Armenian Alphabet: #1 Easy Guide With Useful Facts

What’s the first step to learning any language? Learning its alphabets! This blog post will help you understand the Armenian alphabet in detail. You will not only learn about the sounds of each vowel and consonant but also their usage. So let’s get started!

Alphabets In The Armenian language

The Armenian alphabet is unique and beautiful but also antique. UNESCO has previously mentioned ‘Armenian letter art and its cultural expression,’ which explains the beauty and uniqueness of the Armenian alphabet.

Brief History Of Armenian Alphabet

There was a time when all the written scripts related to Christianity were in other languages. People used foreign alphabet and sound to study religion in an Armenian church. And so, the need to have a native language emerged. So, Mesrop Mashtots, an Armenian linguist, started replacing the Greek alphabet with the Armenian alphabet. The alphabet used to this day in the country is the modern Armenian that has changed.

The alphabet differs both in Western Armenian and Eastern Armenian in terms of usage and pronunciation, not in terms of written expression.

Amazing Facts

Armenian Alphabet

There are countless amazing facts about the Armenian alphabet. These alphabets are considered unique for so many reasons besides being ancient.

Chemical Codes And Secret Cryptographs

The periodic table that you know is also coded in the Armenian alphabet. There are no other countries with such a unique writing system. The Armenian Language has a proper system through which these chemicals are known. 

For example, the word for ‘gold’ is written ՈՍԿԻ (voski) in Armenian.

Each alphabet in every word has a certain number associated with it. The sum of all the numbers is 79, the atomic number for Au, gold. It was not a mere coincidence; instead, it was crafted creatively and intelligently. All the metals in the periodic table have this kind of code.

And that is how the Armenians have made it easy to remember each metal’s code and atomic numbers in the periodic table. However, there’s also a mystery that the periodic table was not invented at that time. Instead, it said that it was developed after a very long time.

However, the Armenian scripture still has these codes, which is an interesting thing to know about. Another example is silver. արծ-arts (silver) : ա+ր+ծ (1+32+14) = 79.

Numerical Values

Armenian numerical values

Let’s also introduce yet another mind-blowing fact about the Armenian alphabet. The Armenian letter was not only a system of writing, but it was also a quantitative system for doing mathematics and keeping track of dates.

All the characters have different quantitative values depending on their alphabetical sequence, but they will also have different decimal values.

They are organized into four columns and nine rows. Single figures are represented in the first column, tens inside the second, hundreds inside the third, and thousands inside the fourth.

The Geometry Of The Sacred

Several geometrical mysteries are concealed inside the alphabet, and I will go over a few of them here.

Octagram

Furthermore, if somehow the Armenian characters are arranged within an octagram square in a clockwise direction, the characters at the corners resemble the original Armenian term for the nation, “Hayk.” The Armenian word for the Armenian people’s motherland.

Dates

The Armenian Language is also used to write the dates. In the earliest surviving manuscripts (5th century), people used letters to imply dates in the writing system.

Here is how this would operate in terms of dates. Dates were typically denoted only with letters, frequently with just an overline, signifying “t’vin” (meaning “in the year”), accompanied by one to four characters, each one indicating the number depending on its alphabetical sequence.

Armenians used a Julian calendar which began around 552 AD (11 July) during the Middle Ages. Just multiply the number by 551 to convert it to standard years. For example, (600)+(70)+(3)+(551) = 1224 AD.

Made the Literature

Armenian literature is known to be formed because of the invention of the alphabet.

“The invention of our own unique alphabet enabled people to learn and use the language, which resulted in the birth of Armenian literature.”

