Learning Armenian from Armenian people

[ashot24]

Hi, I am new here...my name is Ashot Harutyunyan and I live in Ecuador, I am part of the little, tiny, minuscule Armenian community in the Andean States of SouthAmerica.

I want to learn Armenian, Easter Armenian specially because I am planning to go to live there once I finished my college studies. I know some Armenian, general grammar, vocabulary...the alphabet, I read fluently and I understand roughly 20% of what I hear on videos and stuff...but I want to know more!

I have tried learning in the internet and what I can remember from leanring witth my family, but I would like to learn from people who actually know the language, and can give me a fully explanation of it

I would like you to please help me. I'd be really thankful since I am very connected to my roots, and I would love to speak the language...which is the only thing missing u.u

So can I do my first question?

Ok, I am dying to know this I have seen the endings after the hyphen Armenian language uses in numbers (i.e. 22-ին, 14:00-ին, 25-ին, which I know are for forming dates and stuff), and I have also seen there is other endings for, for example, forming numerals (for example 21st, 2nd, 3rd)...I have tried to deduce but I not sure if I am right, which I think I am...

so can someone explain to me how this works? what do those endings stand for? what do they mean? what is the use? how can i use them? and home many of those are?

thank you
apres ënker!

[Federate]

Re: Learning Armenian from Armenian people

Բարի գալուստ Աշոտ ջան։

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Armenian_language this should be pretty helpful. To answer your question, 22-ին, 14:00-ին, 25-ին all refer to the time/date. It translates to "at 22, at 14:00, at 25". The -ին ending is genitive-dative.

[ashot24]

Re: Learning Armenian from Armenian people

շատ շատ շնորհակալություն, ընկեր ջան

I have read both articles on Wikipedia, as well as a thousand more
one question, the ending -in also applies for, for example, if I want to say "At Sahak's house" = Սահակի տունին/տանին

because I understood there's special endings to say "at...." "with...." "in the...." and they vary according to the word, am i right?

[Pedro Xaramillo]

Re: Learning Armenian from Armenian people

Hola mi paisano, que tal?
Yo no soy Armenio, soy Mexicano, pero Hayeren sovoroum em,

Yo uso : http://armeniapedia.org/index.php?ti...nguage_Lessons

Todo gramatica Hayeren aqui

[Siggie]

I have read both articles on Wikipedia, as well as a thousand more
one question, the ending -in also applies for, for example, if I want to say "At Sahak's house" = Սահակի տունին/տանին

because I understood there's special endings to say "at...." "with...." "in the...." and they vary according to the word, am i right?

Բարեւ Աշոտ

It may vary depending on what you're saying in the rest of the sentence. It gets tricky to translate from English. Like if you were saying there are mice in Sahak's house (lol) It would be Սահակի տունի մեջ մուկ կայ. But if you're saying "I was at Sahak's house", Սահակի տունում էի.

With "with" it's not universal. With a person you would say Sahaki het but for non person you use the ending -ov. I did it with your help would be ko oknutyunov aretsi.

Yo no soy Armenio, soy Mexicano, pero Hayeren sovoroum em,

Hayeren em sovoroum.

[ashot24]

Re: Learning Armenian from Armenian people

Hola mi paisano, que tal?
Yo no soy Armenio, soy Mexicano, pero Hayeren sovoroum em,

Yo uso : http://armeniapedia.org/index.php?ti...nguage_Lessons

Todo gramatica Hayeren aqui

Si, he imprimido todas las paginas hasta hacerme un pequeño libro todo lo que se es en parte sacado de alli junto con las clases de Armenio en http://www.learnarmenian.com y otra lista de paginas

Gracias paisano!

Բարեւ Աշոտ

It may vary depending on what you're saying in the rest of the sentence. It gets tricky to translate from English. Like if you were saying there are mice in Sahak's house (lol) It would be Սահակի տունի մեջ մուկ կայ. But if you're saying "I was at Sahak's house", Սահակի տունում էի.

With "with" it's not universal. With a person you would say Sahaki het but for non person you use the ending -ov. I did it with your help would be ko oknutyunov aretsi.



Hayeren em sovoroum.

Barev Siggie...hum, a question, "There are mice in Sahak's house"...as I have studied you could say «Սահակի տանը կան մկներ» or «Կան մկներ Սահակի տանը» is this right??? Oh thank you for the explanation with "with" that was really helpful...

Ohh yeah, the ending -ից is to expresse "From..." right? for example if I say «Անուշի տանից» I am saying "From Anush's house", or «Անուշի համալսարանից» "From Anush's university"...right?

Oh and sorry for bothering you guys so much, I got one last question for this first "lesson"....ok I understand the use of some of the punctuation marks, most of them...but I have trouble understanding how to use these:

1. ՝ (the short stop)
2. ՛ (the interjection sign)

How do they work? What are they for? How do I use them?

