100 Armenian Words & Phrases
to Know Before You Visit Armenia
Armenian (Հայerեն, Hayeren) is one of the oldest continuously spoken languages in the world. Locals light up when visitors make even a small effort. Here are the 100 most useful words — with pronunciation guides for every single one.
🔊 Quick Pronunciation Key
- ay — like "eye"
- kh — guttural, like Scottish "loch"
- gh — soft guttural "r" (from the throat)
- ts — like "cats"
- dz — like "beds"
- ch — like "cheese"
- j — like "jar"
- sh — like "shoe"
- CAPS — stressed syllable
- uh — like the "a" in "sofa"
👋 Greetings & Courtesy
| # | English | Armenian Script | Transliteration | How to Say It |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hello (informal) | Բarév | Barev | BAH-rev |
| 2 | Hello (formal) Use with elders or in professional settings |
Բarév Dzez | Barev Dzez | BAH-rev DZEZ |
| 3 | Good morning | Բarí Luys | Bari Luys | BAH-ree LOOYS |
| 4 | Good evening | Բarí Yereko | Bari Yereko | BAH-ree YEH-reh-ko |
| 5 | Good night | Բarí Gisher | Bari Gisher | BAH-ree GEE-sher |
| 6 | Goodbye | Tstesutʿyun | Tstesutyun | ts-te-soo-TYOON |
| 7 | Thank you Full formal version |
Շnorhakalutyun | Shnorhakalutyun | sh-nor-hah-kah-loo-TYOON |
| 8 | Thank you (casual) Everyone uses this — borrowed from French |
Mersi | Mersi | MER-see |
| 9 | Please / You're welcome | Khndrem | Khndrem | k-HUN-drem |
| 10 | Sorry / Excuse me | Neroghutʿyun | Neroghutyan | neh-ro-ghoo-TYOON |
| 11 | Yes | Ayo | Ayo | AH-yo |
| 12 | No | Votch | Votch | votch |
| 13 | OK / Fine / Good | Lav | Lav | lahv |
| 14 | Very good | Shad lav | Shad lav | shad LAHV |
| 15 | Congratulations | ShnorhavoRoom em | Shnorhavorum em | sh-nor-hah-vo-ROOM em |
💬 Basic Conversations
| # | English | Armenian Script | Transliteration | How to Say It |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | How are you? (informal) | Inchpes es? | Inchpes es? | inch-PES es |
| 17 | How are you? (formal) | Inchpes ek? | Inchpes ek? | inch-PES ek |
| 18 | What is your name? | Anund inch e? | Anund inch e? | ah-NOOND inch eh |
| 19 | My name is ___ | Anuns ___ e | Anuns ___ e | ah-NOONS ___ eh |
| 20 | Do you speak English? | Angleren gites? | Angleren gites? | ang-leh-REN gee-TES |
| 21 | I don't understand | Chem haskanum | Chem haskanum | chem has-KAH-noom |
| 22 | Please repeat that | Krkes, khndrem | Krknes, khndrem | KUUR-knes k-HUN-drem |
| 23 | I am Armenian Even if you're diaspora, this earns huge warmth |
Yes Hay em | Yes Hay em | yes HYE em |
| 24 | I am American | Yes Amerikatsi em | Yes Amerikatsi em | yes ah-meh-ree-KAH-tsee em |
| 25 | I love Armenia | Sirum em Hayastan | Sirum em Hayastan | see-ROOM em hye-ah-STAN |
💡 Pro Tip: "Barev" Opens Every Door
Armenians are extremely hospitable people. Walking into a shop, café, or home and saying Barev with a smile instantly changes the entire interaction. You'll likely be offered coffee, fruit, or a seat whether you asked for them or not. Lean into it.
