Classical Armenian orthography explained

Classical Armenian orthography, traditional orthography or Mashtotsian orthography (Armenian: Հայերէնի դասական ուղղագրութիւն in classical orthography and Armenian: Հայերենի դասական ուղղագրություն in reformed orthography, Hayereni tasagan ughakrutyun), is the orthography that was developed by Mesrop Mashtots in the 5th century for writing Armenian and reformed during the early 20th century. Today, it is used primarily by the Armenian diaspora, including all Western Armenian speakers and Eastern Armenian speakers in Iran, which has rejected the Armenian orthography reform of Soviet Armenia during the 1920s. In the Armenian diaspora, some linguists and politicians allege political motives behind the reform of the Armenian alphabet.

Classical Armenian orthography uses 38 letters: the original 36 letters of the Armenian alphabet invented by Mesrop Mashtots during the 5th century, and the 2 additional letters included later in the Armenian alphabet during the Middle Ages.

MajusculeԱԲԳԴԵԶԷԸԹԺԻԼԽԾԿՀՁՂՃՄՅՆՇՈՉՊՋՌՍՎՏՐՑՒՓՔ
Minusculeաբգդեզէըթժիլխծկհձղճմյնշոչպջռսվտրցւփք
MajusculeՕ Ֆ
Minusculeօֆ

Vowels

Monophthongs

Armenian has eight monophthongs (pronounced as /ɑ, ɛ, i, o, u, ə, ʏ, œ/) and ten symbols to represent them . The pronunciation in the examples is Western Armenian. They will be shown here with International Phonetic Alphabet:

FrontCentralBack
Closepronounced as /link/   pronounced as /link/   pronounced as /link/  
Midpronounced as /link/   pronounced as /link/  pronounced as /link/   pronounced as /link/  
Openpronounced as /link/  

pronounced as //ɛ// —,

  1. At the end of a word, pronounced as //ɛ// is always written (never). For example: Armenian: Մարգարէ, Armenian: Վահէ, Armenian: կը վազէ.
  2. At the beginning of a word, pronounced as //ɛ// is written . For example: Armenian: էջ, Armenian: էակ.
  3. In the middle of a word before a vowel, pronounced as //ɛ// is written . For example: Armenian: գիտէիր, Armenian: գործունէութիւն.
  4. When followed by two consonants within a root word, pronounced as //ɛ// is written . For example: Armenian: ներկ, Armenian: ուղերձ, Armenian: խենդ, Armenian: փեղկ.
  5. When making a noun plural, or is added to the end of the noun. For example: Armenian: տուփ → Armenian: տուփեր, Armenian: դրամ → Armenian: դրամներ.
  6. When followed by,,,, or, pronounced as //ɛ// is written (and not). The following are exceptions: Armenian: դէմ, Armenian: վէմ and foreign proper nouns: Armenian: Երուսաղէմ, Armenian: Դանիէլ.

pronounced as //i// —

pronounced as //i// is always written . For example: pronounced as /[iɹ]/ ("his"/"her") is written Armenian: իր.

pronounced as //u// —

pronounced as //u// is always written . For example: pronounced as /[dun]/ ("house") is written Armenian: տուն.

pronounced as //ə// —, epenthetical

The pronounced as /[ə]/ vowel is usually not written. For example: pronounced as /[mədɑˈd͡zum]/ ("thought") is written Armenian: մտածում (not Armenian: մ'''ը'''տածում), and pronounced as /[əskʰɑnt͡ʃʰɛˈli]/ ("marvelous") is written Armenian: սքանչելի (not Armenian: '''ը'''սքանչելի).

is written in the following cases:

