A Comprehensive Guide to the Armenian Alphabet

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 School

Watch the below video to learn to say the letters in Western Armenian, courtesy of Tun Online Armenian School:

Source: Tun Online Armenian School

Let’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	IPA	Eastern	Western	Numerical value
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	–

Source: Wikipedia

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!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who created the Armenian alphabet?
The Armenian alphabet was created by Mesrop Mashtots in 405 AD. His invention gave Armenians a unique writing system and played a crucial role in preserving the Armenian language, culture, literature, and religious texts for future generations.

2. How many letters are in the Armenian alphabet?
The modern Armenian alphabet contains 39 letters. These include vowels and consonants that allow speakers to accurately represent the sounds of the Armenian language in written form.

3. Is the Armenian alphabet difficult to learn?
Many beginners are surprised by how approachable it is. While the letters may look unfamiliar at first, Armenian spelling is generally phonetic, meaning words are usually pronounced the way they are written. With regular practice, most learners begin recognizing letters quite quickly.

4. What is the difference between Eastern and Western Armenian alphabets?
Both Eastern and Western Armenian use the same alphabet. The main differences are found in pronunciation, vocabulary, and certain grammatical features rather than the letters themselves. This means learning the alphabet gives you a strong foundation for either dialect.

5. Why is the Armenian alphabet culturally important?
The alphabet is one of the strongest symbols of Armenian identity. It helped preserve Armenian literature, history, faith, and culture during centuries of change and migration. For many Armenians around the world, learning the alphabet is an important way to connect with their heritage.

6. How long does it take to learn the Armenian alphabet?
The time varies from person to person, but many learners can recognize and write the letters within a few weeks of consistent study. Reading fluently takes additional practice, but learning the alphabet is often one of the fastest milestones in the Armenian language journey.

7. What is the best way to practice the Armenian alphabet?
A combination of reading, writing, listening, and repetition works best. Flashcards, worksheets, pronunciation exercises, and simple reading activities help reinforce letter recognition and build confidence. Practicing a little each day is often more effective than long study sessions once in a while.

8. Where can I learn the Armenian alphabet step by step?
At Tun Online Armenian School, we offer structured lessons designed to help beginners learn the Armenian alphabet in both Eastern and Western Armenian. Through video lessons, worksheets, flashcards, audio practice, and interactive activities, students can build a strong foundation in reading and writing while learning at their own pace.

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?

This guide is part of our complete beginner roadmap on how to learn Armenian.