Understanding how to describe time and dates in a new language can be both fascinating and challenging. For English speakers learning Armenian, it’s essential to get a grasp on these fundamentals early on, as they are crucial for daily communication. Armenian, with its rich history and unique script, offers a distinct way of expressing time and dates that can initially seem complex. This article will guide you through the basics and intricacies of describing time and dates in Armenian.
The Armenian Alphabet
Before diving into the specifics of time and dates, it’s important to have a basic understanding of the Armenian alphabet. The Armenian script consists of 39 letters, and it’s quite different from the Latin alphabet used in English. Familiarizing yourself with these letters will greatly aid in reading and writing dates and times.
Days of the Week
The days of the week in Armenian are quite straightforward. Here are the Armenian words for each day, along with their pronunciations:
– Monday: Երկուշաբթի (Yerkushabti)
– Tuesday: Երեքշաբթի (Yerekshabti)
– Wednesday: Չորեքշաբթի (Chorekshabti)
– Thursday: Հինգշաբթի (Hingshabti)
– Friday: Ուրբաթ (Urbat)
– Saturday: Շաբաթ (Shabat)
– Sunday: Կիրակի (Kiraki)
Notice that the names of the weekdays from Monday to Thursday are formed by taking the Armenian words for the numbers two (երկու), three (երեք), four (չորս), and five (հինգ), and adding “շաբթի” which means “Sabbath”.
Months of the Year
Next, let’s look at the months of the year in Armenian. Here they are, along with their pronunciations:
– January: Հունվար (Hoonvar)
– February: Փետրվար (Petrovar)
– March: Մարտ (Mart)
– April: Ապրիլ (April)
– May: Մայիս (Mayis)
– June: Հունիս (Hoonis)
– July: Հուլիս (Hoolis)
– August: Օգոստոս (Ogosdos)
– September: Սեպտեմբեր (September)
– October: Հոկտեմբեր (Hoktember)
– November: Նոյեմբեր (Noyember)
– December: Դեկտեմբեր (Dektember)
These words are quite similar to their English counterparts, making them relatively easy to remember.
Dates
In Armenian, dates are typically written in the format of day-month-year, similar to many European languages. For example, January 1, 2023, would be written as 01.01.2023. When saying the date aloud, you would say the day, followed by the month, and then the year. Here’s how you would say January 1, 2023, in Armenian:
– Առաջին հունվարի երկու հազար քսաներեք (Arrajin hoonvari yerku hazar ksanerek).
Here’s a breakdown:
– Առաջին (Arrajin) means “first”.
– Հունվարի (Hoonvari) is the genitive form of January.
– Երկու հազար (Yerku hazar) means “two thousand”.
– Քսաներեք (Ksanerek) means “twenty-three”.
For other days, you would use the ordinal numbers in Armenian. Here are the first few ordinal numbers to help you get started:
– First: Առաջին (Arrajin)
– Second: Երկրորդ (Yerkrodr)
– Third: Երրորդ (Yerrord)
– Fourth: Չորրորդ (Chorrord)
– Fifth: Հինգերորդ (Hingerord)
Telling Time
Telling time in Armenian involves understanding both the 12-hour and 24-hour formats. The 24-hour clock is often used in formal and written contexts, such as schedules and timetables, while the 12-hour clock is more common in everyday speech.
To ask for the time, you can say:
– “Ժամը քանի՞սն է” (Zhame kanisn e) – What time is it?
To tell the time, you use the word “ժամը” (zhame) followed by the hour. For example:
– 1:00 – Ժամը մեկ (Zhame mek)
– 2:00 – Ժամը երկու (Zhame yerku)
– 3:00 – Ժամը երեք (Zhame yerek)
For times that are not on the hour, you add the minutes. For example:
– 1:15 – Ժամը մեկ ու տասնհինգ (Zhame mek u tasnhing) – One fifteen.
– 2:30 – Ժամը երկու ու կես (Zhame yerku u kes) – Two thirty.
– 3:45 – Ժամը երեք ու քառասունհինգ (Zhame yerek u karasunhing) – Three forty-five.
In conversational Armenian, you might also hear:
– “Ժամը մեկ անց տասնհինգ” (Zhame mek ants tasnhing) – Fifteen past one.
– “Ժամը երեք անց կես” (Zhame yerek ants kes) – Half past three.
Parts of the Day
Understanding parts of the day is also crucial when describing time. Here are some key terms:
– Morning: Առավոտ (Aravot)
– Noon: Կեսօր (Kesor)
– Afternoon: Երեկո (Yereko)
– Evening: Երեկոյան (Yerekoyan)
– Night: Գիշեր (Gisher)
– Midnight: Կեսգիշեր (Kesgisher)
To specify the part of the day, you can combine these terms with the time. For example:
– 10:00 AM – Առավոտյան տասը (Aravotyan tase) – Ten in the morning.
– 3:00 PM – Երեկոյան երեք (Yerekoyan yerek) – Three in the afternoon/evening.
– 8:00 PM – Երեկոյան ութը (Yerekoyan ute) – Eight in the evening.
Seasons
Talking about the seasons in Armenian is also an essential part of describing time. Here are the seasons with their pronunciations:
– Spring: Գարուն (Garoon)
– Summer: Ամառ (Amar)
– Autumn/Fall: Աշուն (Ashoon)
– Winter: Ձմեռ (Dzemer)
You can use these terms to discuss the time of year. For example:
– In the spring: Գարնանը (Garnane)
– In the summer: Ամռանը (Amrane)
– In the autumn: Աշնանը (Ashnane)
– In the winter: Ձմռանը (Dzmrane)
Common Phrases and Questions
Here are some common phrases and questions related to time and dates that you might find useful:
– What day is it today? – Այսօր ի՞նչ օր է (Aysor inch or e)?
– Today is Monday. – Այսօր երկուշաբթի է (Aysor yerkushabti e).
– What is the date today? – Այսօր ամսի քանիսն է (Aysor amsi kanisn e)?
– Today is the first of January. – Այսօր հունվարի մեկը (Aysor hoonvari meke).
– What time is it now? – Հիմա ժամը քանիսն է (Hima zhame kanisn e)?
– It’s 2:30. – Ժամը երկուս ու կես է (Zhame yerkoos u kes e).
Practice Makes Perfect
The best way to become proficient in describing time and dates in Armenian is through practice. Try incorporating these new words and phrases into your daily conversations. Write out dates, tell the time, and discuss your schedule in Armenian. The more you practice, the more natural it will become.
Additionally, consider using language learning apps, flashcards, or engaging with native Armenian speakers to reinforce your learning. There are also many online resources and language exchange programs that can provide additional practice and support.
Conclusion
Learning to describe time and dates in Armenian is a fundamental skill that will significantly enhance your ability to communicate effectively in the language. By familiarizing yourself with the days of the week, months, ordinal numbers, time-telling conventions, and common phrases, you’ll be well on your way to mastering this aspect of Armenian. Remember, language learning is a journey, and every step you take brings you closer to fluency. So, keep practicing, stay curious, and enjoy the process!
