004 Language

Our Language
The Armenian Language is one of the oldest languages of the Indo-European language family to
which English, French, Spanish, German, Russian, Latin, Greek, Sanskrit, Persian belong. Recent
research indicates that Armenian emerged as a separate language in the Armenian highlands around
Mt. Ararat some 5000 years ago, before Greek or Sanskrit. There are three forms of Armenian
currently in use. Classical or Church Armenian, Western Armenian, and Eastern Armenian. Church
Armenian, which is used for our church services, is the oldest form of Armenian. Western Armenian
and Eastern Armenian emerged as literary languages in the 19th century, with Western Armenian,
based on the dialect of Constantinople, largely used in the parts of Armenia west of Mt. Ararat and the
Middle East (other than Iran), and Eastern Armenian used in parts of Armenia east of Mt. Ararat and
Iran. While there are some differences in pronunciation, grammar and spelling, the three forms of
Armenian share a substantial amount of vocabulary and grammar and use the same alphabet, created
by St. Mesrob with St. Sahag in 404-06. The alphabet originally had 36 letters, beginning with [a]
for Asdvadz (God) and ending with [k] for Krisdos (Christ). The last two letters were added in the
middle ages to facilitate spelling foreign words containing the sounds [o] and [f].
The Armenian Alphabet (Western pronunciation)

ayp
pen
kim
ta
yech
Za
father
(y)e yet
to
zhe
ini
lyun
e bet
zh Zhivago
i casino
khe
dza
gen
ho
tsa
ghad
kh Ger. Bach dz
g go
ts
gh Fr. Paris
je
men
hi
nu
sha
vo
j jet

h,y,-
sh
(v)o vortex
cha
be
che
ra
se
vev

ch
ch
dyun
re
tso
hyun
pyur
ke

ts
v, u
fe
f
4-1
Western Armenian
Letters => Sound - How to read the 38 Letters.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
a father
p
k
t
ye initial
e medial
y before Vowel , ,
z
e met
about (shwa)
t
zh pleasure Zhivago
i casino
= yu before Consonant
= iv elsewhere
l
kh Gr. Bach Khatch
dz
g as in go
h
ts
gh Fr. Paris Boghos
j as in jet
m
h initial (compounds)
y middle of the word
final silent except ,
, , ,
n
sh
vo initial
o elsewhere more
= uy before Consonant
= oy before Vowel
= o final silent he
ch as in cheese
b
ch as in cheese
r rolled/tapped
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
1.
2.
3.
4.
6.
7.
8.
4-2
s
v
d
r petty Garo
ts
v
= v before Vowel
= u elsewhere tuna
= yu before a Consonant
= iv elsewhere
p
k
o
f
Combinations
= ay , Mayan
= a final silent he
= uy before Consonants
= oy before Vowels
= o final silent he
= u gadu tuna
= v before vowels
= yu before Cons.
= iv elsewhere ,
5.
= ya
/ = yo ,
= yu
silent at end of all words
except , , , ,
Eastern Armenian
Letters => Sound - How to read the 38 Letters.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
a father
b
g as in go
d
ye initial
e medial
y before Vowel , ,
z
e met
about (shwa)
t
zh pleasure Zhivago
i casino
= yu before Consonant
= iv elsewhere
l
kh Gr. Bach Khatch
ts
k as in skip
h
dz
gh Fr. Paris Poghos
ch as in cheese
m
h initial (compounds)
y middle of the word
final silent except ,
, , ,
n
sh
vo initial
o elsewhere more
= uy before Consonant
= oy before Vowel
= o final silent he
ch as in cheese
p
j as in jet
r rolled/tapped
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
1.
2.
3.
4.
6.
7.
8.
4-3
s
v
t
r petty Karo
ts
v
= v before Vowel
= u elsewhere tuna
= yu before a Consonant
= iv elsewhere
p
k
o
f
Combinations
= ay , Mayan
= a final silent he
= uy before Consonants
= oy before Vowels
= o final silent he
= u katu tuna
= v before vowels
= yu before Cons.
= iv elsewhere
5.
= ya
/ = yo ,
= yu
silent at end of all words
except , , , ,
Western Armenian Essentials I