Please, this is seriously the last thing for some time

Thank you all very very much

[Lucin]

Re: Learning Armenian from Armenian people

Barev Siggie...hum, a question, "There are mice in Sahak's house"...as I have studied you could say «Սահակի տանը կան մկներ» or «Կան մկներ Սահակի տանը» is this right??? Oh thank you for the explanation with "with" that was really helpful...

Actually how you say is more correct grammatically rather than saying "տունի մէջ".

Ohh yeah, the ending -ից is to expresse "From..." right? for example if I say «Անուշի տանից» I am saying "From Anush's house", or «Անուշի համալսարանից» "From Anush's university"...right?

It should be «Անուշի տնից».

Oh and sorry for bothering you guys so much, I got one last question for this first "lesson"....ok I understand the use of some of the punctuation marks, most of them...but I have trouble understanding how to use these:

1. ՝ (the short stop)
2. ՛ (the interjection sign)

How do they work? What are they for? How do I use them?

Please, this is seriously the last thing for some time

Thank you all very very much

While «բութ» ՝ is being used widely «շեշտ » ՛does not have a wide usage and is rare. I will try to explain them by examples:

- Բութ ՝ can be used when you try to find another equivalent name/ term for your word/ expression. Ex. Ընկերս՝ Արան./ Արան՝ մեր հարեւանի տղան. / Այսօր՝ սեպտ 17-ին.

- Բութ ՝ used to give further explanation or enumeration of an idea hinted previously . Ex. Այսինքն՝ կարդալ ուշադրութեամբ. / Պէտք է նկատի առնել երկու կէտ՝ սա եւ սա.

-Բութ ՝ can also be used to make a short pause. This is where we have a wide usage of this mark. Ex. Ինչ էլ անես՝ նա չի գայ. / Փոխանցիր իմ ողջոյնները՝ Արային:

«Շեշտ» ՛ is one of those marks which is being used very rarely. As you may know, the verb «շեշտել» in Armenian means to put emphasis on, and that's what the mark is for; to accentuate and emphasize further.

Ex. Օգնութիւնը եղել է՝ թէ՛ տնտեսական եւ թէ՛ ռազմական:

Armenian punctuation is a bit complicated, I don't think I have missed anything but hope this helps a bit.

[Siggie]

Re: Learning Armenian from Armenian people

Oh and sorry for bothering you guys so much, I got one last question for this first "lesson"....ok I understand the use of some of the punctuation marks, most of them...but I have trouble understanding how to use these:

1. ՝ (the short stop)
2. ՛ (the interjection sign)

How do they work? What are they for? How do I use them?

Please, this is seriously the last thing for some time

Thank you all very very much

Don't worry about asking questions! It's totally fine and you're even helping others who may benefit from hearing the answers to your questions as well.

Actually how you say is more correct grammatically rather than saying "տունի մէջ".

Yeah, you're right. I probably didn't pick the best example for the -ի ending, but isn't it «Սահակի տունը մուկ կայ» or is that just conversational?

[ashot24]

Re: Learning Armenian from Armenian people

While «բութ» ՝ is being used widely «շեշտ » ՛does not have a wide usage and is rare. I will try to explain them by examples:

- Բութ ՝ can be used when you try to find another equivalent name/ term for your word/ expression. Ex. Ընկերս՝ Արան./ Արան՝ մեր հարեւանի տղան. / Այսօր՝ սեպտ 17-ին.

- Բութ ՝ used to give further explanation or enumeration of an idea hinted previously . Ex. Այսինքն՝ կարդալ ուշադրութեամբ. / Պէտք է նկատի առնել երկու կէտ՝ սա եւ սա.

-Բութ ՝ can also be used to make a short pause. This is where we have a wide usage of this mark. Ex. Ինչ էլ անես՝ նա չի գայ. / Փոխանցիր իմ ողջոյնները՝ Արային:

«Շեշտ» ՛ is one of those marks which is being used very rarely. As you may know, the verb «շեշտել» in Armenian means to put emphasis on, and that's what the mark is for; to accentuate and emphasize further.

Ex. Օգնութիւնը եղել է՝ թէ՛ տնտեսական եւ թէ՛ ռազմական:

Armenian punctuation is a bit complicated, I don't think I have missed anything but hope this helps a bit.

Shat mersi Lucin jan! you have really really helped me a lot I just need more and more practise to do it right thanks a lot

Now i would like to do more questions, just a few

OK, well the expression "Akhper jan" is similar to "Ënker jan"? I found it means like "hey man" or "hey friend", but I am not sure...are they similar? what does it mean? oh oh yes...and I have a bit of a confusion...how is it written? I have found a lot of ways and I don't know what is the right one....so far I think the correct is = Ախպեր ջան....but I have found also Ախբեր ջան, Աղբեր ջան (which I am 90% sure is incorrect, I know "aghb" means something else)


Secondly , well just a quick question...I know "jan" means "dear" and stuff (I have even read it means "body")...but I read somewhere that the expression is also used to express like emotion or excitement....much like for example "Yay! Yeah!"....is this true?

