Armenian Proverbs And Phrases

A collection of Armenian Proverbs to inspire you. Wise Armenian sayings in the form of proverbs that have been passed down for generations.

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Armenians (հայերhayer [hɑˈjɛɾ]) are an ethnic group native to the Armenian Highlands of Western Asia.

Armenian roots come from an ancient kingdom of Van that ruled from the 1200s to 800s BC. It was later assimilated into Median, Macedonian, and Roman Empires. Armenia was one of the first regions in the world to adopt Christianity as its religion, which it did in the early 300s AD. See Armenian Mythology

Armenia The Monastery Of Khor Virap Ararat Landscape

The Monastery Of Khor Virap Ararat, Armenia

A calf is not found under an ox. – Armenian Proverb

A drowning man will clutch at straws. – Armenian Proverb

A girl with a golden cradle doesn’t remain long in her father’s house. – Armenian Proverb

A lost rope is always long. – Armenian Proverb

A mother-in-law should be blind in one eye and deaf in one ear. – Armenian Proverb

A mule can swim seven different strokes but the moment he sees the water he forgets them all. – Armenian Proverb

A mule laden with gold is welcome at every castle. – Armenian Proverb

A pain in the foot is soon forgotten — a pain in the head is not. – Armenian Proverb

A small cloud can hide the sun and the moon. – Armenian Proverb

A woman is like the moon-some nights it is silver others gold. – Armenian Proverb

Advice is a free gift that can become expensive for the one who gets it. – Armenian Proverb

All men have three ears, one on the left of his head, one on the right and one in his heart. – Armenian Proverb

All riches come from the earth. – Armenian Proverb

Always tell the truth in the form of a joke. – Armenian Proverb

As mills require two stones, so friendship requires two heads. – Armenian Proverb

Ashamed of what she sees in the daytime the sun sets with a blush. – Armenian Proverb

At death’s door a man will beg for the fever. – Armenian Proverb

Be neither sweet and swallowed, nor sour and spurned. – Armenian Proverb

Because the cat was given no meat, he said it was Friday. – Armenian Proverb

Before the fat one slims, the slim one will die. – Armenian Proverb

Better to be an ant’s head than a lion’s tail. – Armenian Proverb

Better to lose your eye than your good name. – Armenian Proverb

Birds are caught with seed, men with money. – Armenian Proverb

Choose a friend with the eyes of an old man, and a horse with the eyes of a young one. – Armenian Proverb

Clouds and thunder don’t always result in rain. – Armenian Proverb

Clouds that thunder do not always rain. – Armenian Proverb

Dine with a friend but do not do business with him. – Armenian Proverb

Dogs that fight each other will join forces against the wolf. – Armenian Proverb

Don’t count the teeth of a gift horse. – Armenian Proverb

Even if the nightingale is in a gold cage, she still dreams of returning to the forest. – Armenian Proverb

Friendship is not born of words alone. – Armenian Proverb

From heart to heart there is a path. – Armenian Proverb

Give a horse to the one who likes the truth so that on it he can escape. – Armenian Proverb

Grief for the loss of a child is a burning shirt. – Armenian Proverb

He that asks knows one shame; he that doesn’t knows two. – Armenian Proverb

He who cannot pray at home will celebrate mass somewhere else. – Armenian Proverb

He who looks for a friend without a fault will never find one. – Armenian Proverb

He who speaks a lot learns little. – Armenian Proverb

Heaven and hell are in this world. – Armenian Proverb

He’s looking for the donkey while sitting on it. – Armenian Proverb

How can one start a fast with baklava in one’s hand. – Armenian Proverb

However much fruit a tree bears, it humbles its head that much more. – Armenian Proverb

I know many songs, but I cannot sing. – Armenian Proverb

If a rich man dies, all the world is moved; if a poor man dies, nobody knows it. – Armenian Proverb

If a woman hears that something unusual is going on in heaven, she would find a ladder to go and look. – Armenian Proverb

If there was wisdom in beards, all goats would be prophets. – Armenian Proverb

If they send two baskets of shit to our city, one will come to our house. – Armenian Proverb

If you cannot become rich, be the neighbor of a rich man. – Armenian Proverb

If you chase two rabbits [at the same time], you won’t catch either of them. – Armenian Proverb

If you speak too much, you will learn too little. – Armenian Proverb

In a foreign place, the exile has no face. – Armenian Proverb

In every man’s heart there is a sleeping lion. – Armenian Proverb

It is better to carry stones with a wise man than accept the meal of a madman. – Armenian Proverb

It’s better to carry stones with a wise man than to eat pilaf with a fool. – Armenian Proverb

It’s better to go into captivity with the whole village than to go to a wedding alone.

Keep peeling an onion and it will disappear. – Armenian Proverb

Land of Armenians, land of orphans. – Armenian Proverb

Land of Armenians, land of sorrow. – Armenian Proverb

Let it be one and fine. – Armenian Proverb

Let’s sit crooked and talk straight. – Armenian Proverb

Literacy is a golden bracelet. – Armenian Proverb

Love did not grow any garlic. – Armenian Proverb

Measure seven times, cut once. – Armenian Proverb

Men have three ears: one on the left of the head, one on the right of the head, and one in the heart. – Armenian Proverb

No one will give a pauper bread, but everybody will give him advice. – Armenian Proverb

On a rainy day many offer to water the chickens. – Armenian Proverb

On a rainy day, many people volunteer to water the chickens. – Armenian Proverb

Once we give shoulder to shoulder, we can turn mountains. – Armenian Proverb

One idiot threw a stone in the well, forty wise people could not get it out. – Armenian Proverb

Priest on the outside, Satan on the inside. – Armenian Proverb

Quiet horses kick the hardest. – Armenian Proverb

Spring will not come with one flower. – Armenian Proverb

Stand away from dwarfs, for it’s God who hit them on the head. – Armenian Proverb

Tears have meaning but only he who sheds them understands. – Armenian Proverb

The bee gets honey from the same flower where the snake sucks her poison. – Armenian Proverb

The butterfly who settles on a branch is afraid that he will break it. – Armenian Proverb

The dowry that a woman brings is like a bell; every time she passes by she hits you with the clapper. – Armenian Proverb

The eagle was killed by an arrow made from its own feathers. – Armenian Proverb

The fool’s tongue is always long. – Armenian Proverb

The friend who helps me and the enemy who does me no harm, make a pair of earrings. – Armenian Proverb

The gravity of the earth is so strong that the old grey man walks crooked. – Armenian Proverb

The hungry dream of bread, the thirsty of water. – Armenian Proverb

The lid rolled and found its pot. – Armenian Proverb

The only sword that never rests is the tongue of a woman. – Armenian Proverb

The person who looks for a friend without faults will remain friendless. – Armenian Proverb

The stones of my native country are warmer than the ovens of Babylon. – Armenian Proverb

The sun won’t stay behind the cloud. – Armenian Proverb

The tongue of the fool is always long. – Armenian Proverb

The voice of the people is louder than the boom of a canon. – Armenian Proverb

The water goes, the sand remains; The person dies, the memory remains. – Armenian Proverb

The water in which one drowns is always an ocean. – Armenian Proverb

The wolf is upset about what he left behind, and the shepherd is upset about what he took away. – Armenian Proverb

The woman who loves her husband corrects his faults; the man that loves his wife exaggerates them. – Armenian Proverb