Learning a whole language can be daunting. But you'd be surprised how many situations you can handle with just 48
common words and phrases. Although you may be inspired to learn more, if all you know are these, you should be able to
navigate your way through many common situations in Armenian Church, community and family settings.
a as in father e as in bet i as in Tina o as in old u as in tuna as in alone ay as in Maya
g as in go j as in jet kh as in Khachig gh as in Boghos zh as in Zhivago dz as in loads ts as in lots
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ayo
yes
voch
no
g-nerek
Excuse me (I'm sorry).
hram-me-tsek
Come in, join us.
khn-trem
Please.
charzher

_____

'
, ,
,
,
,
,
shnor-hagal em
You're welcome. (response to

thank you)
Thanks.
parev
Hello.
inchbes es
How are you?
lav em
I'm fine.
isk tun inchbes es
And how are you?
yes al lav em
I'm fine too.
lav chem
I'm not well.
inch ga chga
What's new? (what's up?)
amen inch lav e
Everything's fine.
anu-nt inch e
What's your name?
anu-ns Aram e
My name is Aram.
isk ku anu-nt inch e
And what's your name?
im anu-ns Anush e
My name is Anush.
urakh em
Pleased (to meet you).
nma-nabes
Likewise.
ur-ge es
Where are you from?
_____en em
I'm from _____
ur g-pna-gis
Where do you live?
Ameriga g-pnagim
I live in America.
surj guzes
Would you like some coffee?
ayo gat u shakarov

hajis
Yes, with milk and sugar,

please.
voch shnor-hagal em
No, thanks.
chur hajis
Water, please.
hyut hajis
Juice, please.
shad kich hajis
Very little, please.
4-4
,
33 '
kich mn-al hajis
A little more, please.
hats u banir guzes
34
shad hamov e
Do you want some bread and

cheese?
It's very tasty.
arten ush e
It's late.
ts-desutyun
Good bye.
pari luys
Good morning.
kisher pari
Good night.
luys pari
pari kalust
Good light (response to

kisher pari)
Welcome
shorhavor nor dari yev

surp dznunt
Happy New Year and Merry

Christmas!
tsa-vak-tsu-tyun-ne-rs
My condolences.
Ast-vadz hokin
lusavore
May God illuminate his/her

soul. (condolences)
genats-t
To your health/Cheers!
daros kezi
tserker-t talar
May you be next (said at

weddings to singles)
Good handiwork!
vartsk-t gadar
Well done! Congratulations!
ha-cho-ghu-tyun
Good luck (success)!
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48
Want to Know More? Get to the Root of It

The Armenian Language is distantly related to English, for this reason, you may recognize certain words (or parts of
words). These related words are called cognates. Cognates usually have similar consonants, or the consonants exhibit a
regular correspondence, e.g., hayr father pater, hats food pasture. Armenian often loses letters, as in li full plenty, yerek
three, and sometimes sounds change quite dramatically and uniquely, as in dznunt kin generation, dzanot know prognosis,
medz mega, or kaghtsr sweet, kuyr sister sorority. Recognizing cognates can accelerate your mastery of Armenian or any
foreign language. Try to think of Armenian as an extension of the English you already know.
Cognate Key: The phrases above consist of roughly 80 distinct words, more than half of which are cognates. Here are a
few cognates to get you started:
shakar sugar
ku thy tuo (tuo => kuo)
dznunt birth kin, generate
anun name, noun
es, unis you are, have, Sp. estas
hats bread, food pasture
tun thou
e is Fr. est
pnagil reside bungalow
yegeghetsi church, ecclesiastical
luys light, luster
-s this, my
es ego I
gat milk galactic, Milky Way
-t that, your
em am, im my
nor new
al also, else
utyun tion
tserk hand, as in chiropractor
kisher night vespers
genats-t life quick vivacious
kalust come, invade, wade
hoki spirit phew! (sigh)
des see dragon (large eyes, r
shnorhagal thankful, shnorh =
Astvadz God (as in hasdad,
drops and g>s)
grace, Sp. gracias
fasten, establish)
Non-cognates - 20 words to memorize: ayo, voch, lav, kich, shad, pari, parev, inchbes, ga, nerek, hrammetsek, urakh,
nmanabes, surj, hyut, tsav, surp, arten, ham, banir
4-5
Western Armenian Essentials II

common words and phrases. Although you may be inspired to learn more, if all you know is these, you should be able to
navigate your way through many common situations in Armenian Church, community and family settings.
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26

