The Armenian language has its own alphabet is a unique and fascinating writing system with a rich history. Despite being one of the oldest alphabets in the world, it has managed to maintain its distinctive character. This guide will delve into the intricacies of the alphabet, exploring its history, sounds, symbols, structure, and pronunciation. Or, if you want someone to help you learn, check out Tun Online Armenian School.
A Brief History
Armenia’s alphabet was invented many centuries ago, in 405 AD by Mesrop Mashtots, a scholar and monk. The development of this alphabet was a pivotal moment for the Armenian people, as it allowed them to translate religious texts and preserve their language, Christianity and culture. The first sentence translated into Armenian was from the Bible. Before the creation of the Armenian alphabet, Armenians primarily used Greek, Persian, and Syriac scripts. The script in Armenia is written horizontally from left to right, similar to the Greek alphabet, and it has its own distinct letter forms, with some letters having multiple forms.
Cultural Significance
The Armenian letters are a symbol of Armenian identity and culture, and the alphabet has played a significant role in the preservation and transmission of Armenian literature, history, and culture. It is an important part of the heritage of Armenia, with many manuscripts and texts written in the script, and has been recognized as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Structure of the Alphabet
The Armenian alphabet consists of 39 letters, including 31 consonants and 7 vowels. It has two main dialects, and many smaller regional dialects too:
- Eastern Armenian: Used in Armenia and the Armenian diaspora, outside of Armenia.
- Western Armenian: Primarily used in the Armenian diaspora, particularly in the US, Middle East and Europe.
While there are some minor differences between the two variants, they are largely interchangeable. The Armenian language also borrows many foreign words, or ‘loan words’.
Pronunciation
Learning to pronounce some Armenian letters can be challenging for non-native speakers compared to some other languages. However, you don’t have to be an Armenian linguist to learn! With practice, it is easy. Armenian pronunciation of letters is generally phonetic, meaning that each letter represents a specific sound.
Watch the below video to learn to say the letters in Eastern Armenian, courtesy of Tun Online Armenian School:
Source: Tun Online Armenian SchoolWatch the below video to learn to say the letters in Western Armenian, courtesy of Tun Online Armenian School:
Source: Tun Online Armenian SchoolLet’s explore the written Armenian letters of the alphabet that Mesrop Mashtots created, in detail. Each letter is presented with its corresponding translated sound. Use this table to see if you can write your own Armenian word.
# | Name | Letters | IPA | Transliteration | Numerical value | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Eastern | Western | Lowercase | Uppercase | Eastern | Western | |||
1 | Ayb | Ayp | ա | Ա | . | a | a | 1 |
2 | Ben | Pen | բ | Բ | . | b | p | 2 |
3 | Gim | Kim | գ | Գ | . | g | k | 3 |
4 | Da | Ta | դ | Դ | . | d | t | 4 |
5 | Yech | Yech | ե | Ե | . | e | e | 5 |
6 | Za | Za | զ | Զ | . | z | z | 6 |
7 | Ēh | Ēh | է | Է | . | ēh | ēh | 7 |
8 | Ut` | Ut` | ը | Ը | . | u | u | 8 |
9 | T`o | T`o | թ | Թ | . | t` | t` | 9 |
10 | Žhe | Žhe | ժ | Ժ | . | žh | žh | 10 |
11 | Ini | Ini | ի | Ի | . | i | i | 20 |
12 | Lyun | Lyun | լ | Լ | . | l | l | 30 |
13 | Xeh | Xeh | խ | Խ | . | x | x | 40 |
14 | Tza | Dza | ծ | Ծ | . | tz | dz | 50 |
15 | Ken | Gen | կ | Կ | . | k | g | 60 |
16 | Ho | Ho | հ | Հ | . | h | h | 70 |
17 | Dza | Tza | ձ | Ձ | . | dz | tz | 80 |
18 | Głat | Gład | ղ | Ղ | . | gł | gł | 90 |
19 | Cheh | Jeh | ճ | Ճ | . | čh | j | 100 |
20 | Men | Men | մ | Մ | . | m | m | 200 |
21 | Yi | Hy | յ | Յ | . | y | y | 300 |
22 | Nu | Nu | ն | Ն | . | n | n | 400 |
23 | Sha | Sha | շ | Շ | . | sh | sh | 500 |
24 | Vo | Vo | ո | Ո | . | o | o | 600 |
25 | Cha | Cha | չ | Չ | . | ch | ch | 700 |
26 | Peh | Beh | պ | Պ | . | p | b | 800 |
27 | Jeh | Čheh | ջ | Ջ | . | j | čh | 900 |
28 | Rra | Rra | ռ | Ռ | . | rr | rr | 1000 |
29 | Seh | Seh | ս | Ս | . | s | s | 2000 |
30 | Vew | Wev | վ | Վ | . | v | w | 3000 |
31 | Tiun | Diun | տ | Տ | . | t | d | 4000 |
32 | Reh | Reh | ր | Ր | . | r | r | 5000 |
33 | Co | Co | ց | Ց | . | c | c | 6000 |
34 | Wyun | Hyun | ւ | Ւ | . | w | v | 7000 |
35 | P`iur | P`iur | փ | Փ | . | p῾ | p` | 8000 |
36 | Qeh | Qeh | ք | Ք | . | q | q | 9000 |
37 | Ōh | Ōh | օ | Օ | . | ōh | ōh | – |
38 | Feh | Feh | ֆ | Ֆ | . | f | f | – |
Learning Armenian Language Alphabet: Tips and Resources
If you’re interested in learning the Armenian alphabet, here are some courses and resources, courtesy of Tun Online Armenian School, to get you started:
- Armenian Reading and Writing Masterclass Series: 14 lessons in total, available on demand – you’ll learn the Armenian alphabet, and how to pronounce the words in Eastern and Western Armenian, practice reading and writing, exposure to different fonts, and more.
- Armenian Reading and Writing Workbook Bundle: 3 x downloadable workbooks for beginners – you’ll learn to write the Armenian script, how to pronounce the sounds they make, practice writing your name and more.
- English to Armenian Flashcards: Digital or physical flashcards that you can take with you and practice on the go. You’ll learn each the Armenian alphabet and the sounds they make, and you can use the flashcards to play memory games.
- Tun Online Armenian School: Learn Eastern or Western Armenian online with interactive video lessons, entertaining games, downloadable worksheets, audio and more. And you can try your first month for free!
Final thoughts…
The Armenian alphabet is a beautiful and intricate system of writing with a rich history. By understanding its structure and pronunciation, you can embark on a fascinating journey of language learning. Whether you are interested in Armenian culture, history, or simply want to challenge yourself with a new language, mastering the Armenian alphabet is an excellent starting point. Which letter or letters are your favorite?