The world agrees in one word, time is golden. – Armenian Proverb

The world is a pot, man but a spoon in it. – Armenian Proverb

There is no reason for war that reasonable men can’t settle. – Armenian Proverb

They asked a bullfrog, “Why do you croak all the time?” He replied, “I’m enchanted with my voice.” – Armenian Proverb

Thunder clouds do not always give rain. – Armenian Proverb

To ask a favor from a miser is like trying to make a hole in water. – Armenian Proverb

To be willing is only half the job. – Armenian Proverb

To be willing is only half the task. – Armenian Proverb

To pick up in a clumsy way is stealing, to steal in a skillful way is to pick up. – Armenian Proverb

Toss your good deeds into the sea and the waves will carry them back to you. – Armenian Proverb

Walk with the devil, but don’t let go of his tail. – Armenian Proverb

Wealth can give legs to the cripple, beauty to the ugly, and sympathy to tears. – Armenian Proverb

Whatever you sow, that’s what you’ll reap. – Armenian Proverb

When asked, “What news from the sea?” The fish replied “I have a lot to say, but my mouth is full of water.” – Armenian Proverb

When someone’s wealth improves, all of a sudden their house’s columns appear to be crooked. – Armenian Proverb

When someone’s wealth improves, their home’s columns suddenly appear crooked. – Armenian Proverb

When the cart breaks down, advice abounds. – Armenian Proverb

When the cart breaks down, advice is plentiful. – Armenian Proverb

When the fox can’t reach the grape, he says it’s unripe – Armenian Proverb

When the thief has stolen from a thief, God laughs in heaven. – Armenian Proverb

When they gave the donkey flowers to smell, he ate them. – Armenian Proverb

When your fortune improves, the columns of your house appear to be crooked. – Armenian Proverb

Where is there a tree not shaken by the wind? – Armenian Proverb

Whoever drinks on credit gets drunk more quickly. – Armenian Proverb

You are as many a person as languages you know. – Armenian Proverb

You cannot erase what is written on your forehead. – Armenian Proverb

You cannot escape destiny. – Armenian Proverb

You cannot hit the point of a needle with a fist. – Armenian Proverb

You cannot put a fire out with spit. – Armenian Proverb

You don’t satisfy your hunger by watching others work. – Armenian Proverb

Armenian Proverbs and Phrases

  • Արևն ամպի տակ չի մնայ։
    • Transliteration: Arevn ampi tak chi mnay.
    • Translation: The sun won’t stay behind the cloud.
    • Meaning: The truth won’t stay hidden and will come out.
    • English equivalent: A lie has short legs.
    • “Any fool can tell the truth, but it requires a man of some sense to know how to lie well.”
    • Samuel Butler, The Note-Books of Samuel Butler (1912)
    • Književnost. 1986.
  • Խնձորը ծառից հեռու չի ընկնում։
    • Transliteration: Khndzorë tsarits’ heru chi ënknum.
    • Translation: The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
    • Meaning: Children observe daily and — in their behaviour — often follow the example of their parents.
    • Այգեկցի, Ավագյան (2004). Առյուծը, աղվեսնուարջը: Առակ: Նախադպր. եւկրտսերդպր. տարիքիհամար. Արեւիկ. pp. 16.
    • Source for meaning: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 259. ISBN 1-875943-44-7.
  • Կարմիր կովը կաշին չի փոխի։
    • Transliteration: Karmir kovë kashin chi p’okhi.
    • Translation: The red cow won’t change his hide.
    • Meaning: Some people don’t change.
    • “Armenian Proverbs and the Biblical Scripture”: 7.
  • Ուշ լինի, (ա)նուշ լինի։
    • Ush lini, (a)nush lini.
    • Translation: Let it be late, let it be good.
    • Meaning: It does not matter if something takes long to complete, as long as the end result is desirable.
    • Pinter (2006). Art, Truth \& Politics: The Nobel Lecture. Faber \& Faber. pp. 24. ISBN 0571233961.
  • Աղւէսը բերանը խաղողին չի հասնում, ասում է՝ խակ է:
    • Transliteration: Aghves@ beran@ khaghoghin chi hasnoom, asoom e khak e.
    • Translation: When the mouth of the fox can’t reach the grape, he says it’s unripe.
    • Meaning: When one can’t achieve something downplays it.
  • Ամեն փայտ շերեփ չի դառնա, ամեն սար՝ Մասիս:
    • Transliteration: Amen payt sherep chi darna, amen sar Masis.
    • Translation: Not every piece of wood will become a ladle, nor every mountain Masis (the higher peak of Ararat.)
    • Not everyone is capable of achieving the same height.
  • Ամենին մի աչքով է նայում:
    • Transliteration: Amenin mi achqov e nayoom.
    • Translation: S/he sees everyone with one eye.
    • Meaning: S/he sees/treats everyone equally.
  • Աշխարհը մի խոսքի է, ժամանակը ոսկի է:
    • Transliteration: Ashkharh@ mi khosqi e, zhamanak@ voski e.
    • Translation: The world agrees in one word, time is golden.
  • Աչքը ինչ տեսնար, սիրտը չի մոռնար:
    • Transliteration: Achq@ inch tesnar, sirt@ chi mornar.
    • Translation: Whatever the eye sees, the heart won’t forget.
  • Առաջ մտածիր, հետո խոսիր:
    • Transliteration: Arach mtatzir, heto khosir.
    • Translation: First think, then speak.
  • Արևին ասում է դուրս մի արի՝ ես դուրս եմ եկել:
    • Transliteration: Arevin asoom e doors mi ari, yes doors em yekel.
    • Translation: She tells the sun: don’t rise, I have come out.
    • Meaning: Used referring to someone’s extreme beauty.
  • Բազարի աչքը հանել ես:
    • Transliteration: Bazari achq@ hanel es.
    • Translation: You have taken out the eye of the bazaar.
    • Meaning: You bought the worst stuff in the market.
  • Բախտը մի անգամ է այցելում:
    • Transliteration: Bakht@ mi anqam e aytseloom.
    • Translation: Fortune visits only once.
    • Meaning: Don’t miss a good opportunity.
  • Գայլի գլխին Աւետարան են կարդում, ասում է՝ շուտ արէ՛ք, գալլէս գնաց:
    • Transliteration: Gayli glkhin Avetaran en kartoom, asoom e shoot arek, galles gnats.
    • Translation: While they are reading the Bible to the wolf, it says: hurry up, my flock is leaving.
    • Meaning: After giving advice on doing good to someone, s/he still hastens to do the bad.
  • Գառը՝ գարնան, ձիւնը՝ ձմռան:
    • Transliteration: Gar@ garnan, dzyoon@ dzmran.
    • Translation: Lamb in the spring, snow in the winter.
    • Meaning: Everything has its own time. [This is also a tongue-twister]
  • Գետը ամեն անգամ գերան չի բերի:
    • Transliteration: Get@ amen anqam geran chi beri.
    • Translation: The river won’t bring a log every time.
    • Meaning: You wont always get lucky.
  • Գիւղը կանգնի՝ գերան կը կոտրի:
    • Transliteration: Gyoogh@ kangni, geran k@ kotri.
    • Translation: If the village stands, it can break a trunk.
    • Meaning: Strength increases in unity.
  • Գողը գողից գողացաւ, Աստւած նայեց՝ զարմացաւ:
    • Transliteration: Gogh@ goghits goghatsav, Astvatz nayets zarmatsav.
    • Translation: The thief stole from the thief, God looked on and got astonished.
  • Գուցէ ուզեցաւ իրեն գցի հորը, դու էլ կը՞ գցես:
    • Transliteration: Gootse oozetsav iran gtsi hor@, doo el k@ gtses?
    • Translation: Maybe s/he wanted to throw herself/himself in the well, would you follow?
    • Meaning: Don’t follow others blindly.
  • Դուն քուն, բախտդ արթուն:
    • Transliteration: Toun koun, pakhdt artoun.
    • Translation: When you are asleep, your luck works out for you.
    • Meaning: Used when someone gets lucky when least expected.
  • Եկաւ ունքը սարքի՝ աչքն էլ քոռացրեց:
    • Transliteration: Yekav oonq@ sarqi, achqn el qoratsrets.
    • Translation: S/he tried to fix the eyebrow, ended up blinding the eye too.
    • Meaning: Used when someone tries to fix something minor, but causes a bigger problem.
  • Երբ որ կացինը եկաւ անտառ, ծառերը ասացին… «Կոտը մերոնցից է:»
    • Transliteration: Erb vor katsin@ ekav antar, tsarer@ asatsin… <<kot@ merontsits e>>
    • Translation: When the axe came to the forest, the trees said: “The handle is one of us.”
    • Meaning: There is no one to blame but self in a given situation.
  • Երբ որ մեծնաս այս ամենը կը մոռնաս:
    • Transliteration: Yerp vor medznas ays ameneh geh mornas.
    • translation: When you grow up you will forget it happened.
    • Meaning: Used in reference for emotional and physical pain(cuts, bumps, worry, concern, etc) in order to comfort the individual from that experience.
  • Երգեր շատ գիտեմ, բայց երգել չգիտեմ:
    • Transliteration: Yerger shat gitem, bayts yergel chgitem.
    • Translation: I know many songs, but I cannot sing.
    • Meaning: I know the method something should be done, but I cannot actually do it.
  • Եօթ անգամ չափիր, մէկ անգամ կտրիր:
    • Transliteration: Yot anqam chapir, mek anqam ktrir.
    • Translation: Measure seven times, cut once.
    • Meaning: Think thoroughly before you act.
  • Էս ականջով լսում է, մյուսով դուրս է անում:
    • Transliteration: Es akanjov lsoom e, myoosov doors e anoom.
    • Translation: S/he hears it from this ear, and throws it out from the other.
    • Meaning: S/he doesn’t follow advice.
  • Էշի ականջում է քնել:
    • Transliteration: Eshi akanjoom e gnel.
    • Translation: S/he is sleeping in donkey’s ear.
    • Meaning: S/he doesn’t listen to advice.
  • Թթու է՝ թան չէ,
    Ամեն մարդու բան չէ:

    • Transliteration: Ttu e, tan che, amen mardoo ban che.
    • Translation: It’s sour, not tahn [an Armenian drink made of mainly yogurt and water], it’s not for everyone.
    • Meaning: Hardships are not tolerable by just anyone; it takes someone with perseverance.
  • Ի՞նչ կապ ունի՝ Ալէքսանդրի բեղերին:
    • Transliteration: Inch kap ooni Aleksandri bekherin?
    • Translation: What is the connection with Alexander’s moustache?
    • Meaning: This is mentioned after one brings up something completely off-topic in a conversation.
  • Ինչ որ ցանես, այն կը հնձես:
    • Transliteration: Inch vor tsanes, ayn k@ hndzes.
    • Translation: Whatever you sow, that’s what you’ll reap.
    • Meaning: You’ll receive the consequence of your own actions.
  • Ինչքան լեզու իմանաս՝ այնքան մարդ էս:
    • Transliteration: Inchqan lezoo imanas, aynqan mart es.
    • Translation: You are as many a person as the languages you know.
    • Meaning: This proverb is to emphasize the importance of learning multiple languages.
  • Իրա բաղարջի տակնա կրակ անում:
    • Transliteration: Ira bagharji takna krak anoom.
    • Translation: S/he is making fire under her/his own bagharj [a kind of pastry].
    • Meaning: Even though it may seem otherwise, s/he is bettering the situation for herself/himself.
  • Լեզուդ չլներ՝ ագռավները աչքերդ հանել էին:
    • Transliteration: Lezud chlner – agravner@ achqer’d hanel ein.
    • Translation: If not for your tongue, the crows would have gouged out your eyes.
  • Լուից ուխտ են սարքում:
    • Transliteration: Looits ookht en sarqoom.
    • Translation: They make a camel out of a flea.
    • Meaning: They exaggerate a situation/action.
  • Խորամանկ աղվեսը երկու ոտով է թակարդն ընկնում:
    • Transliteration: Khoramank aghves@ yerkoo votov e takardn @nknoom.
    • Translation: The sly fox falls in the trap with both legs.
    • Meaning: Being sly/cunning to avoid a problem gets one in double trouble.
  • Խօսքով փիլաւ չեփուիր:
    • Transliteration: khoskov pilav chepvir.
    • Translation: Rice is not cooked with only words.
    • Meaning: Nothing can be done only with words.
  • Ծառը ինչքան բերք տայ ու բարի, գլուխն էնքան խոնարհ կը պահի:
    • Transliteration: Tzar@ inchqan berq ta oo bari, glookh@ enqan khonarh k@ pahi.
    • Translation: However much fruit a tree bears, it humbles its head that much more.
    • Meaning: The more wisdom one acquires, the more humble s/he becomes.
  • Ծարաւ կտանի ջուրն ու հետ կը բերի:
    • Transliteration: Tzarav ktani joorn oo het k@ beri.
    • Translation: [S/he] will take one to the water and bring him/her back thirsty.
    • meaning: S/he is very cunning pesron.
  • Ծոյլութիւնից սև էշին ասում է՝ օրհնեայ տէր:
    • Transliteration: Tzuylutyunits sev eshin asuom e “orhnya ter”.
    • Translation: Out of laziness, s/he calls to the black donkey “bless me Lord”.
    • Meaning: This proverb emphasizes the laziness of one [This is because an extremely lazy person would not raise her/his head to see who s/he is meeting, and could potentially confuse a black donkey with a priest, who wears black].
  • Համը հոտից հանեց:
    • Transliteration: Ham@ hotits hanets.
    • Translation: S/he took the taste out of the smell.
    • Meaning: Enough is enough. Or: S/he overdid it.
  • Հարսի ոռով փեսուն լավություն ա անում:
    • Transliteration: Harsi vorov pesun lavutyun a anum.
    • Translation: Uses the bride’s ass to do a favor to the groom.
    • Meaning: Refers to favor done at someone else’s expense or effort.
  • Հարսը պարել չի կարող, ասում է՝ գետինը ծուռ է:
    • Transliteration: Hars@ parel chi karogh, asoom e getin@ tzoor e.
    • Translation: The bride doesn’t know how to dance, she says the floor is slanted.
    • Meaning: One blames her/his own incompetence on the circumstances.
  • Հարևանի հարսի հետևը կարմիրա:
    • Transliteration: Harevani harsi hetev@ karmira.
    • Translation: The back of the neighbor’s bride is red.
    • Meaning: The grass is greener on the other side.
  • Հաց ու պանիր, կէր ու պարիր:
    • Transliteration: Hats oo panir, ker oo parir.
    • Translation: Bread and cheese, eat and dance.
    • Meaning: Be satisfied with whatever little you may have.
  • Հետևին ասում է հետևիցս մի արի` հոտ ես տալի:
    • Transliteration: Hetevin asoom e hetevitss mi ari, hot es tali .
    • Translation: S/he tells his/her ass: don’t follow me, you stink.
    • Meaning: Used when someone is seeing himself/herself as better than anyone around him/her.
  • Հետևն էլ կպած չելներ կտար օտարի:
    • Transliteration: Hetevn el kpatz chelner ktar otari.
    • Translation: If his/her ass wasn’t attached, s/he would give that away too.
    • Meaning: Refers to someone’s extreme generosity.
  • Հյուրը Աստծունն է:
    • Transliteration: Hyoor@ Astsoonn e.
    • Translation: A guest belongs to God.
    • Meaning: Show hospitality to your guests.
  • Ձուագողը ձիագող կը դառնայ:
    • Transliteration: Dzooagogh@ dziagogh k@ darna.
    • Translation: An egg-thief will become a horse-thief.
    • Meaning: Great misdeeds start from small mistakes.
  • Ճակատագրից չես փախչի:
    • Transliteration: Tjakatagritz ches pakhchi.
    • Translation: You cannot escape from destiny.
  • Ճիշտ կարծես փղի քթիցա ընկել:
    • Transliteration: Tjisht kartzes pghi ktitsa @nkel.
    • Translation: As if s/he has fallen from an elephant’s nose.
    • Meaning: Refers to someone being a snob.
  • Ճտերն աշնանն են հաշվում:
    • Transliteration: Tjtern ashnann en hashvum.
    • Translation: Chicks ought to be counted in the fall.
    • Meaning: It is the end result that matters.
  • Ճշտասողի գլխարկը ծակ է:
    • Transliteration: Tjstasoghi glkhark@ tzak e.
    • Translation: There is a hole in the truth-teller’s hat.
    • Meaning: Used when one is telling the truth, but not being taken seriously.
  • Մեկ նալինա խփում՝ մեկ մեխին:
    • Transliteration: Mek nalina khpoom, mek mekhin.
    • Translation: S/he once hits the horseshoe, and once hits the nail.
    • Meaning: Used when someone alternates in one’s position in an argument/deal.
  • Մեռանք գիժ քունելով՝ մի հատ խելոք ռաստ չեկավ:
    • Transliteration: Merranq gizh qunelov, mi hat kheloq rrast chekav.
    • Translation: We screwed with idiots to death, yet we never met one clever person.
    • Meaning: “I looked for (and couldn’t find) one clever man in a thousand.”
  • Մէկ գիժ քար գցեց հորը, քառասուն խելօք չկարողացան հանել:
    • Transliteration: Mek gizh qar gtsets hor@, qarasoon kheloq chkaroghatsan hanel.
    • Translation: One idiot threw a stone in the well, forty wise people could not get it out.
    • Meaning: Being careless can cause such problems that many a mind cannot solve.
  • Մէկ ծաղիկով գարուն չի գայ:
    • Transliteration: Mek tzaghikov garoon chi ga.
    • Translation: Spring will not come with one flower.
  • Մէկ ձեռքը ծափ չի տայ:
    • Transliteration: Mek dzerq@ tzap chi ta.
    • Translation: One hand will not clap.
    • Meaning: Some things cannot be done by one person alone.
  • Մէկը տերտերին է սիրում, մէկը տերտերակնկան:
    • Transliteration: Mek@ terterin e siroom, mek@ terteraknkan.
    • Translation: One likes the priest, and one likes the priest’s wife.
    • Meaning: Different people have different tastes.
  • Մինչև հաստը բարակի, բարակը կկտրվի:
    • Transliteration: Minchev hast@ baraki, barak@ kktrvi.
    • Translation: By the time the thick gets thin, the thin will tear.
    • Meaning: Before the fat one slims, the slim one will die.
  • Մինչև Շուշանը զարդարվի, ժամը կը լրվի:
    • Transliteration: Minchev Shooshan@ zartarvi, zham@ k@ lrvi.
    • Translation: By the time Shooshan gets ready, the mass will be over.
    • Meaning: Someone is taking too long to get ready.
  • Մի վախենա վարար գետից, վախեցիր մարմանդ գետից:
    • Transliteration: Mi vakhena varar getits, vakhetsir marmand getits.
    • Translation: Don’t be afraid of the turbulent river, be afraid of the moderate river.
    • English equivalent: Barking dog does not bite.
  • Միութիւնը՝ ոյժ է:
    • Transliteration: Miootyoon@ oozh e.
    • Translation: Unity is power.
  • Միսը ձեզի, ոսկորը ինծի:
    • Transliteration: Missuh tsezi, vosgoruh indzi.
    • Translation: The meat is yours, the bones are mine.
    • Meaning: Do anything you like to my son/daughter in order to teach him, as long as he/she is kept alive.
  • Մուկը ըսկի ինքը ծակը չի մտնում, հլը ցախավելն էլ կապել ա վոռից:
    • Transliteration: Mook@ @ski inq@ tzak@ chi mtnum, hl@ tzakhaveln el kapel a voritz.
    • Translation: Even though there is barely room enough for the mouse, it is trying to enter the hole with a besom tied to its ass.
  • Նույնիսկ էփած հավի ծիծաղն է գալիս:
    • Transliteration: Nooynisk epatz havi tzitzaghn e galis.
    • Translation: Even a cooked hen would laugh.
    • Meaning: The situation is very ridiculous.
  • Նւիրւած ձիու ատամները չեն հաշւի:
    • Transliteration: Nvirvatz dzioo atamner@ chen hashvi.
    • Translation: Don’t count the teeth of a gift horse.
    • Meaning: Be grateful for your gifts. English equivalent: Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.
  • Շան անունը տուր ու փետը վերցրու:
    • Transliteration: Shan anoon@ toor oo pet@ vertsroo.
    • Translation: Speak of the dog and pick up the stick.
    • Meaning: This proverb is used when someone shows up right when her/his name is mentioned in a conversation [picking up the stick is symbolic for being ready/expecting]. Similar to English “Speak of the devil.”
  • Շինողը միջից հանեց:
    • Transliteration: Shinogh@ michits hanets.
    • Translation: S/he brought its maker out of it.
    • Meaning: Used when someone is being extremely curious/inquisitive.
  • Շունը՝ շան միս չի ուտի:
    • Transliteration: Shoon@ shan mis chi ooti.
    • Translation: Dog won’t eat dog’s meat.
  • Ոչ իմ հալը, ոչ քո հարսանիք գալը:
    • Transliteration: Voch im hal@, voch qo harsaniq gal@.
    • Translation: Neither my situation, nor you coming to a wedding.
    • Meaning: I am not in the mood for what you’re doing now.
  • Որտեղ հաց, այնտեղ կաց: / Ուր հաց, հոն կաց:
    • Transliteration: Vortegh hats, ayntegh kats. / Oor hats, hon gats
    • Translation: Wherever there’s bread, stay there.
    • Meaning: Man is obliged to stay where he makes money, where his job is located. Also, when matters touch the income of a person, there is no compromise in that.
  • Որտեղ պանիր, այնտեղ բանիր:
    • Transliteration: Vortegh panir, ayntegh banir.
    • Translation: Wherever there’s cheese, work there.
  • Ով աշխատի՝ նա կուտի:
    • Transliteration: Ov ashkhati, na kooti.
    • Translation: Whoever works, s/he will eat.
  • Ով ալարի՝ ոչ դալարի:
    • Transliteration: Ov alari voch dalari.
    • Translation: Whoever becomes lazy, s/he won’t become green.
    • Meaning: It takes work to make progress.
  • Ով՝ տռի, ով՝ էթա սանատորիա:
    • Transliteration: Ov t@ri, ov eta sanatoria.
    • Translation: One farts, and another goes to a resort.
    • Meaning: Sometimes one is punished for a crime they didn’t commit (or is rewarded while lacking merit).
  • Ուս ուսի որ տանք, սարեր շուռ կտանք:
    • Transliteration: Oos oosi vor tanq, sarer shoor ktanq.
    • Translation: Once we give shoulder to shoulder, we can turn mountains.
    • Meaning: Call for unity.
  • Ուտեմ, տիտեմ [նստեմ], մթնի՝ քնեմ:
    • Transliteration: Ootem, titem [nstem], mtni qnem.
    • Translation: Let me eat, let me sit, when it gets dark let me sleep
    • Meaning: Refers to the extent of one’s laziness.
  • Ուրիշի հարսի հետևը կարմիրա:
    • Transliteration: Oorishi harsi hetev@ karmira.
    • Translation: The back of the bride of someone else is red.
    • Meaning: The grass on the other side is greener.
  • Չկայ չարիք՝ առանց բարիք:
    • Transliteration: Chka chariq, arants bariq.
    • Translation: There is no evil without goodness.
  • Պատերազմ չկայ երբ որ մարդիկ՝ շիտակ մարդ են:
    • Transliteration: Paterazm chka yerp vor martik shitak mart en.
    • Translation: There is no reason for war that reasonable men cannot resolve.
  • Ջուրը գնում է, ավազը մնում է. Մարդը մէռնում է, հիշատակը մնում է:
    • Transliteration: Joor@ gnoom e, avaz@ mnoom e; Mart@ mernoom e, hishatak@ mnoom e.
    • Translation: The water goes, the sand remains; The person dies, the memory remains.
    • Meaning: It is the memory of the person that has a longer life than his/her own, like water leaving the sand.
  • Ջուրը ճամբան կը ճարի:
    • Transliteration: Joor@ tjampan k@ tjari.
    • Translation: The water will find its way.
    • Meaning: One with the potential to get something done, will do it.
  • Սատկած հավի վրա էլ որ ոտք դնես կճռռա:
    • Transliteration: Satkatz havi vra el vor vortq dnes ktjrra.
    • Translation: If you step on a dead hen, it’ll also squeak.
    • Meaning: Used when someone is being quiet/reserved until someone else brings up a certain topic.
  • Սարը սարին չի հասնի, մարդը մարդուն՝ կը հասնի:
    • Transliteration: Sar@ sarin chi hasni, mart@ martoon k@ hasni.
    • Translation: A mountain won’t get to a mountain, but a human will get to a human.
    • Meaning: Don’t mistreat a person thinking that there’s no tomorrow and there won’t be any consequences.
  • Սուտի ոտքերը կարճ են:
    • Transliteration: Sooti votqer@ kartj en.
    • Translation: The feet of a lie are short.
    • Meaning: A lie cannot get too far and the truth will finally come out.
  • Տռեմ ես, բամփեմ քեզ:
    • Transliteration: Trem yes, bampem qez.
    • Translation: Let me fart, and then hit you.
    • Meaning: Used when one is blaming another for the consequences of her/his own actions.
  • Փափուկ լեզւով նոյնիսկ օձը բնից դուրս կը քաշես:
    • Transliteration: Papook lezvov noonisk odz@ bnits doors k@ qashes.
    • Translation: With a soft tongue(speech) you can even pull a snake out of its nest.
    • Meaning: You speak very gently – or – try to speak gently…You can convince others by speaking gently.
  • Փետը վերցնես՝ գող շունը կիմանա:
    • Transliteration: Pet@ vertsnes, gogh shoon@ kimana.
    • Translation: When you pick up the stick, the robber dog knows.
    • Meaning: Guilty people are always on guard, and immediately know when you refer to their wrongdoing.
  • Փողը հաշիվ ա սիրում:
    • Transliteration: Pogh@ hashiv a sirum.
    • Translation: Money likes a count.
  • Քանի լեզու իմանաս, այնքան մարդ ես:
    • Transliteration: Qani lezoo imanas, aynqan mart es.
    • Translation: However many languages you know, that much of a human you are.
    • Meaning: Encouragement to learn languages.
  • Քեզանից Պողոս Պետրոս դուրս չի գայ:
    • Transliteration: Kezanitz Poghos Petros doors chi ga.
    • Translation: Neither Poghos nor Petros will become of you.
    • Meaning: At this rate you won’t become anyone.
  • Քեզնից քեզ բոր [բորբոքում] ամալ գա [առաջանա]:
    • Transliteration: Keznits kez bor amal ga.
    • Translation: From you grows a wound on you.
    • Meaning: The self is responsible for mishappenings from misdeeds.
  • ՔեՖ անողին՝ քեֆ չի պակսիլ:
    • Transliteration: Kef anoghin kef chi paksil.
    • Translation: Joy won’t lessen for the joyful (or the partier).
    • Etymology: This enters the language from a story concerning Harun al Rashid [Abbasid caliph] who went around at nights disguised as a poor person to see what’s going on in his capital, Baghdad. In one of these night journeys he encountered a poor person who would always party and have fun eventhough he didn’t have much. The story continues as Harun tries to make him more miserable to see whether his joy will continue, and since it does, Harun rewards him in the end. An English language retelling of this story, as also told in Armenian by Hovhannes Toumanian as “A Gift of Gold,” can be found in Virginia A. Tashjian’s “Three Apples Fell from Heaven,” p. 63.