  1. At the start of a word if the following sound is a pronounced as /[n]/ or pronounced as /[m]/ . For example: pronounced as /[əndˈɹɛl]/ ("to choose") is written Armenian: ընտրել, pronounced as /[əŋˈɡɛɹ]/ ("friend") is written Armenian: ընկեր, pronounced as /[əmˈpʰɔsd]/ ("defiant") is written Armenian: ըմբոստ and pronounced as /[əmpʰərˈnɛl]/ ("to comprehend") is written Armenian: ըմբռնել.
  2. At the start of a word if the pronounced as /[ə]/ vowel stems from the pronounced as /[i]/ or pronounced as /[u]/ sound. For example: pronounced as /[əʁˈt͡sʰɑl]/ ("to desire") is written Armenian: ըղձալ because it stems from the noun pronounced as /[iʁt͡sʰ]/ ("desire", Armenian: իղձ). Also, pronounced as /[əmˈbɛl]/ ("to drink") is written Armenian: ըմպել because it stems from the noun pronounced as /[umb]/ ("mouthful", Armenian: ումպ). It is also written in the case of the Western Armenian verbs pronounced as /[əˈnɛl]/ ("to do", ընել), pronounced as /[əˈsɛl]/ ("to say", ըսել), and pronounced as /[əˈlːɑl]/ ("to be", ըլլալ).
  3. At the start or the middle of a monosyllabic word whose only vowel is pronounced as /[ə]/. For example: pronounced as /[əsd]/ ("according to") is written Armenian: ըստ, and pronounced as /[mən]/ ("a" or "an", indefinite article) is written Armenian: մըն.
  4. In derivative and compound words if their second part starts with pronounced as /[ə]/. For example: pronounced as /[ɑnəntʰunɛˈli]/ ("inadmissible") is written Armenian: անընդունելի because it is a derivative word that is formed from the prefix pronounced as /[ɑn]/ ("un-", Armenian: ան-) and the root pronounced as /[əntʰunɛˈli]/ ("admissible", Armenian: ընդունելի). Also, pronounced as /[ɑɹɑkʰəntʰɑt͡sʰ]/ ("swift") is written արագընթաց because it is a compound word that is formed from the root words Armenian: արագ ("quick") and Armenian: ընթացք ("gait").
  5. Within a word after the letters, if they are not followed by a vowel they represent pronounced as /[v]/. For example: Armenian: պահու'''ը'''տիլ (pronounced as /[bɑhvəˈdil]/ "to hide") and Armenian: վաղու'''ը'''նէ (pronounced as /[vɑʁvəˈnɛ]/ "from tomorrow").
  6. In line-breaking. For example: Armenian: վնաս (pronounced as /[vəˈnɑs]/, "harm") becomes Armenian: վը–նաս, and Armenian: զգալ (pronounced as /əzˈkʰɑl/, "to feel") becomes Armenian: ըզ–գալ.
  7. At the end of words, to specify the article "the". For example: Armenian: լոյսը (pronounced as /[ˈlujsə]/, "the light") is formed by adding to the end of Armenian: լոյս. Also, Armenian: արձանները (pronounced as /[ɑɹt͡sʰɑnˈnɛɹə]/, "the statues") does the same.

pronounced as //ʏ// —

pronounced as //ʏ// is always written . For example: pronounced as /[kʰʏʁ]/ ("village") is written Armenian: գիւղ.

pronounced as //œ// —

pronounced as //œ// is a rare sound to write foreign words and is always written . For example: the female name pronounced as /[œʒɛˈni]/ ("Eugenie") is written Armenian: Էօժենի, a transcription of letters.

Diphthongs

Armenian has nine diphthongs: pronounced as //jɑ//, pronounced as //jɛ//, pronounced as //ji//, pronounced as //jɔ//, pronounced as //ju//, pronounced as //ɑj//, pronounced as //ej//, pronounced as //ij//, pronounced as //uj//.

pronounced as //jɑ// —,, ; occurs in,

pronounced as //jɑ// is written differently depending on its context.