Karine Dilanyan

Classical Armenian Letters

Armenian classical letters
Armenian LetterRomanized versionPronunciationExamplesNumerical Value
Ա • աA • aa in farարև, Անիվ – arev, Aniv1
Բ • բB • bb/p as in buy, pharmacyԲանալի – Banali2
Գ • գG • gg/k as in gate, kiteԳիրք – Girk’3
Դ • դD • dd/t as in door, thornԴանակ – Danak4
Ե • եYe • yey as in yawnԵլակ – Yelak5
Զ • զZ • zz as in zebraձագար – dzagar6
Է • էE • ee as in elephantԷշ – Esh7
Ը • ը7Y • yu as in suitԸնկույզ – Ynkuyz8
Թ • թT’ • t’t as in tiredԹիթեռ – T’it’err9
Ժ • ժZH • zhs in revisionժամ – zham10
Ի • իI • ii in sinԻնը – Iny20
Լ • լL • ll as in lifeԼեռ – Lerr30
Խ • խKH • khguttural kh as in k(h)iteխաբար – khabar40
Ծ • ծTS • tstz/dz as in ratsծիրան – tsiran50
Կ • կK • kg/k as in gate, kiteԿատու – Katu60
Հ • հH • hh as in heightՀայերեն – Hayeren70
Ձ • ձDZ • dzdz/ts in fedsձու – dzu80
Ղ • ղGH • ghgutteral gh as in merci (r/gh)ղազախ – ghazakh90
Ճ • ճCH • chj as in jollyճաշել – chashel100
Մ • մM • mm as in maidՄեկ – Mek200
Յ • յY • yh/y as in here, yawnՅոթ – Yot’300
Ն • նN • nn as in naughtyՆուռ – Nurr400
Շ • շSH • shsh as in sheildշուն – shun500
Ո • ոVO • vovo or o as in vogue, oldճոպան – chopan600
Չ • չCH’ • ch’ch in churchչինար – ch’inar700
Պ • պP • pb/p as in bold, pollՊանիր – Panir800
Ջ • ջJ • jch/j in child, jawՋուր – Jur900
Ռ • ռRR • rrr as in realՌադիո – Rradio1000
Ս • սS • ss as in softՍանհանգույց – Sanhanguyts’2000
Վ • վV • vv as in vaultՎարդ – Vard3000
Տ • տT • tb/d as in bed, redՏուն – Tun4000
Ր • րR • rr as in rightրոպե – rope5000
Ց • ցTS’ • ts’ts as in ratsՑորեն – Ts’voren6000
Ւ • ւW • ww or v as in wool7000
Փ • փP’ • p’p as in peerՓիղ – P’igh8000
Ք • քK’ • k’k as in killքաղցր – k’aghts’r9000
Օ • օO • oo as in ownՕր – Or
Ֆ • ֆF • ff as in fireՖուտբոլ – Futbol
ուuՈւթ – Ut’
ևyev

Western Vs Eastern Armenian Letters

Let’s look at the differences between Western and Eastern Alphabet.

Armenian AlphabetWestern AlphabetEastern Alphabet
Ա • աAypAyb
Բ • բPenBen
Գ • գKimGim
Դ • դTaDa
Ե • եYechYech
Զ • զZaZa
Է • էĒhĒh
Ը • ը7Ut`Ut`
Թ • թT`oT`o
Ժ • ժŽheŽhe
Ի • իIniIni
Լ • լLyunLyun
Խ • խXehXeh
Ծ • ծDzaTza
Կ • կGenKen
Հ • հHoHo
Ձ • ձTzaDza
Ղ • ղGładGłat
Ճ • ճJehCheh
Մ • մMenMen
Յ • յHyYi
Ն • նNuNu
Շ • շShaSha
Ո • ոVoVo
Չ • չChaCha
Պ • պBehPeh
Ջ • ջČhehJeh
Ռ • ռRraRra
Ս • սSehSeh
Վ • վWevVew
Տ • տDiunTiun
Ր • րRehReh
Ց • ցCoCo
Ւ • ւHyunWyun
Փ • փP`iurP`iur
Ք • քQehQeh
Օ • օŌhŌh
Ֆ • ֆFehFeh
ու
և

Armenian Punctuation

The topic of the alphabet also includes various punctuation marks you need to learn. You might think you know the punctuation marks in Armenian when you look at them, but you will notice that some of them are slightly different from other languages.

Here is a brief account of all the punctuation marks in the Armenian Language that you can use in your Armenian sentences.

{՝} is the boot symbol which is equivalent to a semicolon in the English Language. You can use it when you want to mention a pause.

{« »} is the čakertner sign which is the regular quotation mark.

{,} called storaket, it is used as a comma like in English. Its usage is the same as a comma as well.