Armenian Proverbs and Phrases

  • Գելիի գլխին Ավետարան են կարդում, ասում է՝ շուտ արե՛ք, ոչխարը սարը անցավ:
    • Pronunciation: Geli glkhin Avetaran en kardoom, asoom e, shoot arek, vochkhare sare antsav.
    • Translation: While they are reading the Bible to the Wolf, it says: ”Hurry up! My flock of sheep is leaving over the mountain!”.
    • Meaning: This Armenian proverb is particular to the seemingly funny situations, when after giving someone advice on doing good things, he or she still hotfoots to do the bad he used to do before. It doesn’t matter how hard you try to make him or her understand that she/he is acting wrong , she/he doesn’t even want to listen and continues doing the same job
  • Լավություն արա, ջուրը գցի. ձուկը չիմանա` Աստված կիմանա:
    • Pronunciation: Lavootiun ara joore ghci, dzuke chimana, Astvats kimana.
    • Translation: Do goodness and cast onto the waters. Even if the fish won’t know, God will.
    • Meaning: This quote means whatever happens, do your goodness to everyone. The receiver may not appreciate it but God will acknowledge. There is another version of this proverb that says “Do goodness and throw it into the water, it will appear in front of you.
  • Մեկ գիժ քար գցեց հորը, քառասուն խելոք չկարողացան հանել:
    • Pronunciation: Mek gizh qar gtsets hore, qarasoon kheloq chkaroghatsan hanel.
    • Translation: One idiot/crazy threw a stone into the water well, forty wise people could not get it out.
    • Meaning: Being careless can cause such problems that many clever people cannot solve it. Your one wrong step may bring a lot of trouble to others.
  • Ինչքան լեզու գիտես` այնքան մարդ ես:
    • Pronunciation: Inchqan lezu gites, aynqan mard es.
    • Translation: Depending on how many languages you know, that much of a human you are.
    • Meaning: This quote expresses the difference of every language and culture. Learning a foreign country’s language means learning its culture as well and becoming a part of it.
  • Գողը գողից գողացավ, Աստված տեսավ զարմացավ:
    • Pronunciation: Goghe goghic goghatsav, Astvats tesav zarmatsav.
    • Translation: One thief has robbed another thief, the God saw and got astonished from above.
    • Meaning: This proverb is usually used to describe an unbelievable situation, something that is hard to imagine. The funny situation that a thief can steal something from another thief refers to the above mentioned.
  • Գյուղ կանգնի՝ գերան կկոտրի:
    • Pronunciation: Gyoogh kangni, geran kkotri.
    • Translation: If the whole village stands, it can even break a trunk.
    • Meaning: The quote teaches that the unity of a nation or community is the biggest strength. The unity, the closeness give a birth to the strength. Strength increases in unity.
  • Ունքը սարքելու փոխարեն աչքն էլ քոռացրեց:
    • Pronunciation: Oonqe sarqelu pokharen, achqn el qoratsrets.
    • Translation: the quote in Armenian can be translated as one tried to fix the problem with the eyebrow, but ended up blinding the eye.
    • Meaning: It is used when someone tries to do something good, to repair or to fix something, but causes a bigger problem than they had before. This Armenian proverb is widely used and it could also be one of the beloved ones amongst Armenian people.
  • Էշի ականջում է քնել:
    • Pronunciation: Eshi akanjoom e gnel.
    • Translation: One is sleeping in donkey’s ear.
    • Meaning: This funny quote in Armenian is usually used in order to describe people who don’t see the things happening around. They notice everything only in the end.
  • Ինչ որ ցանես, այն կհնձես:
    • Pronunciation: Inch vor tsanes, ayn khndzes.
    • Translation: Whatever you sow, that’s what you’ll reap.
    • Meaning: You’ll receive the consequence of your own actions. Whatever you do, it will return to you, both the good and the bad things.
  • Խորամանկ աղվեսը երկու ոտքով է թակարդն ընկնում:
    • Pronunciation: Khoramank aghvese yerkoo votqov e takardn ynknoom.
    • Translation: The sly fox falls in the trap with both legs.
    • Meaning: If one is cunning and wants to avoid a problem, gets in a double and a bigger trouble that wanted to avoid.

Armenian Proverbs and Phrases

Funny Armenian Phrases

  • Mernem djanid – Մեռնեմ ջանիդ
    • Translation and meaning: Let me die on your body! You say this phrase to people you love very very much. Most of the time, this phrase is addressed to the people who are younger than you. For example, Armenian parents often tell this phrase to their kids.
  • Boyid mernem – Բոյիդ մեռնեմ
    • Translation and meaning: Let me die on your height. This is another version of the phrase ‘mernem janid.’  ‘Boyid mernem’ is often used by older folks, such as grandparents. They love to say this phrase to their grandkids.
  • Tsavd tanem – Ցավդ տանեմ
    • Translation and meaning: Let me take away your pain. This is another phrase you tell people you love very much. You love them to the extent that you are ready to take away whatever pain they have.
  • Djigyar – Ջիգյար
    • Translation and meaning: Liver. You call ‘liver’ people you love! I know, very romantic, isn’t it? Don’t ask me why!
  • Papayis/mamayis arev  – Պապայիս/մամայիս արև
    • Translation and meaning:  The sun of my father/mother. This phrase is really hard to explain. You use it when you give an oath. For example, you can promise to do something by saying this phrase. The closest English equivalent is ‘I swear on my father/mother.”
  •  Khiyar- Խիյար
    • Translation and meaning: Cucumber (literally)!  It means  a dumb/useless person.
  • Glookhs mee harduki – Գլուխս մի հարդուկի 
    • Translation and meaning: Don’t iron my head. When someone tells you some nonsense you don’t believe, you tell them this phrase.  This is my favorite phrase and I decided to design a t-shirt with this phrase.
  • Qti maz  – Քթի մազ 
    • Translation and meaning: Nose hair. You call someone ‘qti maz’ when they are very picky about everything.
  • Hogis durs evav – Հոգիս դուրս եկավ
    • Translation and meaning: My soul came out. You say this phrase when you’ve done some work that made you so tired and exhausted that even your ‘soul came out.’
  • Yeres arats – Երես առած
    • Translation and meaning: Someone who bought their face.  If you tell someone is”yeres arats,” it is the same as if you say in English ‘you are naughty.’
  • Hor geenn en drel – Հոր գինն են դրել
    • Translation: They have put their father’s price on something.
    • Meaning: This phrase is very colloqual and it means something is very expensive. For example, you can say, “They have put a father’s price on this dress,” which would mean this dress is very expensive.   Very often people also say “my grandpa’s price.” I could never really understand why father’s or grandpa’s price but not mother’s or grandma’s.  So, if you have any explanation for this, share in the comments as I wold love to know!
  • Sareri hovin mernem- Սարերի հովին մեռնեմ
    • Translation and meaning: I want to die on mountains’ breeze.
    • Meaning: You say this phrase to show your love to mountains of Armenia. People usually say this phrase when speaking patriotically about Armenia. Armenia is a mountainous country located in Trans Caucasus area with no sea or ocean. So, we like to think our soul is somewhere in the mountains and we are proud of our mountains. There is even a famous song with such title.
  • Menq enq mer sarere- Մենք ենք մեր սարերը
    • Translation: There are only us and our mountains.
    • Meaning: Once again this refers to the fact that Armenians love their mountains.  This phrase is used in a patriotic sense when Armenians want to express to someone their uniqueness. As we think of ourselves as a unique nation, we think our mountains are unique as well. So, it’s us and our mountains.
  • Porte teghe dnel- Պորտը տեղը դնել
    • Translation: To put a belly button into its own place.
    • Meaning: I’ve always thought this phrase is weird. It means to show someone it’s place, take revenge.  Why is the belly button involved in all of this? No idea.
  • Hame hanel- Համը հանել
    • Translation: To take the taste out.
    • Meaning: You will never guess what this one means! You say this phrase to people who behave in a way that crosses a line.  For example, if your kid starts misbehaving and crossing the line of an  acceptable behavior, you can say this phrase to him/her.  I haven’t told my daughter this phrase yet because she is too darn cute for me to be annoyed with her.  But if I asked a kid to be quiet and he/she started making a louder  noise, I would definitely say, “You are already taking the taste out.”
  • Achqe hanel – Աչքը հանել
    • Translation: To take one’s eye out.
    • Meaning: Ok, this one sounds a bit brutal, doesn’t it? It means to be victorous after taking a revenge on someone. But don’t worry, the revenge does not involve literally taking out one’s eye.
  • Qti tsak chunes -Քթի ծաք չունես
    • Translation: You don’t have a nose hole.
    • Meaning: You say this to people who are oblivious or don’t know what an appropriate behavior is in a particular situation. For example, if you cook a meat dish for your vegan friend, you have no nose hole.
  • Mrut kakhel – Մռութ կախել
    • Translation: To hang one’s cute face.
    • Meaning: It means to be sad. Because we kind of look down when we are sad.
  • Materi aranqov nayel – Մատերի արանքով նայել
    • Translation: To look at something through the space of your fingers.
    • Meaning: It means to look at something not thoroughly but rather with a lack of attention. Not consider something seriously. For example, if you don’t believe in Global Warming, you look at it through the space of your fingers.
  • Glkhin nstatsnel – Գլխին նստացնել
    • Translation: To put someone on your head.