  1. pronounced as /[jɑ]/ at the start of a word is written . For example: pronounced as /[jɑniˈkʰjɑn]/ ("Yanikian", a family name) is written Armenian: Եանիքեան.
  2. Preceded by a consonant, it is written . For example: pronounced as /[sɛˈnjɑɡ]/ ("room") is written Armenian: սենեակ. However, at the end of a word, is written . For example: pronounced as /[ɑrɔˈɾja]/ ("daily") is written Armenian: առօրեայ. (This rule does not apply to the Classical Armenian imperatives փրկեա՛, ողորմեա՛, etc.)
  3. When pronounced as /[jɑ]/ is preceded by a vowel other than pronounced as /[i]/ or pronounced as /[ɛ]/, it is written . For example: pronounced as /[ɡɑˈjɑn]/ ("station") is written Armenian: կայան.
  4. A disyllabic sequence of a monophthong (pronounced as /[i]/) and a diphthong (pronounced as /[jɑ]/) is written (when at the end of a word). For example: pronounced as /[mijɑˈsin]/ ("together") is written Armenian: միասին.
  5. A disyllabic sequence of a monophthong (pronounced as /[ɛ]/) and a diphthong (pronounced as /[jɑ]/) is written (or at the end of a word). For example: pronounced as /[ɛˈjɑɡ]/ ("being", the noun) is written Armenian: էակ.

pronounced as //jɛ// —,,

pronounced as //jɛ// is written differently depending on its context.

  1. At the start of a word, it is written . For example: pronounced as /[jɛˈɾɑz]/ ("dream") is written Armenian: երազ. between two consonants represents pronounced as //ɛ// (see above for details).
  2. In the middle of a word, pronounced as //jɛ// is written . For example: pronounced as /[hɑjɛˈli]/ ("mirror") is written Armenian: հայելի. at the start of a word represents pronounced as /[hɛ]/ (see below for details).
  3. At the end of a word, pronounced as //jɛ// is written (never). For example: pronounced as /[nɑˈjɛ]/ ("look!") is written Armenian: նայէ՛.

pronounced as //ji// — ; occurs in

pronounced as //ji// is never at the start of a word and is written differently depending on its context:

  1. A disyllabic sequence of a monophthong (pronounced as /[ɛ]/) and a diphthong (pronounced as /[ji]/) is written . For example: pronounced as /[ɛˈji]/ ("I was") is written Armenian: էի, and pronounced as /[ɡ‿uzɛˈjin]/ ("they wanted") is written Armenian: կ'ուզէին.
  2. Otherwise, pronounced as //ji// is written . For example: pronounced as /[mɑˈjis]/ ("May") is written Armenian: Մայիս. at the start of a word represents pronounced as /[hi]/ (see below for details).

pronounced as //jɔ// —

pronounced as //jɔ// is always written . For example: pronounced as /[ˈjɔtʰə]/ ("seven") is written Armenian: եօթը.

pronounced as //ju// —, ; occurs in,

pronounced as //ju// is written differently depending on its context:

  1. At the start of a word, pronounced as //ju// is written . For example: pronounced as /[juʁ]/ ("oil") is written Armenian: իւղ.
  2. After a vowel other than pronounced as /[i]/ or pronounced as /[ɛ]/, it is written . For example: pronounced as /[kɑˈjun]/ ("firm") is written Armenian: կայուն. at the start of a word represents pronounced as /[hu]/ (see below for an example).
  3. The disyllabic sequence of the monophthong pronounced as /[i]/ and the diphthong pronounced as /[ju]/ is written . For example: pronounced as /[mijuˈtʰjun]/ ("union") is written Armenian: միութիւն.
  4. The disyllabic sequence of the monophthong pronounced as /[ɛ]/ and the diphthong pronounced as /[ju]/ is written . For example: pronounced as /[ɛjuˈtʰjun]/ ("essence") is written Armenian: էութիւն.
  5. To write the suffix pronounced as /[ˈtʰjun]/, Armenian: -թիւն is used. For example: pronounced as /[ɡituˈtʰjun]/ ("knowledge") is written Armenian: գիտութիւն.

pronounced as //ɑj// —

pronounced as //ɑj// can occur at the end of a word only for monosyllabic words. It is written . For example: pronounced as /[ɑjˈɡi]/ ("field") is written Armenian: այգի, pronounced as /[mɑjɾ]/ ("mother") is written Armenian: մայր and pronounced as /[pʰɑj]/ ("verb") is written Armenian: բայ. A polysyllabic word ending in is pronounced pronounced as //ɑ//, the becoming silent (see above for an example).

pronounced as //ej// —

pronounced as //ej// is written . For example: pronounced as /[tʰej]/ ("tea") is written Armenian: թէյ.

pronounced as //ij// —

pronounced as //ij// is written . For example: pronounced as /[ijˈnɑl]/ ("to fall") is written Armenian: իյնալ.

pronounced as //uj// —

pronounced as //uj// usually occurs in the middle of a word, and is written . For example: pronounced as /[kʰujr]/ ("sister") is written Armenian: քոյր.

