19:37:00.000+00:002015-10-22T10:51:30.850+01:00INTRODUCTIONThe Armenian language (called hayeren in Armenian) comes in two distinct flavours; arevelahayeren (which means Eastern Armenian) which is spoken in the Republic of Armenia, in the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and in the Armenian community of Iran; and arevmtahayeren (Western Armenian) which is spoken by Armenians living in Turkey and throughout the Armenian diaspora (except for Iran) although owing to more recent waves of immigration, the eastern dialect is increasingly being spoken in the diaspora alongside the western. The differences between the two dialects are not great, and they are mutually comprehensible.<br /><br />I think the western dialect has a very beautiful sound to it and it is also the Armenian which was spoken by my own ancestors, however I decided to concentrate more on learning Eastern Armenian because, as the official first language of what is now the internationally recognised Armenian State, its continued existence as a living language seems far more secure than that of Western Armenian.<br /><br />These lessons, then, will be in Eastern Armenian.Andrew Suzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526696604524560447noreply@blogger.com0