Learn Eastern Armenian Free A1 course & practice
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All lessons Lesson 4
Everyday lesson · 30 minutes

Family Life & Free Time

1. Look at a family photo

Begin with relationships in context. Read the fictional photo conversation once, then retrieve who each person is without relying on an English label beside the answer.

A
Սա քո ընտանիքի լուսանկա՞րն է։ Sa k’o əntanik’i lusankarn e? Is this a photo of your family? Pronunciation: k’ is aspirated; ə is a short “uh”.
B
Այո։ Սա իմ քույրն է՝ Աննա։ Ayo. Sa im k’uyrn e: Anna. Yes. This is my sister, Anna. Pronunciation: k’ is aspirated.
A
Իսկ սա ո՞վ է։ Isk sa ov e? And who is this?
B
Սա նրա ամուսինն է։ Sa nra amusinn e. This is her husband.
B
Նրանք երկու երեխա ունեն։ Nrank’ yerku yerekha unen. They have two children. Pronunciation: k’ is aspirated.
A
Իսկ այս տղան ո՞վ է։ Isk ays tghan ov e? And who is this boy? Pronunciation: gh is voiced and throaty.
B
Նա իմ եղբայրն է։ Na im yeghbayrn e. He is my brother. Pronunciation: gh is voiced and throaty.
Recognise a family statement Try it

Which sentence says that they have two children?

Նրանք երկու երեխա ունեն։ Nrank’ yerku yerekha unen. Pronunciation: k’ is aspirated.
Սա նրա ամուսինն է։ Sa nra amusinn e.
Նա իմ եղբայրն է։ Na im yeghbayrn e. Pronunciation: gh is voiced and throaty.
Identify a relative Try it

Which sentence identifies the speaker’s brother?

Նա իմ եղբայրն է։ Na im yeghbayrn e. Pronunciation: gh is voiced and throaty.
Սա իմ քույրն է՝ Աննա։ Sa im k’uyrn e: Anna. Pronunciation: k’ is aspirated.
Սա նրա ամուսինն է։ Sa nra amusinn e.

2. Build the family

Learn the core relationship words as a connected family rather than as an isolated list. Armenian does not have grammatical gender for articles, but relationship words themselves distinguish people when needed.

ընտանիք əntanik’ family Pronunciation: ə is a short “uh”; k’ is aspirated.
ծնող tsnogh parent Pronunciation: ts is blended; gh is voiced and throaty.
ծնողներ tsnoghner parents Pronunciation: ts is blended; gh is voiced and throaty.
մայր mayr mother
հայր hayr father
եղբայր yeghbayr brother Pronunciation: gh is voiced and throaty.
քույր k’uyr sister Pronunciation: k’ is aspirated.
ամուսին amusin husband / spouse
կին kin wife / woman
որդի vordi son
դուստր dustr daughter
երեխա yerekha child Pronunciation: kh is a strong throaty sound [x].
պապիկ papik grandfather
տատիկ tatik grandmother
թոռ t’orr grandchild Pronunciation: t’ is aspirated; rr is strongly rolled.
զարմիկ zarmik cousin
Practise the Family vocabulary deck
Retrieve “sister” Try it

Which Armenian word means “sister”?

քույր k’uyr Pronunciation: k’ is aspirated.
եղբայր yeghbayr Pronunciation: gh is voiced and throaty.
դուստր dustr
Retrieve “grandchild” Try it

Which Armenian word means “grandchild”?

թոռ t’orr Pronunciation: t’ is aspirated; rr is strongly rolled.
պապիկ papik
ծնող tsnogh Pronunciation: ts is blended; gh is voiced and throaty.

3. My family, your family

Possessive forms let you identify family relationships clearly. Eastern Armenian uses one set of possessive words regardless of noun gender. For a beginner, the full possessive word plus a definite noun is a reliable pattern.