Consonants

The International Phonetic Alphabet shows the consonants, by the corresponding Armenian letter in parentheses. Both Classical And Eastern Armenian maintain a three-way distinction between voiced, voiceless, and aspirated stops and affricates. In Western Armenian, voiced and aspirated stops and affricates have undergone a merger, and voiceless stops and affricates have become voiced.

 LabialAlveolarPost-
alveolar		VelarUvularGlottal
CAEAWACAEAWACAEAWACAEAWA
Nasalpronounced as /link/   pronounced as /link/       
PlosiveVoicelesspronounced as /link/    pronounced as /link/     pronounced as /link/      
Aspiratedpronounced as /link/   pronounced as /link/   pronounced as /link/   pronounced as /link/    pronounced as /link/   pronounced as /link/     
Voicedpronounced as /link/   pronounced as /link/   pronounced as /link/   pronounced as /link/    pronounced as /link/   pronounced as /link/     
AffricateVoiceless pronounced as /link/    pronounced as /link/        
Aspirated pronounced as /link/   pronounced as /link/   pronounced as /link/   pronounced as /link/      
Voiced pronounced as /link/   pronounced as /link/   pronounced as /link/   pronounced as /link/      
FricativeVoicelesspronounced as /link/   pronounced as /link/   pronounced as /link/   pronounced as /link/ ~ pronounced as /link/   [1] pronounced as /link/   [2]
Voicedpronounced as /link/   pronounced as /link/   pronounced as /link/    pronounced as /link/ ~ pronounced as /link/    
Approximant pronounced as /link/   [3] [4]  pronounced as /link/      
Tap/Trill pronounced as /link/   pronounced as /link/   [5]     
Lateral pronounced as /link/    pronounced as /link/   [6]    

Notes

  1. Whether this sound is velar or uvular is unclear. It may possibly be a retracted velar, pronounced as /[x̠]/ or pronounced as /[ɣ̠]/
  2. i.Armenian: յ at the start of a word represents pronounced as /[h]/. For example: Armenian: յատակ ("bottom") is pronounced pronounced as /[hɑˈdɑɡ]/.
    ii. Words starting with pronounced as /[həʁ]/ are written with ; otherwise, words starting with pronounced as /[hə]/ and any other consonant are written using . For example: pronounced as /[həʁˈɡɛl]/ ("to polish") is written Armenian: յղկել, and pronounced as /[həʁɑˈnɑl]/ ("to conceive") is written Armenian: յղանալ; but pronounced as /[həɹɛʃˈdɑɡ]/ ("angel") is written Armenian: հրեշտակ, and pronounced as /[həsˈɡɑ]/ ("huge") is written Armenian: հսկայ. An exception is pronounced as /[həsˈdɑɡ]/ ("clear"), which is written Armenian: յստակ.
  3. In practice, mostly Armenians in Iran say pronounced as /[ɹ]/; Many Eastern Armenians have shifted the Classical Armenian pronounced as /[ɹ]/ (ր) to pronounced as /[ɾ]/.
  4. This sound technically exists in Western Armenian, but in practice, many people don't distinguish it from .
  5. Although Western Armenians are taught to pronounce two different rhotics pronounced as /[ɹ]/ and pronounced as /[r]/ (represented by and, respectively), the two have merged in most dialects to a flap consonant.
  6. Best hypothesis of the old pronunciation, based on foreign borrowings such as Armenian: '''Ղ'''ուկաս for "Lucas" and Armenian: Կաթո'''ղ'''իկոս for "Catholicos".

References

External links

Armenian Orthography converters

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