AskaciSpeaking Armenian with your family: your first phrases
You understand a little, but freeze when it’s time to answer. Here are the phrases to keep in your pocket for talking to your relatives, all taken from the app, with audio for each.
Answering a relative isn’t reciting a textbook: a few short phrases are enough to restart the conversation. Here are five situations. Every phrase comes from Askaci’s lessons, with its audio: listen, say it out loud, repeat.
Greeting and asking how they are
- Բարև ձեզ Barev dzez Hello (you, polite)
- Բարի լույս Bari luys Hello (morning)In the morning. The word bari means “good”: good light.
- Ինչպե՞ս ես Inchpes es? How are you?
- Լավ եմ Lav em I'm fine
- Ի՞նչ կա-չկա Inch ka-chka? What's up?
- Ես էլ Yes el Me too
Saying you don’t understand, asking them to repeat
This is the most useful part. Saying you are learning also tells your family you are making the effort, and they will slow down.
- Ես հայերեն եմ սովորում Yes hayeren em sovorum I'm learning Armenian
- Մի փոքր հայերեն եմ խոսում Mi pokr hayeren em khosum I speak a little Armenian
- Ես չեմ հասկանում Yes chem haskanum I don't understand
- Կրկնեք, խնդրեմ Krknek, khntrem Repeat, pleasePolite form, with “you” (plural): the safest choice with an elder.
- Կարո՞ղ եք ավելի դանդաղ խոսել Karogh ek aveli dandagh khosel? Can you talk slower?Polite form, with “you” (plural).
- Ինչպե՞ս ասել սա հայերեն Inchpes asel sa hayeren? How do we say that in Armenian?
At the table, at your grandparents’
- Շատ համեղ էր Shat hamegh er It was delicious
- Շնորհակալ եմ Shnorhakal em Thank you (I am grateful)
- Շատ լավ Shat lav All right
- Խնդրեմ Khntrem Please
In the app, the “At grandma’s” conversation plays this scene with Ani: you greet your grandmother, say you are hungry, say it is delicious, then say goodbye.
Saying you love them, and parting
- Ես քեզ սիրում եմ Yes kez sirum em I love you
- Կտեսնվենք Ktesnvenk See you soon / see you
- Բարի գիշեր Bari gisher Good night
- Ցտեսություն Tstesutyun Goodbye
For the tender words that go with these, read our Armenian terms of endearment. For the names of family members (mom, tatik, papik), go here: Armenian family phrases.
Your small task this week
- Pick two phrases from this page: for example Ինչպե՞ս ես and Լավ եմ.
- Listen to each three times, then say it out loud without reading.
- Send them to a relative, as a voice message or on the phone. Your accent doesn’t matter: the effort does.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say “I love you” to your family in Armenian?
You say “Ես քեզ սիրում եմ” (yes kez sirum em). It is a phrase from Askaci’s “Useful phrases” lesson, with its audio on this page.
I understand Armenian but I’m afraid to speak it: where do I start?
Start small: five or six phrases like the ones on this page, said out loud, rather than a long list. Greet, ask how they are, say you are learning.
How do you say “I don’t understand” in Armenian?
You say “Ես չեմ հասկանում” (yes chem haskanum), then “Կրկնեք, խնդրեմ” (krknek, khntrem), “repeat, please”.
Should I speak Eastern or Western Armenian with my family?
Your family’s. Askaci’s lessons follow Eastern Armenian; Ani can also practice Western Armenian with you. The “understand Western Armenian” guide explains the differences in sounds.