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29

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32
meg
yergu
yerek
chors
hing
vets
yot
ut
in
das
10
das-n-meg
11
das-n-yergu
12
ksan
20
yeresun
30
karasun
40
hisun
50
vatsun
60
yotanasun
70
utsun
80
insun
90
haryur
100
hazar
1000
zham kani e
What time is it?
zham megn e
It's one o'clock.
zham meg u ges e

kani daregan es
It's one thirty. (one and a

half)
How old are you?
das daregan em
I'm ten years old.
kuyr gam yekh-payr

unis
yergu kuyr unim
Do you have any brothers

or sisters?
I have two sisters.
yekh-payr chunim
I don't have any brothers.
hayr
father
mayr
mother
4-6
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50
medz-hayr
grandfather
medz-mayr
grandmother
hay
Armenian
hayasdan
Armenia
ameriga
America
amerigahay
American-Armenian
nakh-ni-ner-t urge en
zavag unis
Where are your ancestors

from?
Do you have any children?
akh-chig
daughter
d-gha
son
yergu akh-chig unim
I have two daughters.
asiga im yekh-payr-s e
This is my brother.
asiga im lav nger-s e
This is my good friend.
amusin
husband, spouse
gin
wife
hor-yekh-payr
uncle (father's brother)
mora-kuyr
aunt (mother's sister)
keri
uncle (mother's brother)

Cognate Key: This text consists of roughly 80 distinct words, about half of which are cognates. Here are a few cognates
to get you started:
meg one mono
hing five pente
hayr father paternal
karasun forty quarter
gin woman queen
mayr mother maternal
das ten decimal
yergu two duo
yekhpayr brother fraternity
chors four quartet
yerek three trio
kuyr sister sorority
in nine
vets six hexagon sextet
medz big mega
ut eight octagon
yot seven heptagon
nger friend as in nt=with
+ ger = eat companion
kani how many quantity
yev and epi (on top of)
ger eat devour
(p=>v)
Non-Cognates 16 words to memorize: zham, daregan, haryur, hazar, ges, unis, gam, akh-chig, d-gha, amusin, keri,
lav, hay, nakhni, zavag
4-7
Eastern Armenian Essentials I

Learning a whole language can be daunting. But you'd be surprised how many situations you can handle with just 50 common
words and phrases. Although you may be inspired to learn more, if all you know is these, you should be able to navigate your
way through common situations in Armenian Church and Armenian community and family settings.
ayo
yes
voch
no
kn-erek
Excuse me, I'm sorry.
ha-me-tsek
Come in, Join us
khn-drem
char-zhi
shnor-hakal em
Please.
You're welcome (response to thank
you)
Thanks.
barev
Hello
inchpes es?
How are you?
lav em
I'm fine.
isk du inchpes es?
And how are you?
yes el em lav
I'm fine too.
lav chem
I'm not well
inch ka chka?
amen inch lav e
what's new? (what's up?)