Armenian Proverbs and Phrases

Armenian Phrases

I am using a phonetic transliteration system. The transliteration should be read just like Spanish except the h is not silent, the j is a j (as in Jacob). My additions are the kh which is pronounced like the Jewish ch in chutzpuh or the Scottish ch in Loch, also the jh which is pronounced like the j in the French word dijon (mustard), the gh is pronounced like a German saying an r, and the apostrophe which is pronounced like the uh in uh-huh (meaning yes). Note: in Spanish, all the letters, including the vowels are always pronounced the same. A as in ah, e as in bet, i as in bite, o as in bone, and u as in blue.

Please note the following transliteration is in EASTERN Armenian.

Greetings & Civilities

hello (informal)
hello (formal)
what’s up?
how are you? (informal)
how are you? (formal)
very well
not bad
good morning
good evening
goodbye
good night
good night (response)
please
thank you
you’re welcome
pardon/excuse me
congratulations
cheers
barev
barev dzez
inch ka chika?
vonts es?
vonts ek?
shat lav
vochinch
bari luis
bari yereko
ts’tesutyun
bari gisher
luis bari (response)
kh’ntrem
sh’norhakal em/merci
charjhe
k’ nerek
sh’norhavor lini
kenats’t

Getting Around

how many km?
bus station
airport
car
here / there
left
right
straight
kani kilomet’r e?
avtobusi kayaran
otanavakayan
mekena / inknasharjh
estegh / endegh
dzakh
ach
ughigh

Around Town

where is (the) …
bank
hotel
market
Manukian Street
church
monastery
museum
passport and visa office
pharmacy
police
post office
restaurant
vortegh e …?
bank
hyuranots
shuka
Manukian Poghots
yekeghetsi
vank
tangaran
OVIR
deghatun
vostikan
post
restaurant / jasharan

Countries
Below, American would mean a person from America.  If you wanted to say a product or idea is American, just add a “akan” at the end of the name of the country. It usually works right.

America/American
Germany/German
England/English
France/French
Canada/Canadian
California/Californian
Russia/Russian
Lebanon/Lebanese
Greece/Greek
Israel/Jew
Persia/Persian
India/Indian
China/Chinese
Australia/Australian
Georgia/Georgian
Azerbaijan/Azeri
Amerika/Amerikatsi
Germanya/Germanatsi
Anglia/Angliatsi
Fransia/Fransiatsi
Kanada/Kanadatsi
Kalifornia/Kaliforniatsi
Rusastan/Rus
Libanan/Libanantsi
Hunastan/Huin
Israel/H’rea
Parskastan/Parsik
H’ndkastan/H’ndik
Chinastan/Chinatsi
Avstralia/Avstraliatsi
V’rastan/V’ratsi
Aderbejan/Aderbejantsi

Note:
Hayastan means Armenia
Hay means Armenian (Person)
Haykakan means Armenian (Non-Person)
Hayastantsi means Armenian from Armenia
Spiurka-Hay means Diasporan Armenian
Odar means non-Armenian

Animals

bird
cat
chicken
cow
dog
lamb
mouse
pig
t’rchun
katu
hav
kov
shun
vochkhar
muk
khoz

Foods

apricot
bbq
bread
cheese
coffee
cucumber
grape
milk
orange
sugar
tea
tomato
watermelon
dziran
khorovadz
hatz
panir
surj
varung
khaghogh
shuka
kat
narinj
shakar
tey
lolik
dz’meruk

Small Talk

what is your name?
my name is …
where are you from?
do you speak …?
i speak …
i understand
i don’t understand
what does this mean?
i want an interpreter
i like …
i don’t like …
yes
no
no problem
i am sick
anun’t inch e?
anun’s … e
vorteghits es?
khosum es …?
khosumem …
haskanum em
chem haskanum
inch e sa n’shanakum?
tarkmanich em uzum
sirum em
chem sirum
ayo / ha
che / voch
problem chika
hivand em

Accommodation

do you have … ?
a room
a shower
hot water
a toilet
toilet paper
soap
air-conditioning
electricity
heat
unek … ?
senyak
logaran
tak jur
zukaran
zukarani tukht
ojar
odapokhich
luis
jerutsich

Shopping

how much?
how many?
how much money?
money
big
small
bad
good
cheap/expensive
cheaper
lowest price
closed
open
to buy
inchkan?
kani?
inch arjhe?
pogh / dram
medz
pok’r
vat
lav
ejhan / tank
aveli ejhan
verchin din
pak
bats
g’nel

Numbers
Just string the words for a bigger number.
122 = haryur k’san yerku

0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
1000
zero
mek
yerku
yerek
chors
hing
vets
yot
ut
in’
hazar
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90100
tas
k’san
yeresun
karasun
hisun
vatsun
yotanasun
utanasun
inisunharyur
million, billion, etc milion, miliard

Days of the Week

Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
weekend
kiraki
yerkushapti
yerekshapti
chorekshapti
hingshapti
urpat
shapat
shapataverch

Months

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
hunvar
pet’rvar
mart
april
mayis
hunis
hulis
ogostos
september
hoktember
noyember
dektemper

This is from http://www.armeniapedia.org/wiki/Armenian_Phrases

Armenian Proverbs and Phrases

A collection of useful phrases in Eastern Armenian, a variety of Armenian spoken in Armenia, Nagorno-Karabakh, Georgia and Iran

Guide to abbreviations: inf = informal, frm = formal.

