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Foundations

Indefinite and definite articles

Express “a” and “the” with the Armenian article system.

9 minute lesson

The article comes in a different place

The indefinite article is placed before the noun. The definite article is attached to the end of the noun: usually -ը (-ə) after a consonant and -ն (-n) after a vowel. Before a following vowel or a form of “to be”, -ն (-n) is commonly used.

Core patterns

MeaningArmenianTransliterationEnglish
indefiniteմի գիրքmi girk’a book
definite after consonantգիրքըgirk’əthe book
indefiniteմի կատուmi katua cat
definite after vowelկատունkatunthe cat
before the copulaգիրքն էgirk’n eis the book

Examples

Սա մի գիրք է։Sa mi girk’ e.This is a book.Pronunciation: k’ is aspirated, with a puff of air.
Գիրքն այստեղ է։Girk’n aystegh e.The book is here.Pronunciation: gh is a voiced throaty sound.
Կատուն փոքր է։Katun p’ok’r e.The cat is small.Pronunciation: p’ and k’ are aspirated.

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