Learning a new language opens up a world of cultural and social opportunities, and Armenian is no exception. Armenian, an Indo-European language with its unique alphabet, is rich in history and culture. Whether you’re planning to travel to Armenia, connect with Armenian heritage, or simply broaden your linguistic horizons, familiarizing yourself with common adjectives is a great starting point. Adjectives are essential in any language as they help us describe people, places, and things, making our communication more vivid and precise.
In this article, we will explore some of the most common Armenian adjectives and their meanings. By the end, you’ll have a useful list of adjectives to help you better express yourself in Armenian.
Basic Adjectives
Let’s start with some basic adjectives that you can use in everyday conversations. These adjectives are foundational and will help you describe a variety of nouns effectively.
1. մեծ (mec) – Big, Large
This adjective is used to describe something that is large in size. For example, “մեծ տուն” (mec tun) means “big house.”
2. փոքր (p’oqr) – Small
Use this adjective to describe something small. For instance, “փոքր երեխա” (p’oqr yerexa) means “small child.”
3. լավ (lav) – Good
This versatile adjective can describe a range of positive qualities. “Լավ օր” (lav or) means “good day.”
4. վատ (vat) – Bad
The opposite of “լավ,” this adjective is used to describe something negative. “Վատ լուրեր” (vat lurér) translates to “bad news.”
5. նոր (nor) – New
This adjective is used for something recently made or acquired. “Նոր մեքենա” (nor mek’ena) means “new car.”
6. հին (hin) – Old
This is used to describe something that has been around for a long time. “Հին գիրք” (hin girk’) means “old book.”
Describing People
When it comes to describing people, adjectives play a crucial role. Below are some common adjectives used to describe physical and personality traits.
7. գեղեցիկ (geghets’ik) – Beautiful
This adjective is used to describe someone who is physically attractive. “Գեղեցիկ աղջիկ” (geghets’ik aghjik) means “beautiful girl.”
8. ուժեղ (uzhegh) – Strong
Use this adjective to describe someone with physical strength. “Ուժեղ տղամարդ” (uzhegh tghamard) means “strong man.”
9. խելացի (khelatsi) – Intelligent
This is used to describe someone who is smart or clever. “Խելացի երեխա” (khelatsi yerexa) translates to “intelligent child.”
10. բարեկիրթ (barekirt’) – Polite
This adjective describes someone with good manners. “Բարեկիրթ մարդ” (barekirt’ mard) means “polite person.”
11. ուրախ (urakh) – Happy
Use this adjective to describe someone who is joyful. “Ուրախ մարդ” (urakh mard) means “happy person.”
12. տխուր (tkhur) – Sad
The opposite of “ուրախ,” this adjective describes someone who is unhappy. “Տխուր երեխա” (tkhur yerexa) means “sad child.”
Describing Places
Adjectives are also essential for describing places, whether you are talking about a city, a country, or a specific location.
13. գեղեցիկ (geghets’ik) – Beautiful
This adjective can also be used to describe places. “Գեղեցիկ քաղաք” (geghets’ik kaghak) means “beautiful city.”
14. հարմար (harmar) – Comfortable
Use this adjective to describe a place that is pleasant to be in. “Հարմար տուն” (harmar tun) means “comfortable house.”
15. աղմկոտ (aghmkot) – Noisy
This adjective is used for places that are loud. “Աղմկոտ փողոց” (aghmkot poghots) means “noisy street.”
16. խաղաղ (khaghagh) – Peaceful
The opposite of “աղմկոտ,” this adjective describes a quiet and serene place. “Խաղաղ գյուղ” (khaghagh gyugh) means “peaceful village.”
Describing Things
Objects and items around us also need adjectives for better description. Here are some common adjectives used to describe things.
17. ծանր (tsanr) – Heavy
Use this adjective to describe something with a lot of weight. “Ծանր պայուսակ” (tsanr payusak) means “heavy bag.”
18. թեթև (t’etev) – Light
The opposite of “ծանր,” this adjective describes something that is not heavy. “Թեթև ճամպրուկ” (t’etev champruk) means “light suitcase.”
19. արագ (arag) – Fast
This adjective is used to describe something that moves quickly. “Արագ մեքենա” (arag mek’ena) means “fast car.”
20. դանդաղ (dandagh) – Slow
The opposite of “արագ,” this adjective describes something that moves slowly. “Դանդաղ քայլել” (dandagh k’aylel) means “to walk slowly.”
Colors
Colors are another essential category of adjectives. Knowing how to describe colors in Armenian will help you describe the world around you more vividly.
21. կարմիր (karmir) – Red
Use this adjective to describe something that is red in color. “Կարմիր գիրք” (karmir girk’) means “red book.”
22. կապույտ (kapuyt) – Blue
This adjective describes something that is blue. “Կապույտ երկինք” (kapuyt yerkink’) means “blue sky.”
23. կանաչ (kanach) – Green
Use this adjective for something green. “Կանաչ ծառ” (kanach tsar) means “green tree.”
24. դեղին (deghin) – Yellow
This adjective is used to describe something yellow. “Դեղին ծաղիկ” (deghin tsaghik) means “yellow flower.”
25. սպիտակ (spitak) – White
This adjective describes something that is white. “Սպիտակ տուն” (spitak tun) means “white house.”