իմ ընտանիքը im əntanik’ə my family Pronunciation: ə is a short “uh”; k’ is aspirated.
քո քույրը k’o k’uyrə your sister, informal Pronunciation: both k’ sounds are aspirated; ə is a short “uh”.
նրա եղբայրը nra yeghbayrə his / her brother Pronunciation: gh is voiced and throaty; ə is a short “uh”.
մեր ծնողները mer tsnoghnerə our parents Pronunciation: ts is blended; gh is voiced and throaty; ə is a short “uh”.
ձեր երեխաները dzer yerekhanerə your children, polite / plural Pronunciation: dz is blended; kh is throaty; ə is a short “uh”.
նրանց տատիկը nrants’ tatikə their grandmother Pronunciation: ts’ is aspirated; ə is a short “uh”.
Սա իմ մայրն է։ Sa im mayrn e. This is my mother.
Սա նրա հայրն է։ Sa nra hayrn e. This is his / her father.
Review possessive forms
Choose the possessive phrase Try it

Which phrase means “our parents”?

մեր ծնողները mer tsnoghnerə Pronunciation: ts is blended; gh is voiced and throaty; ə is a short “uh”.
ձեր երեխաները dzer yerekhanerə Pronunciation: dz is blended; kh is throaty; ə is a short “uh”.
նրանց տատիկը nrants’ tatikə Pronunciation: ts’ is aspirated; ə is a short “uh”.
His or her Try it

Which phrase can mean either “his brother” or “her brother”?

նրա եղբայրը nra yeghbayrə Pronunciation: gh is voiced and throaty; ə is a short “uh”.
քո քույրը k’o k’uyrə Pronunciation: both k’ sounds are aspirated; ə is a short “uh”.
իմ ընտանիքը im əntanik’ə Pronunciation: ə is a short “uh”; k’ is aspirated.

4. Ask about someone’s family

Use the formal/informal distinction you already know. The family vocabulary stays the same; the possessive and verb forms change according to whether you address one familiar person or use the polite / plural form.

Informal

Քո ընտանիքը մե՞ծ է։ K’o əntanik’ə mets e? Is your family big? Pronunciation: k’ is aspirated; ə is a short “uh”.
Քույր կամ եղբայր ունե՞ս։ K’uyr kam yeghbayr unes? Do you have a sister or brother? Pronunciation: k’ is aspirated; gh is voiced and throaty.
Որտե՞ղ են ապրում քո ծնողները։ Vortegh en aprum k’o tsnoghnerə? Where do your parents live? Pronunciation: gh is voiced and throaty; k’ is aspirated; ts is blended; ə is a short “uh”.

Formal / plural

Ձեր ընտանիքը մե՞ծ է։ Dzer əntanik’ə mets e? Is your family big? Pronunciation: dz is blended; ə is a short “uh”; k’ is aspirated.
Քույր կամ եղբայր ունե՞ք։ K’uyr kam yeghbayr unek’? Do you have a sister or brother? Pronunciation: k’ is aspirated; gh is voiced and throaty.
Որտե՞ղ են ապրում ձեր ծնողները։ Vortegh en aprum dzer tsnoghnerə? Where do your parents live? Pronunciation: gh is voiced and throaty; dz is blended; ts is blended; ə is a short “uh”.
Use the polite question Try it

You are asking a new acquaintance whether they have a sister or brother. Which question uses the polite form?

Քույր կամ եղբայր ունե՞ք։ K’uyr kam yeghbayr unek’? Pronunciation: k’ is aspirated; gh is voiced and throaty.
Քույր կամ եղբայր ունե՞ս։ K’uyr kam yeghbayr unes? Pronunciation: k’ is aspirated; gh is voiced and throaty.
Քո ընտանիքը մե՞ծ է։ K’o əntanik’ə mets e? Pronunciation: k’ is aspirated; ə is a short “uh”.
Use the informal possessive Try it

Which question informally asks where someone’s parents live?

Որտե՞ղ են ապրում քո ծնողները։ Vortegh en aprum k’o tsnoghnerə? Pronunciation: gh is voiced and throaty; k’ is aspirated; ts is blended; ə is a short “uh”.
Որտե՞ղ են ապրում ձեր ծնողները։ Vortegh en aprum dzer tsnoghnerə? Pronunciation: gh is voiced and throaty; dz is blended; ts is blended; ə is a short “uh”.
Քույր կամ եղբայր ունե՞ս։ K’uyr kam yeghbayr unes? Pronunciation: k’ is aspirated; gh is voiced and throaty.

