5 differences between Eastern and Western Armenian

If you’re visiting Armenia for the first time (or even if you’re not), it might surprise you to learn that not all Armenian speakers can understand each other! Armenian is a rich and diverse language, with unique linguistic charm found in each geographical region. And while many Armenians living outside of Armenia speak Western Armenian, the most widely spoken dialect in Armenia is Eastern Armenian. 

The differences between Eastern and Western Armenian

1. Armenian pronunciation

The first difference you will notice between Eastern and Western Armenian is the pronunciation of the Armenian alphabet. For example, the letter ‘գ’ is pronounced ‘g’ in Eastern Armenian, and ‘k’ in Western Armenian. Or ‘պ’ is pronounced ‘p’ in Eastern Armenian, and ‘b’ in Western Armenian. Other letters, like ‘ա’ (a), ‘ս’ (s) and ‘ի’ (i) are pronounced the same in both dialects. And then there are letters like ‘ռ’ (rr) which is pronounced with a slightly longer roll of the tongue in Eastern Armenian. 

2. Armenian vocabulary

While most words are similar in Eastern and Western Armenian, there are a few that are different. For example ‘egg’ in Eastern Armenian is ‘dzu’, where in Western Armenian it is ‘havgit’. Or the color white in Eastern Armenian is ‘spitak’, in Western Armenian it is ‘jermag’. These differences between Eastern and Western Armenian can make things funny too – for example the word for little rose in Eastern Armenian ‘vardik’ sounds very similar to the word for underwear ‘vardig’ in Western Armenian. At least Armenians have a good sense of humor!

3. Armenian word order

Word order is technically the same in both Eastern and Western Armenian, however you’ll find that there are preferences for how to say things that are common to each dialect. For example Eastern Armenians say good night ‘bari gisher’, where some Western Armenian speakers reverse the word order ‘kisher pari’ (night good). Both phrases mean the same thing, but are expressed differently.

4. Armenian grammar

Perhaps the hardest thing for speakers of different Armenian dialects to wrap their heads around, is the grammar differences between Eastern and Western Armenian. For example ‘I am running’ in Eastern Armenian is ‘yes vazum em’. In Western Armenian, it is ‘yes gë vazem’. Verbs also take on different forms between the two dialects, for example ‘to speak’ in Eastern Armenian is ‘khosel’, or in Western Armenian ‘khosil’.

5. Borrowed words in Armenian

Armenian is an Indo-European language and has many borrowed words from other languages. Eastern Armenian speakers, particularly in the diaspora, borrow many words from Farsi, while Western Armenian speakers borrow many words from Arabic. 

No matter which Armenian dialect you speak, (or which Armenian dialect you are learning), Armenian is a beautiful language that deserves to be spoken, celebrated, and enjoyed. 

If you’re interested in Eastern or Western Armenian, you can try one month for free, at Tun Online Armenian School.

Happy learning!

Should I learn Eastern or Western Armenian?

Deciding whether to learn Eastern or Western Armenian can depend on how you want to use the language, and why you want to learn Armenian in the first place.

If your choice to learn Armenian is based on travel, such as an upcoming visit to Yerevan, or Armenia’s lush travel destinations outside of the city, we’d recommend learning Eastern Armenian. In Armenia, the main languages spoken are Eastern Armenian and Russian. 

<< Learn Eastern or Western Armenian Online. Try one month free >>

If you decide to learn Armenian because it is the language of a loved one, such as a romantic partner, grandparent, or dear friend, you will first need to learn which Armenian dialect they speak. If you can find out how they say ‘hello’ in Armenian, you will be well on your way to discovering this! ‘Barev’ means hello in the Eastern Armenian dialect, and ‘parev’ means hello in the Western Armenian dialect. Once you know this, you can then learn the Armenian dialect that is common to both of you, so that you can practice together and communicate in Armenian as you learn.

Suppose you are living outside of Armenia, and want to learn the Armenian language so that you can enjoy Armenian music, movies, books, and comedy. In that case, you may need to learn Eastern Armenian, Western Armenian, or both! Find out which dialect is spoken in the movies and music you want to listen to, and then sign up to a learning platform, like Tun Online Armenian School, which offers both Eastern and Western Armenian language courses. You can even sign up to try one month free.

Can I practice speaking Armenian with the locals?

Even if you only know a little bit of Armenian, the locals in Armenia will very much appreciate you speaking it with them! When you walk into a shop in Yerevan, you will hear the familiar greeting ‘Barev dzez’, meaning ‘hello’, and that’s a great starting point! From here, you can practice saying how are you ‘Vons es’, or telling them something is good ‘Lav’ or very good ‘Shat lav’. We’ve included a brief list below of some common conversational words and phrases that will help you when speaking Armenian:

<< Learn Eastern or Western Armenian Online. Try one month free >>

For more easy Armenian phrases in Eastern and Western Armenian, download the FREE phrasebook from Tun Online Armenian School here, or you can try one month of Armenian lessons for free.

Armenian is a beautiful language, and one that you will enjoy learning and speaking, even if only for a short time while you visit Armenia, and you will find that speaking it with the locals will lead to interactions and create cherished memories of your experience in Armenia.