Everything's fine.
anu-nd inch e?
What's your name?
anu-ns Aram e
My name is Aram.
isk ko anu-nn inch e?
And what's your name?
im anu-nn Anush e
My name is Anush.
urakh em
Pleased to meet you.
nma-napes
Likewise
vor-teghits es
Where are you from?
Amerikaits em
I'm from America.
vor-tegh es bna-kvum?
Where do you live?
bnakvum em Londonum
I live in London.
vor yekeghetsuts es?
Which church are you from?
_____________
'
,
,
______________its em
I'm from ________ Church.
surch kuzes?
Would like like some coffee?
ayo, katov yev shakarov
Yes, with milk and sugar.
katov, bayts voch shakarov
With milk, but no sugar.
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4-8
voch, shnor-hakal em
No, thanks.
jur khn-drem
Water, please.
hyut khn-drem
Juice, please.
shat kich khn-drem
Very little, please.
35
,
,
,
,
,
mi kich el khn-drem
36
'
hats u panir kuzes?
37
hamov e
arden ush e
It's late.
ts-tesutyun
Good bye.
bari luys
good morning.
gisher bari
good night.
luys bari
good light (response to good night
bari galust
Welcome
shorhavor nor tari yev surb

tznund
Happy New Year and Merry Christmas!
tsavaktsutyunners
my condolences
Astvats hogin lusavori
God's light on his/her soul.
47
A little more, please

Would you like some bread and
cheese?
It's tasty.
kenatst
48
taros kez
49
dzerkd dalar
To your health/Cheers!
May you be next (said at weddings to
singles)
Good handiwork!
vardzkd katar
Well done! Congratulations!
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50

three, and sometimes sounds change quite dramatically and uniquely, as in tsnunt kin generation, tsanot know prognosis,
mets mega, or kakhtsr sweet, kuyr sister sorority. Recognizing cognates can accelerate your mastery of Armenian or any
shakar sugar
ko thy tuo (tuo => kuo)
tsnunt birth kin, generate
anun name, noun
es, unes you are, have, Sp. estas
hats bread, food pasture
du thou
e is Fr. est
bnakvel reside bungalow
yekeghetsi church, ecclesiastical
luys light, luster
-s this, my
es ego I
kat milk galactic, Milky Way
-d that, your
em am, im my
nor new
el also, else
utyun tion
dzerk hand, as in chiropractor
gisher night vespers
kenats-d life quick vivacious
galust come, invade, wade
hogi spirit phew! (sigh)
tes see dragon (large eyes, r
shnorhakal thankful, shnorh =
Astvats God (as in hasdad,
drops and g>s)
grace, Sp. gracias
fasten, establish)
Non-cognates - 20 words to memorize: ayo, voch, lav, kich, shat, bari, barev, inchpes, ka, nerek, hametsek, urakh,
nmanapes, surch, hyut, tsav, surb, arden, ham, panir
4-9
Eastern Armenian Essentials II

common words and phrases. Although you may be inspired to learn more, if all you know is these, you should be able to
navigate your way through most common situations in Armenian Church and Armenian community settings.
mek
yerku
yerek
chors
hing
vets
yot
ut
in
tas
10
tasnmek
11
tasnyerku
12
ksan
20
eresun
30
karasun
40
hisun
50
vatsun
60
yotanasun
70
utsun
80
innsun
90
haryur
100
hazar
1000
zham kanisn e?
what time is it?
zham mekn e
it's one o'clock.
zham mek ants kes e
it's one thirty.
kani tarekan es?
How old are you?
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28
tas tarekan em
kuyr gam ekh-bayr unes?
I'm ten years old

Do you have any brothers or sisters?
29
yerku kuyr unem
I have two sisters?
yekh-bayr chunem
I don't have any brothers.
hayr
father
mayr
mother
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pap
grandfather
tat
grandmother
hay
Armenian
hayastan
Armenia
amerika
America
amerikatsi
nakhninerd vor-teghits en?
American
Where were your ancestors from?
yerekha unes?
Do you have any children?
akh-chik
daughter
t-gha
son
yerku akh-chik unem
I have two daughters.
sa im yekh-bayr-n e
This is my brother.
sa im nker-n e
This is my friend.
amusin
husband, spouse
kin
wife
horekh-bayr
uncle(father's brother)
morakuyr
aunt (mother's sister)
keri
uncle(mother's brother)