5. A quiet Sunday

Practise frequent present-tense actions through simple free-time scenes. These verbs are useful in many everyday conversations.

Story
Կիրակի օրը ընտանիքը տանն է։ Kiraki orə əntanik’ə tann e. On Sunday the family is at home. Pronunciation: ə is a short “uh”; k’ is aspirated.
Story
Հայրը ֆիլմ է դիտում։ Hayrə film e ditum. The father is watching a film. Pronunciation: ə is a short “uh”.
Story
Մայրը սուրճ է խմում։ Mayrə surch e khmum. The mother is drinking coffee. Pronunciation: ə is a short “uh”; ch is unaspirated; kh is throaty.
Story
Քույրը գիրք է կարդում։ K’uyrə girk’ e kardum. The sister is reading a book. Pronunciation: both k’ sounds are aspirated; ə is a short “uh”.
Story
Եղբայրը քնում է։ Yeghbayrə k’num e. The brother is sleeping. Pronunciation: gh is voiced and throaty; k’ is aspirated; ə is a short “uh”.
Story
Հետո քույրը գնում է քաղաք և հանդիպում է ընկերուհուն։ Heto k’uyrə gnum e k’aghak’ yev handipum e ənkeruhun. Then the sister goes into the city and meets a female friend. Pronunciation: k’ is aspirated; gh is voiced and throaty; ə is a short “uh”.
Retrieve the reading sentence Try it

Which sentence says that the sister is reading a book?

Քույրը գիրք է կարդում։ K’uyrə girk’ e kardum. Pronunciation: both k’ sounds are aspirated; ə is a short “uh”.
Հայրը ֆիլմ է դիտում։ Hayrə film e ditum. Pronunciation: ə is a short “uh”.
Եղբայրը քնում է։ Yeghbayrə k’num e. Pronunciation: gh is voiced and throaty; k’ is aspirated; ə is a short “uh”.
Retrieve the sleeping sentence Try it

Which sentence says that the brother is sleeping?

Եղբայրը քնում է։ Yeghbayrə k’num e. Pronunciation: gh is voiced and throaty; k’ is aspirated; ə is a short “uh”.
Մայրը սուրճ է խմում։ Mayrə surch e khmum. Pronunciation: ə is a short “uh”; ch is unaspirated; kh is throaty.
Հայրը ֆիլմ է դիտում։ Hayrə film e ditum. Pronunciation: ə is a short “uh”.

6. A relative visits for the weekend

Turn family vocabulary into an actual plan. The dialogue uses the present tense with a clear future time, a natural way to talk about an arranged near-future visit.

A
Բարև, Նարե՛։ Այս շաբաթ օրը գալի՞ս ես Երևան։ Barev, Nare! Ays shabat’ orə galis es Yerevan? Hi, Nare. Are you coming to Yerevan this Saturday? Pronunciation: t’ is aspirated; ə is a short “uh”.
B
Այո, գալիս եմ և երկու օր մնում եմ։ Ayo, galis em yev yerku or mnum em. Yes, I am coming and staying for two days.
A
Հիանալի է։ Ի՞նչ ենք անում։ Hianali e. Inch’ enk’ anum? Great. What are we doing? Pronunciation: ch’ and k’ are aspirated.
B
Դու շատ գաղափարներ ունես։ Du shat gaghap’arner unes. You have lots of ideas. Pronunciation: gh is voiced and throaty; p’ is aspirated.
A
Սկզբում քաղաքում զբոսնում ենք, հետո սուրճ ենք խմում։ Skzbum k’aghak’um zbosnum enk’, heto surch enk’ khmum. First we walk around the city, then we drink coffee. Pronunciation: k’ is aspirated; gh is voiced and throaty; ch is unaspirated; kh is throaty.
B
Լավ է։ Lav e. Sounds good.
Recognise the planning question Try it

Which question means “What are we doing?”