3rd. How does dates are pronounced? For example if I want to say May 28, 1918 Mayis Q'ssanut' (I know this) and the year I say Hazar inn haryur tasnut'? Or does it have a quicker way to be said? like in english we separate 19/18 to say it by two different numbers

And finally, but not for that less important, I know that at the beginning of words if you have two consonants like for example "Խնձոր" i have to pronounce the "ը" inbetween the two consonants....but in words that have two consonants together and they are not at the beggining, but in the middle (I don't remember words like this) or at the end like in "ծնունդ" they are meant to be pronounced just like that? because I found it quite difficult to do that if I don't have a vowel next to the word.....is there a rule for those situations?


Thank for all your answers in these past days, now and in the future you are really helping me a lot I know Siggie (and thank you for that) told me to don't worry about a lot of questions, but I can't help feeling some

Thanks to Lucin and to Siggie!!! I really wait to read the answers and satisfy my desire of Armenian language knowledge! Thanks!

[Lucin]

Re: Learning Armenian from Armenian people

Shat mersi Lucin jan! you have really really helped me a lot I just need more and more practise to do it right thanks a lot

You're welcome. By asking interesting and meticulous questions you're doing a favour to a lot of people here including myself, as I have to try remembering certain grammatical notions/ rules and analyze what I've been using naturally without giving it much thought.

OK, well the expression "Akhper jan" is similar to "Ënker jan"? I found it means like "hey man" or "hey friend", but I am not sure...are they similar? what does it mean? oh oh yes...and I have a bit of a confusion...

"Akhper" literally means brother in Armenian so "akhper jan" is a term of endearment and rapprochement used in informal conversations. In English it could also be translated into hey man or friend as you say or 'hey bro'. it's a common expression used in Armenia. I wouldn't recommend you using it with the elderly.

how is it written? I have found a lot of ways and I don't know what is the right one....so far I think the correct is = Ախպեր ջան....but I have found also Ախբեր ջան, Աղբեր ջան (which I am 90% sure is incorrect, I know "aghb" means something else)

Yea, you're right. It should be "Ախպեր ջան" or "Ախպէր ջան" in Mesropian orthography. And "աղբ" means garbage.

Secondly , well just a quick question...I know "jan" means "dear" and stuff (I have even read it means "body")...but I read somewhere that the expression is also used to express like emotion or excitement....much like for example "Yay! Yeah!"....is this true?

I haven't heard of or used it in that sense.

In informal Armenian "jan" is also referred to body (besides the term of endearment) for which we have the proper word "մարմին".

3rd. How does dates are pronounced? For example if I want to say May 28, 1918 Mayis Q'ssanut' (I know this) and the year I say Hazar inn haryur tasnut'? Or does it have a quicker way to be said? like in english we separate 19/18 to say it by two different numbers

You said it correctly. However when put in a context, you'd rather say մայիս 28, 1918-ին.

And finally, but not for that less important, I know that at the beginning of words if you have two consonants like for example "Խնձոր" i have to pronounce the "ը" inbetween the two consonants....but in words that have two consonants together and they are not at the beggining, but in the middle (I don't remember words like this) or at the end like in "ծնունդ" they are meant to be pronounced just like that? because I found it quite difficult to do that if I don't have a vowel next to the word.....is there a rule for those situations?

I can think of the verb "ընդգրկել" for instance, you see three consonants in a row but if you notice the word is made of three syllables so we'd say [ընդ]- [գըր]- [կել] on the other hand, "ծնունդ" has two syllables so it's like [ծը]- [նունդ] each syllable contains the one vowel needed. The word "արկղ" has one syllable and it's pronounced just as it's written [արկղ]. So you just need to divide it into syllables and then find out how to pronounce, as you see if the word is finished by two consecutive consonants, you just put them in one syllable with the last vowel.

Just carry on the good work. Being a big fan of learning languages and linguistics myself, I believe you're also a good learner of languages, judging from the way you analyze different grammatical concepts.

Բարեւ Աշոտ


With "with" it's not universal. With a person you would say Sahaki het but for non person you use the ending -ov. I did it with your help would be ko oknutyunov aretsi.

Actually, with words expressing abstract 'ideas', non-objects, we usually add the –եամբ suffix (most of the time for words ending in -ութիւն or -ություն common in Hayastan.) So it should be քո օգնութեամբ. Whereas in case of objects, we usually use –ով like մատիտով , հեռախօսով...

Yeah, you're right. I probably didn't pick the best example for the -ի ending, but isn't it «Սահակի տունը մուկ կայ» or is that just conversational?

No Sig jan, it's the wrong way we say in our conversations. It should be «Սահակի տանը մուկ կայ». But we should say for instance, « Սահակի տունը սիրուն է:» See the difference?