three, and sometimes sounds change quite dramatically and uniquely, as in tsnunt kin generation, tsanot know prognosis,
mets mega, or kakhtsr sweet, kuyr sister sorority. Recognizing cognates can accelerate your mastery of Armenian or any
mek one mono
hing five pente
hayr father paternal
karasun forty quarter
kin woman queen
mayr mother maternal
tas ten decimal
yerku two duo
yekhbayr brother fraternity
chors four quartet
yerek three trio
kuyr sister sorority
in nine
vets six hexagon sextet
mets big mega
ut eight octagon
yot seven heptagon
nker friend as in nd=with
+ ker = eat companion
kani how many quantity
yev and epi (on top of)
ker eat devour
(p=>v)
Non-Cognates 16 words to memorize: zham, tarekan, haryur, hazar, kes, unes, kam, akh-chik, t-gha, amusin, keri, lav,
hay, nakhni, yerekha
For further explanations and pronunciation, check Get to the Root of It! www.arak29.am (Language,
Church).
4-11
Church Armenian
The Armenian Language is distantly related to English, for this reason, you may recognize certain
words (or parts of words). These related words are called cognates. Cognates usually have similar
consonants, or the consonants exhibit a regular correspondence, e.g., hayr father pater, hats food
pasture. Armenian often loses letters, as in li full plenty, yerek three, and sometimes sounds change
quite dramatically and uniquely, as in dznunt kin generation, dzanot know prognosis, medz mega, or
kaghtsr sweet, kuyr sister sorority. Recognizing cognates can accelerate your mastery of Church
Armenian or any foreign language. Starting with The Lord's Prayer, try to view Church Armenian as
an extension of your English language knowledge.
Father
=Eng. father,
Arm h = Eng f = Lat. p, as in paternal
our
=Eng. our, Ger. unser, Lat. noster

(pater noster = hayr mer = father our)
who
in heaven
=Eng. who, Lat. quo

h=in, ergin=heaven, s=in, h-prefix from i before vowels, i+yergins =
hergins, i+yergri = hergri
are-thou
Lat. es, Fr. es, Span. estas -s ending means you (singular), thou
hallowed
holy, see Sanskrit ubhra clean
be
=Eng. colony, wheel, cycle, yeghi=be, become, -tsi =may it, -tsin= may
they, Arm. gh = Eng. l, Boghos=Paul, agh=salt
name
thy
come
=Eng. name, noun

=Eng. thy, Lat. tuo (tuo=>kuo=>ko)
=Eng. come, Lat. convene, yeg- come, estse = may it (as in Arm. gyank'life' Eng. quick, Lat. vivacious)
kingdom
=Eng. arch as in monarch (Gk.) utyun=tion
thy
be
see above, related kez, zkez, zken=you, kum=your

see above, -n=they, Sp. estan, Lat. exeunt, Fr. sont
will
=Eng. care, charity, God's caring wish for us, Arm. pare-gam
(pari=good) well-wisher or friend
thy
as
see above
how from vor= which + -bes=way, as in inchbes es how are you?
in heaven
and
earth
s=plural as in heavens (note: base word is yergink)

=Eng. epi, epidermis, epitaph, meaning, on top of (p>v)
=Eng. earth, h=on + yergir=earth, Arm. yergink 'heaven' derives from
Arm. yergir
bread
z=direct object (of dur, give) hats= Eng. food=Latin pasture, Fr. pain,
as in companion, someone who breaks bread (pan) with (com) you, as
in, Arm. unt=with + ger=eat =>unger;
hov-iv = someone who pastures the ewes, i.e., shepherd, pastor
Hayr
mer
vor
hergins
,
es
surp
yeghitsi
anun
ko
yegestse
arkayutyun
ko
yeghitsin
gamk
ko
vorbes
hergins
yev
hergri
z-hats
4-12
mer
our
daily
see above, related forms mek =we, mez=to us, zmez =us, merots =our
hanabaz =continual, ort=ly
give-thou
du=Eng. donate,
-r = you sg., thou, see danir lead
us
this day
and
forgive
see above
ays=Eng. this, -or = day
see above
=Eng. tolerate, Lat. tollis =take away, see toghu-mk
us
debts
see above
z- =direct object (of togh)
-s =pl. direct object,
see bard-a-ban =debt-keeper
see above
see above
see above
see above, mek becomes menk in Mod. Arm.
see above, -mk = we, as in havadamk=we believe
hanabazort
dur
mez
aysor
yev
togh
mez
z-bardis
mer
vorbes
yev
mek
toghumk
merots
our
as
and
we
forgive
our
debtors
see above, -ots/-ats=to pl.

