About Armenia

About Armenia

About Armenia

Learn Armenian

Armenian is an old and unique language. With 39 letters in the alphabet it is a very rich language. Originally invented by Mesrop Mashtots back in the 5th century (known as the Golden Century for this same purpose), it was not only intended as an alphabet for language use, but cleverly also a numerical system as well as a prayer!

Ok, so the language is not the easiest but to help our guests travel around Armenia with a bit more confidence we have a very short selection of phrases to help. 

Note that in Yerevan you will find most people can speak English (and sometimes other languages). Outside of Yerevan apart from Armenian, Russian is also acceptable. If you know Russian, even if its only a few words – use it! Even some of the common everyday words, the Russian is more commonly used rather than the pure Armenian word. Even some French and even Farsi words are used in conversation as well. So be brave and throw them into conversation it might help.

Basic Conversation

English  Armenian
 Hello  Barev
 How are you?  Vonts es?
 Thank you  Shnorhakal (often “merci” is acceptable)
 Please  Khndrem
 Yes  Ayo (colloquially “ha”)
 No  Voch (colloquially “che”)
 What is the time?  Djame kanisen eh?
 How much is this?  Es inch arje?
 What is your name?  Anooned inch eh?
 Where is?  Oor eh?
 Good Morning  Bari looys
 Good Night  Bari Gisher

Of Interest to Tourists:

 English  Armenian
 Bank  Baank
 Currency Exchange  Drami phokhanakoom
 Pharmacy  Apteka (Russian) or deghatoon
 Grocery Store  Mterayin
 Shop  Khanoot
 Bus Station  Avtokayan 
 Train Station  kayaran 
 Bus  Avtoboos 
 Hospital  Hivandanotz
 Doctor  Bjishk
 Market  Bazar or shuka
 Toilet  Zugaran
 City Centre  Kentron
 Closed  Pak
 Open  Batz
 Church  Yekeghetsi
 Castle  Berd
 Lake  Lij
 Camera  Aparat (Russian word)

Numbers

 English  Armenian
 1  Mek
 2  Yerku
 3  Yerek
 4  Chors
 5  Hing
 6  Vetz
 7  Yot
 8  Oot
 9  Ine
 10  Tas
 20  Ksan
 30  Yeresoon
 40  Karasoon
 50  Hisoon
 60  Vatsoon
 70  Yotanasoon
 80  Ootsoon
 90  Inesoon
 100  Haryur
 1000  Hazar
 2000  Yerku hazar
 100,000  Haryur Hazar
 1,000,000  Mek Milyon

Days of the Week

 English  Armenian
 Monday  Yerkushabti
 Tuesday  Yerekshabti
 Wednesday  Chorekshabti
 Thursday  Hingshabti
 Friday  Oorbat
 Saturday  Shabat
 Sunday  Kiraki

About Armenia

Holidays & Festivals in Armenia

Plan your trip around the holidays and national events to make your experience even richer.

The table below summarises all significant dates for Armenia.

 Date Celebration Details
 Dec.31, Jan. 1&2  New Year  Major National public holiday
 January 6  Soorb Tsnund (Christmas  equivalent)  As per the Armenian Apostolic  Church
 March 8  Women’s Day  All females get a mention!
 April 7  Mother’s & Beauty Day  What can we say females like the  attention!
 April 24  Genocide Memorial Day  Entire Day is  dedicated to paying  respect and  laying flowers at the  Genocide  memorial at  Tzitzernakaberd in  Yerevan.
 May 1  Labour Day  Public holiday across many  European countries
 May 9  Victory and Peace Day  Soviet era memorial for war veterans
 May 28  Restoration of Armenian  Statehood Day  Dating back to 1918
 July 5  Constitution Day  Public holiday
 A Sunday in    July(varies by  year)  Vardavar Festival  Fun, fun, fun! Don’t leave home  without your wet weather gear! It’s a  water splashing day. Everyone is  guaranteed to get wet! Great way to  cool down on a hot summers day 🙂
 September 21  Independence Day  Dating back to 1991
 December 7  Earthquake Victims  Memorial Day  Dating back to 1988

About Armenia

Quick History Lesson on Armenia

A short point form run down on some of the key events in Armenian history.

  • Noah’s Ark landed on Mt Ararat, then part of Armenia. See Genesis 8:4.
  • Hayk, one of the great- great grandsons of Noah defeated the Babylonian King’ Bell and established his nation around the Ararat valley around 2429 BC
  • 782 B.C. Yerevan city was established (making Yerevan one of the oldest Capital cities in the world today).
  • In 301 A.D. Armenia became the first Christian Nation.
  • In 405 A.D. Mesrop Mashtots created the unique Armenian Alphabet (also a numerical system, poem and prayer) hence the fifth century is also known as the Golden Century (‘Voske Dar’).
  • Series of kingdoms followed for centuries as well as wars with neighbouring non Christian countries invading the only Christian country in the region.
  • First major exit of Armenians from Armenia occurred in the 1600’s during the reign of Shah Abass to Iran.
  • Armenia was divided between Turkey (Western Armenia) and Persia (Eastern Armenia) in 1639.
  • Eastern Armenia joins Russia in 1828.
  • The Armenian Genocide took place in 1915 by the Ottoman Turk empire where over 1.5 million Armenians were killed. Many Armenians fled the country and set up new lives in many different countries including, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Iran etc. One of the reasons you will bump into an Armenian today in all four corners of the world!
  • Armenia declared independence in 1918 where the government lasted for 2 years before joining the Soviet Regime.
  • In the 1940’s the first major influx of Armenians occurred from the diaspora.
  • A major earthquake hit Armenia in 1988 devastating the cities of Spitak, Gyumri, and other surrounding cities.
  • In 1991 Armenia declared independence after the Soviet collapse.
  • 2005 Envoy was established (Well its significant history for us 🙂 )

About Armenia

Facts you need to know about Armenia

facts

What language is spoken in Armenia? Have you ever heard an Armenian speech? What does the national flag look like? What is the capital city? Here’s a few facts to give you a little background on the ancient and beautiful country of Armenia. 

Facts to start with

Official Name: Republic of Armenia
Language: Armenian
National Flag:
Currency: Armenian Dram (AMD)
Head of State: President of RA
Area: 29,800 sq km
Capital: Yerevan
Population: approximately 3.2 million
States/Province 11 States (Marz) including Yerevan

For more general information visit:  Armenia (Wiki)

The state religion is Christianity, adopted in 301 AD becoming the first officially Christian state. Armenian alphabet was developed around 405 AD by Mesrop Mashtots, an Armenian linguist and ecclesiastical leader. It originally had 36 letters, but now has 39. Seems quite a lot?   Mer Hayrenik  which is translated as “Our Fatherland’, is the national anthem of the Republic of Armenia