Ի՞նչ ենք անում։ Inch’ enk’ anum? Pronunciation: ch’ and k’ are aspirated.
Այս շաբաթ օրը գալի՞ս ես Երևան։ Ays shabat’ orə galis es Yerevan? Pronunciation: t’ is aspirated; ə is a short “uh”.
Դու շատ գաղափարներ ունես։ Du shat gaghap’arner unes. Pronunciation: gh is voiced and throaty; p’ is aspirated.
Understand the visit length Try it

Which sentence says that the visitor is staying for two days?

Այո, գալիս եմ և երկու օր մնում եմ։ Ayo, galis em yev yerku or mnum em.
Լավ է։ Lav e.
Դու շատ գաղափարներ ունես։ Du shat gaghap’arner unes. Pronunciation: gh is voiced and throaty; p’ is aspirated.

7. Plan a day in Yerevan

Put activities in order to organise a fictional day in Yerevan. Sequence words help you describe what happens first, next, and later.

սկզբում skzbum at first / first
հետո heto then / after
դրանից հետո dranits’ heto after that Pronunciation: ts’ is aspirated.
վերջում verjum finally / at the end Pronunciation: j is as in “jam”.
Սկզբում գնում ենք Հանրապետության հրապարակ։ Skzbum gnum enk’ Hanrapetut’yan hraparak. First we go to Republic Square. Pronunciation: k’ and t’ are aspirated.
Հետո գնում ենք Վերնիսաժ։ Heto gnum enk’ Vernisazh. Then we go to Vernissage. Pronunciation: k’ is aspirated; zh is the sound in “vision”.
Դրանից հետո գնում ենք Կասկադ։ Dranits’ heto gnum enk’ Kaskad. After that we go to the Cascade. Pronunciation: ts’ and k’ are aspirated.
Այնտեղ սուրճ ենք խմում։ Ayntegh surch enk’ khmum. There we drink coffee. Pronunciation: gh is voiced and throaty; ch is unaspirated; k’ is aspirated; kh is throaty.
Վերջում ճաշում ենք կենտրոնում։ Verjum chashum enk’ kentronum. Finally we have lunch in the centre. Pronunciation: j is as in “jam”; ch is unaspirated; k’ is aspirated.
Retrieve “after that” Try it

Which Armenian expression means “after that”?

դրանից հետո dranits’ heto Pronunciation: ts’ is aspirated.
սկզբում skzbum
վերջում verjum Pronunciation: j is as in “jam”.
Retrieve the first stop Try it

Which sentence says “First we go to Republic Square”?

Սկզբում գնում ենք Հանրապետության հրապարակ։ Skzbum gnum enk’ Hanrapetut’yan hraparak. Pronunciation: k’ and t’ are aspirated.
Հետո գնում ենք Վերնիսաժ։ Heto gnum enk’ Vernisazh. Pronunciation: k’ is aspirated; zh is the sound in “vision”.
Վերջում ճաշում ենք կենտրոնում։ Verjum chashum enk’ kentronum. Pronunciation: j is as in “jam”; ch is unaspirated; k’ is aspirated.

8. Families in the past: was / were and had

Past forms of “to be” and “to have” are especially useful for past states and background descriptions: who someone was, where people were, and what a family had.

Was / were

Ես ուսանող էի։ Yes usanogh eyi. I was a student. Pronunciation: gh is voiced and throaty.
Նա բժիշկ էր։ Na bzhishk er. He / she was a doctor. Pronunciation: zh is the sound in “vision”.
Մենք փոքր քաղաքում էինք։ Menk’ p’ok’r k’aghak’um eyink’. We were in a small city. Pronunciation: k’ and p’ are aspirated; gh is voiced and throaty.
Նրանք երիտասարդ էին։ Nrank’ yeritasard eyin. They were young. Pronunciation: k’ is aspirated.

Had

Ես մեկ եղբայր ունեի։ Yes mek yeghbayr uneyi. I had one brother. Pronunciation: gh is voiced and throaty.
Նա երկու երեխա ուներ։ Na yerku yerekha uner. He / she had two children. Pronunciation: kh is throaty.
Մենք մեծ ընտանիք ունեինք։ Menk’ mets əntanik’ uneyink’. We had a big family. Pronunciation: k’ is aspirated; ə is a short “uh”.
Նրանք հինգ երեխա ունեին։ Nrank’ hing yerekha uneyin. They had five children. Pronunciation: k’ is aspirated; kh is throaty.
Recognise a past possession Try it

Which sentence means “They had five children”?