see above, -ats=to pl., indirect object (of toghumk), give pardon to
debtors
and
not
see above
mi = don't, not to be confused with miayn, mimyants = one, one another
lead
danir
zmez
i
=Eng. donate, give over to,

-r=thou, you singular
us
into
temptation
z- direct object (of danir)

=Eng. in, means at, into, on, from depending on context and suffix of
following word
=Eng. peril
-utyun = -tion
bardabanats
yev
mi
portsutyun
ayl
but
deliver
=Eng. else
rescue, save, as in Prg-ich, Savior,
ya=thou, you singular, command
from
evil
=Eng. in=from due to suffix char-e

ch=not,
ar=create, as in ar-ar-ich=Creator, constructive - creative vs.
destructive - evil, -e=from
prg-ya
i
char-e
4-13
Learn the Top 75 Words and 28 Phrases

The most common word is yev and, constituting 10% of the service. The other most common
words are surp holy, Asdvadz God, and the various forms of orhnya,
orhnyal bless, blessed, i and its variant - h- in, zi so that. These 5 words alone constitute
another 15% of the service. Here are 50 or so common words or phrases you may already
recognize if you've learned Hayr Mer and been to church even occasionally.
1. anun name (cf. noun)
2. yeghitsi let it be
3. , es, e you are, is
4. surp, srpots, srputyun holy
5. im my
6. , ko, kez ken your, you (thou) (tuo becomes kwo)
7. , ink, yur him, his
8. , , mer, merots, mek, mez our, we, us
9. , tuk, tser you, your
10. vorti son (parent, part)
11. hoki spirit (heave/sigh)
12. yergir earth
13. yergink heaven
14. arkayutyun kingdom (cf. monarchy)
15. togh forgive (tolerate)
16. , bardis, bardabanats debts, debtors
17. portsutyun temptation (peril)
18. , prgya, prgich rescue, savior
19. ararich creator
20. char evil (ch=not, ar=create, destruction, cf. ararich)
21. zorutyun power
22. park i partsuns glory in the highest
23. havidyans forever
24. , , dur, da, danir give, give over/lead (donate)
25. khach cross
26. marmin body
27. hats bread (food, pasture)
28. aryun blood
29. kini wine
30. karn lamb (ward, guard)
31. luys light (luster) lusavorich (light bearer)
32. takavor king (crown-bearer, Taj Mahal crown mega)
33. () turn (truns) door
34. , vor, ov which, who
35. kovemk we praise
36. kohanamk we thank
37. , li, ltsak full, we are full (plenty)
38. madik approach (meet)
4-14
39. havad faith

40. huys hope
41. ser love (care home, as in sird cordial heart)
42. shnork grace (shnorhagal thanks, gracias)
43. , yegir, yegyal came (convene)
44. () gyank, getso live, save (quick, vivacious)
45. , gerek, geragur eat (devour, voracious)
46. , miayn, mimyants one, one another (mono)
47. , , amenayn, amena, amenetsun all, most of all, to all (same,
assembled)
48. unt with (and, under)
49. megha I have sinned, strayed (malice)
50. yegeghetsi church (ecclesiastic, gathering)
51. zham hour, time (chapel, where hourly prayers are said)
52. arpek drink (absorb)
53. merelots dead (murder)
54. nor new, with r adj. suffix, as in kaghts-r, parts-r
55. mech in, midst, as in Brit. Eng. pronunciation 'immejately'
56. ver up (over)
57. der Lord di + ayr dignity teach + android
58. gatoghigos catholicos (cata-holos according to-all) (Gk.)
59. yebi-sgobos bishop (epi-scopos, over-seer) (Gk.)
60. vartabed celibate priest, teacher (Pers.)
61. kahana priest (as in Cohen) (Heb.)
62. sargavak deacon, servant (Pers.)
63. tbir acolyte (as in tbrots school) (Heb.)
64. Hisus Jesus, savior, Joshua 'God saves' (Heb.)
65. Krisdos Christ, anointed (Gk.)
66. Prgich savior (Sem./Pers.)
67. Asdvadz God as in hasdad fasten (Arm.)
68. badarak sacrifice, Divine Liturgy (Pers.)
69. alleluia praise the Lord (Heb.)
70. hosanna save us, I pray (Heb.)
71. amen let it be (Heb.)
72. serovpek kerovpek seraphim cherubim (Heb.)
73. saghmos psalm (praise song, many by King David) (Gk.)
74. mardiros martyr (Gk.)
75. mgrdutyun baptism
4-15
Mastering the Communion Service