26. սև (sev) – Black
Use this adjective to describe something black. “Սև շոր” (sev shor) means “black clothes.”
Quantitative Adjectives
Sometimes you need to describe quantities, and Armenian has specific adjectives for this purpose.
27. շատ (shat) – Many, Much
This adjective is used to describe a large quantity of something. “Շատ մարդիկ” (shat mardik) means “many people.”
28. քիչ (k’ich’) – Few, Little
Use this adjective to describe a small quantity. “Քիչ ժամանակ” (k’ich’ zhamanak) means “little time.”
Qualitative Adjectives
These adjectives describe the quality or state of something and are useful in a variety of contexts.
29. թարմ (t’arm) – Fresh
Use this adjective to describe something that is new or not stale. “Թարմ հաց” (t’arm hats’) means “fresh bread.”
30. չոր (chor) – Dry
This adjective describes something that lacks moisture. “Չոր եղանակ” (chor yeghanak) means “dry weather.”
31. թաց (t’ats’) – Wet
The opposite of “չոր,” this adjective describes something that is moist or saturated with water. “Թաց հող” (t’ats’ hogh) means “wet soil.”
32. տաք (tak) – Hot, Warm
This adjective is used to describe temperature. “Տաք օր” (tak or) means “hot day.”
33. սառը (sarə) – Cold
The opposite of “տաք,” this adjective describes something with a low temperature. “Սառը ջուր” (sarə jur) means “cold water.”
Emotional and Sensory Adjectives
Emotional and sensory adjectives help you express feelings and sensations more accurately.
34. հաճելի (hajeli) – Pleasant
This adjective describes something that is enjoyable or agreeable. “Հաճելի զրույց” (hajeli zruts’) means “pleasant conversation.”
35. տհաճ (thach) – Unpleasant
The opposite of “հաճելի,” this adjective describes something disagreeable. “Տհաճ հոտ” (thach hot) means “unpleasant smell.”
36. համեղ (hamegh) – Delicious
Use this adjective to describe food that tastes good. “Համեղ ուտեստ” (hamegh utest) means “delicious dish.”
37. անհամ (anham) – Tasteless
The opposite of “համեղ,” this adjective describes food that lacks flavor. “Անհամ ճաշ” (anham chash) means “tasteless meal.”
38. փափուկ (p’ap’uk) – Soft
This adjective describes something that is easy to touch or not hard. “Փափուկ բարձ” (p’ap’uk bardz) means “soft pillow.”
39. կոշտ (kosht) – Hard
The opposite of “փափուկ,” this adjective describes something that is firm or rigid. “Կոշտ քար” (kosht k’ar) means “hard rock.”
Additional Useful Adjectives
Here are some more adjectives that you might find useful in various contexts.
40. դժվար (dzhvar) – Difficult
Use this adjective to describe something that requires effort. “Դժվար խնդիր” (dzhvar khndir) means “difficult problem.”
41. հեշտ (hesht) – Easy
The opposite of “դժվար,” this adjective describes something that requires little effort. “Հեշտ հարց” (hesht harts’) means “easy question.”
42. արագ (arag) – Quick
This adjective describes something that happens in a short amount of time. “Արագ պատասխանը” (arag pataskhane) means “quick answer.”
43. դանդաղ (dandagh) – Slow
The opposite of “արագ,” this adjective describes something that takes a long time. “Դանդաղ ծառայություն” (dandagh tsarayut’yun) means “slow service.”
44. կարևոր (karevor) – Important
Use this adjective to describe something that holds significance. “Կարևոր որոշում” (karevor voroshum) means “important decision.”
45. աննշան (annshan) – Insignificant
The opposite of “կարևոր,” this adjective describes something that lacks importance. “Անշան մանրուք” (annshan manruk) means “insignificant detail.”
46. հետաքրքիր (heghat’k’ir) – Interesting
Use this adjective to describe something that captures your attention. “Հետաքրքիր գիրք” (heghat’k’ir girk’) means “interesting book.”
47. ձանձրալի (dzandzrali) – Boring
The opposite of “հետաքրքիր,” this adjective describes something that fails to capture your attention. “Ձանձրալի դաս” (dzandzrali das) means “boring class.”
48. հարմար (harmar) – Convenient
This adjective describes something that is easy to use or fits well into your plans. “Հարմար ժամանակ” (harmar zhamanak) means “convenient time.”
49. անհարմար (anhamar) – Inconvenient
The opposite of “հարմար,” this adjective describes something that is difficult or ill-fitting. “Անհարմար պահ” (anhamar pah) means “inconvenient moment.”
50. բարեկամ (barekam) – Friendly
Use this adjective to describe someone who is kind and welcoming. “Բարեկամ հարևան” (barekam harevan) means “friendly neighbor.”
51. անբարեկամ (anbarekam) – Unfriendly
The opposite of “բարեկամ,” this adjective describes someone who is not kind or welcoming. “Անբարեկամ մարդ” (anbarekam mard) means “unfriendly person.”
By familiarizing yourself with these common Armenian adjectives, you will be better equipped to describe the world around you and communicate more effectively in Armenian. Practice using these adjectives in sentences to enhance your fluency and confidence. Happy learning!