{.} The mijaket is always used as a regular colon, primarily to divide two closely linked phrases or a long list of objects.

{:} The verjaket serves as a standard full stop after a sentence.

Armenian Words Starting With Each Alphabet

Armenian words
Armenian WordsRomanized ArmenianEnglish Translation
ադանաadanaAdana
ազդրazdrThigh
ագռավagrravCrow
ագահagahGreedy
աբրամabramAbram
ազատazatFree
ադմինadminAdmin
ադամadamAdam
բազազbazazBase
բախտbakhtFate
բաժակbazhakCup
բազաbazaBase
բալbalCherry
բախbakhBach
բալիbaliCherry
բազեbazeHawk
բադbadDuck
բագաժbagazhLuggage
բաժինbazhinSection
գաղջgaghjLazy
գադեսgadesGades
գազgazGas
գանաganaGhana
գազաgazaGas
գազանgazanThe Beast
գագաթgagat’Top
գազարgazarCarrots
գաբոնgabonGabon
գայլgaylWolf
դաշնdashnFederation
դարdarCentury
դասիdasiLesson
դատdatTrial
դակաdakaDaka
դադարdadarPause
դագաղdagaghCoffin
դաշտdashtField
դառնdarrnBitter
եզակիyezakiUnique
ելամyelamI Left
ելակyelakStrawberry
ելցինyelts’inEltsin
եզերքyezerk’Edge
եկանքyekank’We Came
եզրyezrEdge
ելնելyelnelTo Leave
եկելyekelCame
եթեyet’eIf
զգեստzgestDress
զավակzavakChild
զգացիzgats’iFelt
զգաստzgastAlert
զատիկzatikEaster
զգումzgumFeeling
զառիկzarrikDice
զարինzarinZar
զապելzapelRestrain
էդգարedgarEdgar
էգուցeguts’Tomorrow
էթալet’alEtal
էղնելeghnelTo Be
էժանezhanCheap
էմիլemilEmil
էթիկաet’ikaEthics
էականeakanEssential
էկրանekranScreen
էլիպսelipsEllipse
էլզասelzasAlsace
ընծաyntsaGift
ընկելynkelFell
ըմբիշymbishWrestler
ըստystBy
ընդէրynderVs.
ըմպելympelTo Drink
ըլլալyllalTo Be
ընտիրyntirSelect
ընկերynkerFriend
թանձրt’andzrThick
թալիբt’alibTalib
թանաքt’anak’Ink
թալանt’alanRobbery
թաթարt’at’arTatar
թանալt’analInk
թաղելt’aghelBury
թայֆաt’ayfaTyphoon
թակոցt’akots’Knock
ժխտելzhkhtelTo Deny
ժակետzhaketJacket
ժանգzhangRust
ժեստzhestGesture
ժանիքzhanik’Fang
ժիլետzhiletVest
ժպտալzhptalSmile
ժայռzhayrrRock
ժանրzhanrGenre
ժողովzhoghovAssembly
իշխանishkhanPrince
իմաստimastMeaning
իզմիրizmirIzmir
իսլամislamMy
իներտinertInert
ինդոսindosIndos
ինչուinch’uWhy?
լիզելlizelLick
լավաշlavashLavash
լիանաlianaLiana
լացողlats’voghCrying
լակոտlakotPuppy
լացելlats’elCry
լեզուlezuLanguage
լիբիաlibiaLibya
լազերlazerLaser
լատիշlatishLatvian
լիդիաlidiaLydia
լենինleninLenin
խաբելkhabelTo Cheat
խալիֆkhalifCaliph
խաղալkhaghalPlay
խաղերkhagherGames
խաղաղkhaghaghPeaceful
խալաթkhalat’Robe
խառատkharratLathe
խաշելkhashelBoil
խաչելkhach’elTo Crucify
խաղողkhaghoghGrapes
խաշուkhashuKhashu
խաբարkhabarNews
ծիծակtsitsakPepper
ծարիրtsarirTwist
ծիծաղtsitsaghLaughter
ծամելtsamelChew
ծանակtsanakNote
ծիծիկtsitsikBreast
ծաղիկtsaghikFlower