🔢 Numbers 1–10
| # | English | Armenian Script | Transliteration | How to Say It |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | One | Mek | Mek | mek |
| 27 | Two | Yerku | Yerku | YER-koo |
| 28 | Three | Yerek | Yerek | YEH-rek |
| 29 | Four | Chors | Chors | chors |
| 30 | Five | Hing | Hing | hing |
| 31 | Six | Vets | Vets | vets |
| 32 | Seven | Yot | Yot | yot |
| 33 | Eight | Ut | Ut | oot |
| 34 | Nine | Ina | Ina | EE-nuh |
| 35 | Ten | Tas | Tas | tahs |
| 36 | One hundred | Haryur | Haryur | hah-RYOOR |
| 37 | One thousand | Hazar | Hazar | hah-ZAR |
🍽️ Food & Drink
| # | English | Armenian Script | Transliteration | How to Say It |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 38 | Water | Jur | Jur | joor |
| 39 | Coffee Armenian coffee is similar to Turkish coffee | Surj | Surj | soorch |
| 40 | Tea | Tey | Tey | tay |
| 41 | Bread Lavash is the iconic Armenian flatbread | Hats | Hats | hahts |
| 42 | Meat | Mis | Mis | mees |
| 43 | Fish | Dzuk | Dzuk | dzook |
| 44 | Wine | Gini | Gini | gee-NEE |
| 45 | Beer | Garejur | Garejur | gah-reh-JOOR |
| 46 | Cheers! The most important toast you'll ever learn | Genats! | Genats! | geh-NAHTS |
| 47 | Delicious | Shad hamov e | Shad hamov e | shad hah-MOV eh |
| 48 | Restaurant | Jasharan | Jasharan | jah-shah-RAN |
| 49 | The bill, please | Hashiv, khndrem | Hashiv, khndrem | hah-SHEEV k-HUN-drem |
| 50 | I'm hungry | Sov em | Sov em | sov em |
| 51 | I'm thirsty | Tsarav em | Tsarav em | tsah-RAV em |
| 52 | Bon appétit / Enjoy your meal | Bari akhorjak | Bari akhorjak | BAH-ree ah-khor-JAK |
🗺️ Getting Around
| # | English | Armenian Script | Transliteration | How to Say It |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 53 | Where is ___? | Vortegh e ___? | Vortegh e ___? | vor-TEGH eh |
| 54 | Right | Ajin | Ajin | AH-jin |
| 55 | Left | Dzakh | Dzakh | dzakh |
| 56 | Straight ahead | Ugikh | Ugikh | oo-GHIKH |
| 57 | Near / Close | Mots | Mots | mots |
| 58 | Far | Hur | Hur | hoor |
| 59 | Taxi | Taksi | Taksi | TAK-see |
| 60 | Bus | Avtobus | Avtobus | AV-to-boos |
| 61 | Metro / Subway | Metró | Metro | meh-TRO |
| 62 | Airport | Odanavakayan | Odanavakayan | o-dah-nah-vah-kah-YAN |
| 63 | Hotel | Hyuranots | Hyuranots | hyoo-rah-NOTS |
| 64 | Street | Poghots | Poghots | po-GHOTS |
| 65 | I don't know the way | Janaparh chem giter | Janaparh chem giter | jah-nah-PARH chem gee-TER |
🛍️ Shopping & Money
| # | English | Armenian Script | Transliteration | How to Say It |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 66 | How much does it cost? | Inch arje? | Inch arje? | inch ar-JEH |
| 67 | Expensive | Tank e | Tank e | tank eh |
| 68 | Cheap / Affordable | Ezhan e | Ezhan e | eh-ZHAN eh |
| 69 | I want ___ | Uzenum em ___ | Uzenum em ___ | oo-ZOO-nem em |
| 70 | Do you have ___? | Unek ___? | Unek ___? | oo-NEK |
| 71 | Market / Bazaar | Shuka | Shuka | SHOO-kah |
| 72 | Store / Shop | Khanut | Khanut | khah-NOOT |
| 73 | Money | Pogh | Pogh | pogh |
| 74 | Card (payment) | Kart | Kart | kart |
🚨 Emergency & Health
| # | English | Armenian Script | Transliteration | How to Say It |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75 | Help! | Ognutyun! | Ognutyun! | og-noo-TYOON |
| 76 | Police | Vostikan | Vostikan | vos-tee-KAN |
| 77 | Doctor | Bzhishk | Bzhishk | buh-ZHEESHK |
| 78 | Hospital | Hivandanots | Hivandanots | hee-van-dah-NOTS |
| 79 | Fire! | Hrdeh! | Hrdeh! | huur-DEH |
| 80 | I need help | Ognutyun e petk | Ognutyun e petk | og-noo-TYOON eh petk |
| 81 | I am sick | Hivand em | Hivand em | hee-VAND em |
| 82 | Pharmacy | Degyatun | Degyatun | deh-gyah-TOON |
⏰ Time & Days