First, let's focus on the 7 active phrases you need to be able to say:
1. Christ is revealed among us -
Krisdos i mech mer hayd-netsav

Blessed is the revelation of Christ! -
orhnyal e haydnutyun-n Krisdosi

2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
And with your spirit - yev nt hok-vuyt kum

Before you, Lord - , arachi ko der
I have sinned against God - megha Asdudzo
Bless us, Lord - , orhnya der
Lord, have mercy - der voghormya
Be mindful Lord, and have mercy - , , hishya der yev voghormya
Second, let's focus on the 7 passive phrases you need to understand:

1. Peace to all - Khaghaghutyun amenetsun
2. Let us bow down to God - Asdudzo yergrbakestsuk
3. Take, eat; this is my body - , . arek, gerek, ays e marmin im
4. Drink this all of you. This is my blood of the new covenant - ,
arpek i smane amenekyan, ays e aryun im noro ukhdi
5. I have sinned against the All-Holy Trinity, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit -
, , megha amenasurp
yerortutyann, hor yev vortvo yev hokvuyn srpo

6. Holiness for the holy - I srputyun srpots
7. This is life, hope of resurrection, pardon and forgiveness of sins - ,
, sa e gyank, huys harutyan, kavutyun yev
toghutyun meghats
Third, learn the Lord's Prayer, among the most important 7 sentences you'll need to know as an
Armenian Christian, (see the word by word explanation above and the full text in the Home
Resource Guide, Section 10 Prayer)
Fourth, 7 key hymns or phrases you'll want to know.

Here are 3 hymns everyone should learn to sing:
1. Lord's Prayer Hayr Mer -
2. Thanksgiving Hymn Hamenayni -
3. Communion Hymn Orhnyal e Asdvadz -
And 2 more hymns everyone will want to recognize:
4. Holy, Holy Surp, surp - ,
5. Lord, Have Mercy Der Voghormya -
4-16
Finally, the 2 closing phrases of the service:

6. Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance getso der z-zhoghovurts ko yev
orhnya z-zharankutyuns ko , ,
:
7. Go in peace and may the Lord be with you all yertayk khaghaghutyamp yev der yeghitsi
nt tsez nt amenesyant
Is that all there is to it? Well, not quite, but that's enough to follow each stage of Holy Communion.
Come to Church prepared, keep the logical sequence of the service in mind, and try to recognize as
many words, phrases and hymns as you can. With time and participation, it will become second
nature, as it has for scores of generations before us.
Common prefixes and suffixes

As in English, we can create many words by adding prefixes and suffixes to the beginning and end of roots.
Below are the most common prefixes and suffixes in the Holy Communion rite. For example, the root
orhn bless, orhnya bless-thou! orhnyal blessed, orhnutyun blessing
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
- an-arad immaculate, an-erevuyt invisible

- yergink heavens
- voghormya have mercy!, hishya remember!
- arakyal one sent, orhnyal blessed
- srpo holy-of, vortvo son-of
-/- srpots holy-of, parats glory-of
-/- yergyughiv fear-with, havadov faith-with
- arek take-you, gerek eat-you
- prgich savior, lusavorich enlightener
-, -, - -s, -t, -n this, that, yon
More common words from Holy Communion