Նրանք հինգ երեխա ունեին։ Nrank’ hing yerekha uneyin. Pronunciation: k’ is aspirated; kh is throaty.
Նրանք երիտասարդ էին։ Nrank’ yeritasard eyin. Pronunciation: k’ is aspirated.
Նա երկու երեխա ուներ։ Na yerku yerekha uner. Pronunciation: kh is throaty.
Recognise a past state Try it

Which sentence means “He or she was a doctor”?

Նա բժիշկ էր։ Na bzhishk er. Pronunciation: zh is the sound in “vision”.
Ես ուսանող էի։ Yes usanogh eyi. Pronunciation: gh is voiced and throaty.
Նա երկու երեխա ուներ։ Na yerku yerekha uner. Pronunciation: kh is throaty.

9. Talk about free-time preferences

Turn family and free-time vocabulary into small preference conversations. Practise reusable Armenian questions instead of simply reading a list of hobbies.

Սիրո՞ւմ ես գիրք կարդալ։ Sirum es girk’ kardal? Do you like reading books? Pronunciation: k’ is aspirated.
Այո, շատ եմ սիրում։ Ayo, shat em sirum. Yes, I like it very much.
Ոչ, այնքան էլ չեմ սիրում։ Voch’, aynk’an el ch’em sirum. No, I do not like it very much. Pronunciation: ch’ and k’ are aspirated.
Սիրո՞ւմ ես ֆիլմ դիտել։ Sirum es film ditel? Do you like watching films?
Սիրո՞ւմ ես զբոսնել։ Sirum es zbosnel? Do you like walking / strolling?
Սիրո՞ւմ ես սուրճ խմել։ Sirum es surch khmel? Do you like drinking coffee? Pronunciation: ch is unaspirated; kh is throaty.
Ask about films Try it

Which question asks whether someone likes watching films?

Սիրո՞ւմ ես ֆիլմ դիտել։ Sirum es film ditel?
Սիրո՞ւմ ես գիրք կարդալ։ Sirum es girk’ kardal? Pronunciation: k’ is aspirated.
Սիրո՞ւմ ես սուրճ խմել։ Sirum es surch khmel? Pronunciation: ch is unaspirated; kh is throaty.
Answer negatively Try it

Which answer means “No, I do not like it very much”?

Ոչ, այնքան էլ չեմ սիրում։ Voch’, aynk’an el ch’em sirum. Pronunciation: ch’ and k’ are aspirated.
Այո, շատ եմ սիրում։ Ayo, shat em sirum.
Սիրո՞ւմ ես զբոսնել։ Sirum es zbosnel?

10. Conversation challenge

Combine family, residence, weekend plans, free time, sequencing, and the past. Read the fictional dialogue once, then answer from Armenian rather than matching visible English translations.

A
Սա ո՞վ է։ Sa ov e? Who is this?
B
Սա իմ քույր Մարիամն է։ Sa im k’uyr Mariamn e. This is my sister Mariam. Pronunciation: k’ is aspirated.
A
Նա որտե՞ղ է ապրում։ Na vortegh e aprum? Where does she live? Pronunciation: gh is voiced and throaty.
B
Գյումրիում է ապրում։ Gyumrium e aprum. She lives in Gyumri.
A
Այս շաբաթ օրը գալի՞ս է Երևան։ Ays shabat’ orə galis e Yerevan? Is she coming to Yerevan this Saturday? Pronunciation: t’ is aspirated; ə is a short “uh”.
B
Այո։ Սկզբում գնում ենք Կասկադ, հետո սուրճ ենք խմում։ Ayo. Skzbum gnum enk’ Kaskad, heto surch enk’ khmum. Yes. First we go to the Cascade, then we drink coffee. Pronunciation: k’ is aspirated; ch is unaspirated; kh is throaty.
A
Իսկ կիրակի օրը ի՞նչ եք անում։ Isk kiraki orə inch’ ek’ anum? And what are you doing on Sunday? Pronunciation: ə is a short “uh”; ch’ and k’ are aspirated.
B
Տանը ֆիլմ ենք դիտում։ Tanə film enk’ ditum. We watch a film at home. Pronunciation: ə is a short “uh”; k’ is aspirated.
A
Նախկինում ձեր ընտանիքը մե՞ծ էր։ Nakhkinum dzer əntanik’ə mets er? Was your family big in the past? Pronunciation: kh is throaty; dz is blended; ə is a short “uh”; k’ is aspirated.
B
Այո, իմ տատիկն ու պապիկը վեց երեխա ունեին։ Ayo, im tatikn u papikə vets’ yerekha uneyin. Yes, my grandparents had six children. Pronunciation: ə is a short “uh”; ts’ is aspirated; kh is throaty.
Final conversation · 1 Try it

