AskaciHow are you in Armenian? Asking and answering
In Armenia, people check in on each other all the time. Here are the questions to know, from polite to casual, and all the answers so you’re never lost for words.
The classic question is Ինչպե՞ս ես (inchpes es), “how are you?”. With someone you address formally, replace es (you are) with ek (you are, polite): inchpes ek.
Questions to ask how someone is
- Ինչպե՞ս ես Inchpes es? How are you?Western : Ինչպէ՞ս ես (inchbes es)
- Ինչպե՞ս եք Inchpes ek? How are you? (polite or plural)
- Ո՞նց ես Vonts es? How’s it going? (casual)The street version in Yerevan, among friends.
- Ի՞նչ կա Inch ka? What’s up? (“what is there?”)
- Ինչ կա չկա Inch ka chka What’s new? (“what there is, what there isn’t”)A very lively phrase, often used to open a conversation.
Answers
- Լավ եմ Lav em I’m fineWestern : Լաւ եմ (Lav em)
- Շատ լավ Shat lav Very good
- Վատ չեմ Vat chem Not bad
- Ոչինչ Vochinch Okay, nothing special
- իսկ դու՞ isk du? And you?
A mini dialogue to learn by heart
| Armenian | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|
| A | Բարև, ինչպե՞ս ես։ Barev, inchpes es? | Hi, how are you? |
| B | Լավ եմ, շնորհակալություն։ Իսկ դու՞։ Lav em, shnorhakalutyun. Isk du? | Fine, thanks. And you? |
| A | Շատ լավ։ Shat lav | Very good. |
| B | Հաճելի է։ Hacheli e | Nice to meet you. |
Eastern or Western?
In Western Armenian, the question is written Ինչպէ՞ս ես and pronounced inchbes es: the classical spelling keeps the letter “է” and the “p” sounds like “b”. If your family comes from Lebanon, Syria or France, that’s probably the form you grew up hearing. Learn more in our guide to Eastern vs Western Armenian.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say how are you in Armenian?
Say “Ինչպե՞ս ես” (inchpes es) informally and “Ինչպե՞ս եք” (inchpes ek) politely. Among friends you’ll also hear “Ո՞նց ես” (vonts es).
How do you answer inchpes es?
Answer “Լավ եմ” (lav em), “I’m fine”, or “Վատ չեմ” (vat chem), “not bad”, then send the question back with “Իսկ դու՞” (isk du), “and you?”.