English Արևելահայերեն
(Eastern Armenian)
Welcome Բարի գալուստ! (Bari galu’st)
Hello (General greeting) բարև (Barev) inf
ԲարևՁեզ (Barev dzez) frm
Hello (on phone) ալլո (Alló)
How are you? Ո՞նց ես (Vonts es?) inf
Ինչպե՞ս եք (Inchpes ek?) frm
Reply to ‘How are you?’ Լավ, մերսի: Դո՞ւ:
(Lav, mersi. Du?) inf
Լավ եմ, շնորհակալություն: Դուք ինչպե՞ս եք:
(Lav em, snorhakaloutyun. Duk inchpes ek?) frm
Long time no see Վաղուց չենք տեսնվել: Vaghuts’ ch’enk’ tesnvel
What’s your name? Անունդ ի՞նչ է: (Anun’t inch e?) inf
Ինչպե՞ս ձեզ դիմել: (Inchpes dzez dimel?) frm
My name is … Անունս … է: (Anun’s … e.)
Where are you from? Որտեղի՞ց ես: (Vorteghits es?) inf
Որտեղի՞ց եք: (Vorteghits ek?) frm
I’m from … Ես …ից եմ: (Yes …-ic em)
Pleased to meet you Հաճելի է (Hacheli e)
Շատ հաճելի է: (Shat hacheli e)
Good morning
(Morning greeting)
Բարի’ լույս: (Bari luys)
Աստծո բարին: (Asttzo barin) – response
Good afternoon
(Afternoon greeting)
Բարի’ օր: (Bari or) – rarely used
Good evening
(Evening greeting)
Բարի’ երեկո: (Bari yereko)
Good night Բարի’ գիշեր: (Bari gisher)
Լո’ւյս բարի: (Luis bari) – response
Goodbye
(Parting phrases)
Ց’տեսություն (Tstesutyun)
Հաջողությո’ւն: (Hajoghutyun)
Good luck! Յաջողութիւն: (Hachoghootyoon)
Բարի բախտ (Paree pakhd)
Cheers! Good Health!
(Toasts used when drinking)
Կենա’ցդ (Kenaced) – rarely used
Have a nice day մաղտընեն լավ օր (Maghtynen lav or)
Bon appetit /
Have a nice meal
Բարի’ ախորժակ: (Bari akhorzhak)
Bon voyage /
Have a good journey
բարի ձանապար (Bari charnapar)
I understand Ես հասկանում եմ: (Yes haskanum yem)
I don’t understand Չեմ հասկանում: (Chem haskanum)
I don’t know Ես չգիտեմ (Es chgitem)
Please speak more slowly Խնդրում եմ, դանդաղ խոսեք: (Khndrum em dandagh khosek)
Please say that again
Please write it down Խնդրում եմ, Չէի՞ք գրի դա: (Khndrum em, gri da)
Do you speak Armenian? Հայերեն խոսո՞ւմ եք: (Hayeren khosum ek?)
Yes, a little
(reply to ‘Do you speak …?’)
Այո’, մի փոքր: (Ayo, mi pokker)
How do you say … in Armenian? Ինչպե՞ս եք ասում … հայերեն: Inch’pe՞s yek’ asum … hayeren:
Excuse me Ներողությո’ւն: (Neroghutyun)
Կներե’ք: (Knerek’)
Sorry Ներողությո’ւն: (Neroghutyun)
Կներե’ք: (Knerek’)
How much is this? Ի՞նչ արժե: (Inch arzhe?)
Please Խնդրեմ (Khntrem)
Thank you մերսի (Mersi)
շնորհակալություն (Shnorhakalutyun) vfrm
Reply to thank you խնդրեմ (Khndrem)
չարժե (Chʻarzhe)
Ոչինչ է (Vochinch e)
Where’s the toilet / bathroom? Որտե՞ղ է զուգարանը: (Vortegh e zugarane?)
This gentleman will pay for everything Այս պարոնը կվճարի ամեն ինչի համար
Ays parony kvchari amen inch’i hamar
This lady will pay for everything Այս տիկինը վճարելու է ամեն ինչի համար
Ays tikiny vcharelu e amen inch’i hamar
Would you like to dance with me? Կպարեի՞ք ինձ հետ: (Kpareik’ indz het?)
I love you Սիրում եմ քեզ: (Sirum em kez)
Get well soon Լավացի’ր: (Lavacir)
Առողջացի’ր: (Aroghjacir)
Leave me alone! Հեռացի’ր ինձանից:
(Heracir indzanic)
Help! Օգնություն! Ognut’yun!
Fire! Կրակ: Krak:
Stop! Դադարեցրեք: Dadarets’rek’:
Call the police! Ոստիկան կանչե’ք: (Vostikan kanchek’)
Christmas greetings Շնորհավոր Սուրբ Ծնունդ
(Shnorhavor Surb Tsnund)
– Congratulations for the Holy Birth
Շնորհավոր Ամանոր և Սուրբ Ծնունդ
(Shnorhavor Amanor yev Surb Tsnund)
New Year greetings Շնորհավոր Նոր Տարի (Shnorhavor Nor Tari)
Easter greetings Քրիստոս յառեաւ ի մեռելոց
(Kuhreestos harryav ee merrelotz)
– Christ is risen from the dead
Օրհնեալ է յառութիւնն Քրիստոսի
(Ornyal eh harrootyunuhn Kuhreestosee)
– Blessed is the resurrection of Christ (reply)
Birthday greetings Ծնունդդ շնորհավոր (Tsnundet shnorhavor)
Congratulations! Շնորհավորանքներ: (Shnorhavorank’ner!)
One language is never enough մի լեզուն երբեք հերիք չէ (Mee lezown erbeq heriq che’)
My hovercraft is full of eels Իմ օդաթիռը լի է օձաձկերով (Im odatirry li e odzadz.kerov)

Armenian Proverbs and Phrases

Funny Armenian Sayings

Here are a few Armenian sayings that proove to us that we shouldn’t translate them in english (by Artemis Khadiwala):

  • khelket sirem – let me love your brain
  • Eshou tsak : donkeys son
  • Zekhemin keuk : the poisons root
  • kloukhs mi artouger: dont iron my head
  • barab dagar : empty barrel
  • amma khyar es : your such a cucumber
  • eshoun sadgadz deghe : the place where the donkey died
  • baytelik es : your gonna blow up
  • fesh fesh enoughe : the spray bottle
  • gadghadz gabig es : your an exited monkey
  • vodkis dage bidi arnem : im gonna put you under my feet
  • chortsadz lati bes es : your like a dried cloth
  • eshou kak : donkeys ****
  • inch ga chiga? : whats existing and what isnt?
  • maman vorige gerere : the mom ate your ass
  • Pores ge keshe gor: my stomach is driving
  • Kitt perant meg gnem : I’ll do your mouth & nose 1 .
  • Tasis vra-en antsa : I passed on my homework.
  • Moukht ge marem : I’ll put off your smoke.
  • Anoush Paghnik : Sweet shower.
  • Anoush ella : may it be sweet.
  • baghadz abour es : you are cold soup
  • peranes maz ge pousn i: hair is growing out of my mouth
  • kaken e : its from the ****
  • hasagit chap lezou ounis : your tongue is as long as your
    height
  • Klookhs darir : you took my head away
  • chigheroos tbar : u touched my veins
  • Sird chi ga : there isnt any heart
  • shat es eres arnum – you’re purchasing way too many faces
  • Mernem jigyarit! – Let me die on your liver
  • Che Ha – No Yes
  • poush poush hayvan – hedgehog
  • kloukhet taghem – I’ll bury your head
  • tsaynet tzuynet chelav – your voice and snow didnt come out
  • tepp-teghin – yell-yellow
  • bus-barab – empty bus
  • sussik-pussik – silent cat
  • mukhes maretzav – my smoke deleted
  • tzavet danem – I’ll take away your pain
  • khelkes tartzav – my brain flipped over
  • hame hode hanetzir – you took out the odor and taste
  • boyit mernem – let me die on your tallness
  • fsdekhi bes degha eh : hes a boy like a peanut
  • ehh kna yao veras kere – tsk..go and write something on me
  • hokis elav = my soul left
  • Kakeh hanetsir – you took the **** out.
  • Engeris patsi – I opened my friend
  • panosin atchke khosi – panos’ eye talk
  • echoo koolookh – head of a donkey
  • kake hanetzir – you took the **** out
  • kheyari genemanis— –> u look like a cucumber
  • sird chounim – i have no heart
  • sird chi ga – there isnt any heart
  • tserkerout talar – ur hands ever fresh
  • chigheroos tbar – u touched my veins
  • kites peranes perir – you brought it from my nose and my mouth
  • kezi bade bidi paktsenem – im gonna stick u to the wall

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