Which question asks where the sister lives?

Նա որտե՞ղ է ապրում։ Na vortegh e aprum? Pronunciation: gh is voiced and throaty.
Սա ո՞վ է։ Sa ov e?
Այս շաբաթ օրը գալի՞ս է Երևան։ Ays shabat’ orə galis e Yerevan? Pronunciation: t’ is aspirated; ə is a short “uh”.
Final conversation · 2 Try it

After going to the Cascade, what do they do?

սուրճ ենք խմում surch enk’ khmum Pronunciation: ch is unaspirated; k’ is aspirated; kh is throaty.
ֆիլմ ենք դիտում film enk’ ditum Pronunciation: k’ is aspirated.
երկու օր մնում ենք yerku or mnum enk’ Pronunciation: k’ is aspirated.
Final conversation · 3 Try it

Which sentence says that the grandparents had six children?

Իմ տատիկն ու պապիկը վեց երեխա ունեին։ Im tatikn u papikə vets’ yerekha uneyin. Pronunciation: ə is a short “uh”; ts’ is aspirated; kh is throaty.
Նախկինում ձեր ընտանիքը մե՞ծ էր։ Nakhkinum dzer əntanik’ə mets er? Pronunciation: kh is throaty; dz is blended; ə is a short “uh”; k’ is aspirated.
Տանը ֆիլմ ենք դիտում։ Tanə film enk’ ditum. Pronunciation: ə is a short “uh”; k’ is aspirated.
Speak without reading

One last production round

Use fictional information and answer these prompts aloud. Nothing needs to be entered or saved.

  1. Imagine a fictional family with parents, two siblings, and grandparents. Introduce at least four people using the family words from the lesson.
  2. Point to imaginary family-photo positions and say “this is my mother”, “this is his / her brother”, and “these are our parents”.
  3. Ask three family questions twice: first informally, then using the polite form.
  4. Describe a fictional Sunday: one person reads, one watches a film, one drinks coffee, and one sleeps.
  5. Plan a fictional day in Yerevan with four steps using first, then, after that, and finally.
  6. Describe a fictional family in the past with one “was / were” sentence and two “had” sentences.
Words to memorize

Recall the core words before you finish

These are the most useful words from the lesson. Think of the answer first, reveal it, then tell the app whether you remembered it. Words marked “Again” return later in the same drill.

20 left Round 1
ընտանիք əntanik’ family
մայր mayr mother
հայր hayr father
ծնող tsnogh parent
եղբայր yeghbayr brother
քույր k’uyr sister
ամուսին amusin husband / spouse
կին kin wife / woman
որդի vordi son
դուստր dustr daughter
երեխա yerekha child
պապիկ papik grandfather
տատիկ tatik grandmother
զարմիկ zarmik cousin
կարդալ kardal to read
քնել k’nel to sleep
դիտել ditel to watch
հանդիպել handipel to meet
սկզբում skzbum at first / first
հետո heto then / after
Say this in Eastern Armenian
Related practice

Review the building blocks

Possession Review full possessive pronouns, short possessive endings, and noun ownership. Present tense Review how common present-tense actions are built for all persons. The verb “to have” Review present forms of “have” before contrasting them with the past forms in this lesson. Simple past Continue from past states such as “was” and “had” to completed past actions. Connectors Review “and”, “but”, “or”, and “then” for joining short ideas and sequences.
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