ԱյբուբենA1

Armenian Alphabet

Armenian alphabet: 39 letters created by Mesrop Mashtots in 405 AD

Learning Goal

I can read Armenian script.

Exam Skills:YSU: ԳdelaysրելYSU: Խdelaysոսք

Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?

Բարև ձեզ։

Hello!

Ես Հայաստանից եմ։

I am from Armenia.

Շնորհակալություն։

Thank you!

Իմ անունը Արամ է։

My name is Aram.

Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?

The Armenian Alphabet

The Armenian alphabet was created by Mesrop Mashtots in 405 AD — one of the oldest alphabets still in use! It has 39 letters (originally 36, with 3 added later).

Key Features

  • Unique script — not derived from Greek, Latin, or Cyrillic
  • Almost perfectly phonetic — one letter = one sound
  • The first word written was Ճճանաչել զիմաստութիւն ('to know wisdom') from Proverbs

Vowels (7)

Ա ա (a), Ե ե (ye/e), Է է (e), Ի ի (i), Ո ո (vo/o), Ու ու (u), Ը ը (schwa/y)

Some Consonants

Բ բ (b), Գ գ (g), Դ դ (d), Կ կ (k), Հ հ (h), Ռ ռ (r), Ս ս (s), Տ տ (t)

Fun fact: Armenian has its own numerals too, but Arabic numerals are used in daily life.

Confusing similar-looking letters. Not recognizing uppercase vs lowercase (very different shapes!). Trying to read Armenian like Latin/Cyrillic.

Common Error Patterns

Not recognizing uppercase vs lowercase Armenian letters

Armenian uppercase and lowercase look very different! Learn both forms.

Trying to read Armenian letters as Latin

Armenian is a unique alphabet. Ս (ս) = s, not S!

Բարև ձեզ։

Hello!

Բարև (barev) = hello. The most common Armenian greeting!

Ես Հայաստանից եմ։

I am from Armenia.

Ես (yes) = I. Հայաստան (Hayastan) = Armenia. ից (-its) = from.

Շնորհակալություն։

Thank you!

Շնորհակալություն (shnorhakalutyun) = thank you. Long but essential!

Իմ անունը Արամ է։

My name is Aram.

Իմ (im) = my. անունը (anune) = name. Word order: My name Aram is.

Practice in course

Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises

A1 Course
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Put it into practice

Try a free exercise from the course

Frequently asked questions

When is Հայերեն այբուբեն used?
Հայերեն այբուբենը ստեղծել է Մեսրոպ Մաշտոցը 405 թվականին։ 39 տառ։
What are common mistakes with Հայերեն այբուբեն?
Confusing similar-looking letters. Not recognizing uppercase vs lowercase (very different shapes!). Trying to read Armenian like Latin/Cyrillic.