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
oknagan cf. oknel to help

zhoghov gather, zhoghovurt gathering
partsr = iceberg, mountain, heights, also hampartsek lift, raise
nor = new (r adjective suffix as in kaghts-r, parts-r,)
desek see -k suffix = you! dragon (big eyes) g/k>s as in Lat. decem Arm. das
minchev until
zharankutyun from zharank=heir + uytun=tion, inheritance
, yerek, yerrortutyun three, trinity
shnorhk grace, Mod. Arm. shnorha-gal= thank-ful, gracias
unger companion (unt = with, com) + (ger =food, as in Lat. pan, Fr. pain, bread); ger = eat,
devour, voracious, g=v as in gyank = vivacious
marmin body
peran mouth
hivant sick, ill
pzh-ishg physician
4-17
Peace Blessing
Priest
: g
People
khaghaghutyun
peace
yev unt hokvuyt kum

and with spirit
your
amen-etsun
all-to
Peace unto all.
And with your spirit.

(Make sign of cross)
: g
, :
Asdudz-o
God-to
arachi
before
yergr-bak-estsuk
earth-kiss-let-us
Let us bow down to God.
ko Der
you Lord
Before you, Lord.

(Bow, cross oneself)
Making the Sign of the Cross

( khach cross)
Right hand (thumb, index, middle fingers together
signifying the Holy Trinity) "In the name of the Father
(1. head), and the Son (2. stomach) and the Spirit (3.
heart), Holy (4. right shoulder), Amen (5. mid-chest)."
8 Stages of the Communion Service

1. Greet Each Other (Krisdos i mech mer haydnetsav )
2. Remember Last Supper (Sanctus/Surp Surp, Arek, Gerek , , , )
3. Give Thanks (Hamenayni , Hymns to the Trinity)
4. Pray for our Spiritual Family (Lord's Prayer/Hayr Mer )
5. Praise the Hosts (I srputyun srpots, Miayn Surp , )
6. Clean Up before Eating (Confession, Kyrie/Der Voghormya )
7. Eat/Take Communion (Orhnyal e Asdvadz )
8. Say Thanks & Goodbye (Ltsak, Kohanamk , , Go in Peace)
For downloadable audiovisual study tools for Church Armenian, as well as .pdf handouts and
interactive on-line exercises, see Get to the Root of It! and Notes on Holy Communion in the
Armenian Church and related materials at www.arak29.am (church/tutorials) and the Diocese
website www.armenianchurch.net.
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Our Language

The Armenian Alphabet (Western pronunciation)

Letters => Sound - How to read the 38 Letters.

Letters => Sound - How to read the 38 Letters.

Western Armenian Essentials I

Excuse me (I'm sorry).

Come in, join us.

You're welcome. (response to

How are you?

isk tun inchbes es

And how are you?

I'm fine too.

I'm not well.

What's new? (what's up?)

amen inch lav e

What's your name?

isk ku anu-nt inch e

And what's your name?

Pleased (to meet you).

Where are you from?

I'm from _____

Where do you live?

Would you like some coffee?

ayo gat u shakarov

Yes, with milk and sugar,

shad kich hajis

Very little, please.

kich mn-al hajis

A little more, please.

hats u banir guzes

Do you want some bread and

Good light (response to

shorhavor nor dari yev

Happy New Year and Merry

May God illuminate his/her

May you be next (said at

Well done! Congratulations!

Good luck (success)!

Want to Know More? Get to the Root of It

Western Armenian Essentials II

What time is it?

It's one o'clock.

zham meg u ges e

It's one thirty. (one and a

I'm ten years old.

kuyr gam yekh-payr

Do you have any brothers

I don't have any brothers.

Where are your ancestors

yergu akh-chig unim

I have two daughters.

asiga im lav nger-s e

This is my good friend.

uncle (father's brother)

aunt (mother's sister)

uncle (mother's brother)

Want to Know More? Get to the Root of It

Eastern Armenian Essentials I

Excuse me, I'm sorry.