| # | English | Armenian Script | Transliteration | How to Say It |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 83 | Today | Aysor | Aysor | eye-SOR |
| 84 | Tomorrow | Vaghy | Vaghy | VAHG-huh |
| 85 | Yesterday | Yerek | Yerek | YEH-rek |
| 86 | Morning | Aravot | Aravot | ah-rah-VOT |
| 87 | Evening | Yereko | Yereko | YEH-reh-ko |
| 88 | Night | Gisher | Gisher | GEE-sher |
| 89 | Now | Hima | Hima | hee-MAH |
| 90 | Wait / One moment | Spasel | Spasel | spa-SEL |
🇦🇲 Culture, Places & Identity
| # | English | Armenian Script | Transliteration | How to Say It |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 91 | Armenian (person) | Hay | Hay | hye |
| 92 | Armenia | Hayastan | Hayastan | hye-ah-STAN |
| 93 | Yerevan The capital — pronounced softly, not "yeh-REE-van" | Yerevan | Yerevan | yeh-reh-VAN |
| 94 | Mount Ararat Armenians call it Masis — the sacred mountain | Masis | Masis | MAH-sees |
| 95 | Church | Yekeghetsí | Yekeghetsí | yeh-keh-gheh-TSEE |
| 96 | Family | Yntanik | Yntanik | un-tah-NEEK |
| 97 | Friend | Enker | Enker | un-KER |
| 98 | Beautiful | Geghetsik | Geghetsik | geh-gheh-TSIK |
| 99 | I like it / I love it | Sirum em | Sirum em | see-ROOM em |
| 100 | Long live Armenia! The ultimate show of solidarity | Kaetsi Hayastan! | Kaetsi Hayastan! | kah-ET-see hye-ah-STAN |
🥂 One Word That Will Make You Instantly Popular
Genats! (geh-NAHTS) — it means "cheers" and it's the Armenian toast. Say it at a dinner table, at a rooftop bar in Yerevan, or when someone hands you a shot of homemade mulberry vodka. You will be welcomed with open arms. Pair it with Sirum em Hayastan and you may be invited to someone's home for dinner.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Armenian hard to pronounce?
Armenian has a few sounds that don't exist in English — particularly the guttural "gh" (from the throat, like a soft French "r"), the aspirated consonants, and the "kh" sound (like the Scottish "loch"). But most basic words for tourists are very manageable with a little practice. Armenians are patient and genuinely touched when visitors make the effort.
Do people in Yerevan speak English?
English is increasingly spoken in Yerevan, especially among younger people, hotel staff, and in tourist areas around Republic Square, the Cascade, and Northern Avenue. Outside major cities and among older generations, Armenian and Russian are more common. Even a few Armenian words will make a noticeable difference in how you're received.
What language is spoken in Armenia?
The official language is Armenian (Հայerен, Hayeren) — an independent branch of the Indo-European family with its own 38-letter alphabet, created in 405 AD. Russian is also widely understood, particularly by Armenians over 40, as a legacy of the Soviet era. You'll see signage in both Armenian and Russian in many places.
What does "Barev" mean?
Barev (Բarév) means "Hello" in Armenian. It's the informal greeting used between friends, peers, and casual encounters. The more formal version is Barev Dzez, which you'd use with elders, in professional settings, or when addressing a group.
Is there a difference between Eastern and Western Armenian?
Yes. Eastern Armenian is spoken in the Republic of Armenia and Iran. Western Armenian is spoken by diaspora communities — including Armenian-Americans in Los Angeles, Glendale, and Burbank. The words on this page use Eastern Armenian pronunciation, which is what you'll hear on the ground in Yerevan. Some words and pronunciations differ between the two dialects.
🇦🇲 Support the Armenian Community in Los Angeles
Find Armenian-owned restaurants, bakeries, businesses, and services in Glendale, Burbank, and all of Southern California.