ծալելtsalelFold
ծխումtskhumSmoking
ծամոնtsamonChewing Gum
ծարավtsaravThirsty
ծեծելtsetselTo Beat
ծիրանtsiranApricot
ծավալtsavalVolume
ծղրիդtsghridCricket
ծանոթtsanot’Familiar
ծածանtsatsanRipple
կադիսkadisCadis
կազանkazanKazan
կաղաղkaghaghLame
կաթոդkat’vodCathode
կախելkakhelTo Hang
կակաչkakach’Poppy
կակաոkakaoCocoa
կազակkazakCossack
կալելkalelTo Call
կաթիլkat’ilDrop
կաբելkabelCable
կաթսաkat’saBoiler
հալոցhalots’Melting
հազալhazalCough
հալեպhalepAleppo
հագածhagatsDressed
հալելhalelTo Melt
հազարhazarThousand
հաիթիhait’iApplication
հալվաhalvaHalva
հալվեhalveAloe
հադեսhadesHades
հագագhagagClothing
ձգվելdzgvelStretch
ձեզմէdzezmeFrom You
ձկներdzknerFishes
ձավարdzavarGrain
ձգտելdzgtelTo Strive For
ձախողdzakhoghFailed
ձերովdzerovBy You
ձագարdzagarFunnel
ձեւերdzeverYours
ձգումdzgumStretching
ղրիմghrimCrimea
ղափանghap’anGhapan
ղազախghazakhKazakh
ղալաթghalat’Ghalat
ղասաբghasabGhasab
ղայիշghayishGhayish
ղպտիghptiCoptic
ճահիճchahichBog
ճաշելchashelTo Eat
ճիճուchichuWorm
ճագարchagarRabbit
ճզմելchzmelSqueeze
ճաքելchak’elCrack
ճիրանchiranClutch
ճաղատchaghatBald
ճակատchakatFront
ճամփաchamp’aWay
մայրիmayriCedar
մագմաmagmaMagma
մակն.makn.Brand
մակաոmakaoMacau
մագիլmagilClaw
մամբոmamboMambo
մայիսmayisMay
մայլաmaylaMile
մալթաmalt’aMalta
մազերmazerHair
մազոտmazotHairy
յաշիկyashikCupboard
յուանyuanYuan
յալթաyalt’aYalta
յանկիyankiYankee
յարենyarenYaren
չինարch’inarChinese
չեզոքch’ezok’Neutral
չարչիch’arch’iCharchi
չարիքch’arik’Evil
չամիչch’amich’Raisins
չափելch’ap’elTo Measure
չիշիկch’ishikPee
չամանch’amanCumin
չեչենch’ech’enChechen
չափարch’ap’arSize
չալմաch’almaTurban
պակասpakasLess
պաչելpach’elTo Smell
պանիրpanirCheese
պառավparravOld Woman
պաչիկpach’ikKiss
պալատpalatChamber
պաշարpasharSupply
պատիժpatizhPunishment
պահելpahelTo Keep
պապիկpapikGrandfather
պամիրpamirPamir
պատառpatarrPiece
պագելpagelTo Worship
ջազվեjazveJazz
ջադուjaduMagic
ջոկատjokatDetachment
ջուբաjubaJuba
ջնջոցjnjots’Deletion
ջրարջjrarjRaccoon
ջրպանjrpanWater Tank
ջիգիթjigit’Jigit
ջիհադjihadJihad
ջրհոսjrhosAquarius
ջնջելjnjelDelete
ջհուդjhudJew
ջրվեժjrvezhWaterfall
ջերսիjersiJersey
ջահելjahelYoung
ռադոնrradonRadon
ռադիոrradioRadio
ռեժիմrrezhimMode
ռետինrretinRubber
ռեհանrrehanBasil
ռոբոտrrobotRobot
ռաքելrrak’elRack
ռադարrradarRadar
ռաբիզrrabizRabiz
ռայանrrayanRyan
ռեգբիrregbiRugby
ռոմանrromanNovel
ռեպերrreperRappers
ռիցինrrits’inRicin
սազելsazelTo Fit
սապփոsapp’voSapphire
սակավsakavScarce
սամբոsamboSambo
սեզոնsezonSeason
սապոնsaponSoap
սալորsalorPlums
սասանsasanShake
սափորsap’vorPitcher
սալաթsalat’Salad
սանիկsanikGodson
սելենselenSelenium
սառածsarratsFrozen
սավանsavanSheet
սամբաsambaSamba
վայրիvayriWild
վաճառvacharrFor Sale
վագոնvagonWagon
վենետvenetVenice
վարելvarelTo Drive
վառելvarrelTo Burn
վազելvazelTo Run
վառոդvarrodGunpowder
վարիչvarich’Head
վեզիրvezirVizier
վաննաvannaBath
վալիզvalizSuitcase
վահանvahanShield
վասալvasalVassal
վաֆլիvafliWaffle
վառիչvarrich’Lighter
վարազvarazBoar
տակառtakarrBarrel
տաբատtabatTrousers
տանիքtanik’Roof
տապանtapanArk
տապարtaparPan
տալիսtalisIs
տանգոtangoTango
տաշելtashelTo Grind
տաճարtacharTemple
տաշեղtasheghChip
տալովtalovGiving
րոպեropeMinute
րաֆֆիraffiRaffi
րաբբիrabbiRabbi
ցամաքts’amak’Land
ցածրts’atsrLow
ցորենts’vorenWheat
ցուրտts’urtCold
ցնորքts’nork’Dream
ցավոտts’avotPainful
ցայգts’aygTsayg
ցինկts’inkZinc
ցխինքts’khink’Smoke
ցանցts’ants’Network
ցավոքts’avok’Unfortunately
ցույցts’uyts’Show
ցուպts’upStick
ցիկլts’iklCycle
ցավելts’avelTo Hurt
ցերեկts’erekDuring The Day
ցուլts’ulBull
ցավդts’avdYour Pain
ցիգանts’iganGypsy
փարթիp’art’iParty
փականp’akanLock
փույթp’uyt’Care
փաթեթp’at’et’Packages
փսխելp’skhelTo Vomit
փունջp’unjBunch
փառոքp’arrok’Glorious
փչումp’ch’umBlowing
փակելp’akelClose
փշրելp’shrelCrush
փողոցp’voghots’Street
փայտեp’ayteWooden
փորոքp’vorok’Ventricle
օհայոohayoOhio
օրգանorganOrgan
օգնելognelTo Help
օմեգաomegaOmega
օազիսoazisOasis
օբամաobamaObama
օպերաoperaOpera
օդեսաodesaOdessa
օգուտogutBenefit
օսմանosmanOttoman
օսկարoskarOscar
օծյալotsyalAnointed
քանակk’anakQuantity
քաղցրk’aghts’rSweet
քամելk’amelSqueeze
քանոնk’anonRuler
քակորk’akorՔակոր
քաշելk’ashelDrag
քարերk’arerStones
քավորk’avorGodfather
քաթարk’at’arQatar
քարափk’arap’Cliff
քաղաքk’aghak’City
քաչալk’ach’alTo Run
քարոզk’arozSermon
ֆոբիաfobiaPhobia
ֆոնոնfononBackground
ֆերմաfermaFarm
ֆունտfuntPound
ֆիզիկfizikPhysics
ֆագոտfagotBassoon
ֆոտոնfotonPhoton
ֆրանկfrankFrank
ֆիլիաfiliaPhilia
ուելսերենuyelserenWelsh
ութոտնուկut’votnukOctopus
ուխտագնացukhtagnats’Pilgrim
ուղեկցորդughekts’vordEscort
ուղեղայինugheghayinCerebral
ուղեցույցughets’uyts’Guide
ումբրերենumbrerenUmbrian
ունեցվածքunets’vatsk’Property
ուռնաձուկurrnadzukWillow Fish
ուսուցումusuts’umTraining
ուրարտացիurartats’iUrartian
ուրուգվայurugvayUruguay

Wrapping Up

Learn Armenian Alphabet

Congratulations! Now you have learned about the Armenian alphabet and have insight into the Armenian script. You can now write and read any written script with the help of this lesson. If you want to learn Armenian, check out Ling App! We also have articles about Armenian Names and Armenian Sentence Structure.

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