Classical Armenian orthography

Armenian has eight monophthongs ({{IPA|ɑ, ɛ, i, o, u, ə, ʏ, œ}}) and ten symbols to represent them ({{angle bracket|ա, ե, է, ը, ի, ո, օ, ու, իւ, էօ}}). The pronunciation in the examples is Western Armenian. They will be shown here with International Phonetic Alphabet:

:

{{ordered list

| 1 = The vowel {{IPA link|ɑ}} is written {{angle bracket|ա}}. For example: {{IPA|[ɑˈɹɛv]}} ("sun") is written արեւ.

| 2 = Polysyllabic words ending in {{IPA|/ɑ/}} are written with {{angle bracket|այ}}. For example: {{IPA|[d͡zɑˈrɑ]}} ("slave") is written {{lang|hy|ծառայ}}; {{IPA|[ɡə tʰoˈʁɑ]}} ("s/he shivers") is written {{lang|hy|կը դողայ}}. There are exceptions:

{{ordered list|list-style-type=lower-roman

| 1 = Certain words like {{lang|hy|հիմա}}, {{lang|hy|ահա}}, {{lang|hy|հապա}}, {{lang|hy|ապա}}, {{lang|hy|ասիկա}}, {{lang|hy|սա}}, {{lang|hy|ատիկա}}, {{lang|hy|անիկա}}, {{lang|hy|մամա}}, {{lang|hy|պապա}}.

| 2 = Proper nouns like {{lang|hy|Արա}}, {{lang|hy|Էլենա}}, {{lang|hy|Ասիա}}.

| 3 = The singular imperative form of type III verbs. For example: {{lang|hy|կարդալ}} → {{lang|hy|կարդա՛}}; {{lang|hy|լուալ}} — {{lang|hy|լուա՛}}.

| 4 = Foreign words ending in {{IPA|/ɑ/}}. For example: {{lang|hy|սոտա}} (soda), {{lang|hy|աղա}} (agha {{IPA|/ɑʁɑ/}}), etc.

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1. At the end of a word, {{IPA|/ɛ/}} is always written {{angle bracket|է}} (never {{angle bracket|ե}}). For example: {{lang|hy|Մարգարէ}}, {{lang|hy|Վահէ}}, {{lang|hy|կը վազէ}}.
2. At the beginning of a word, {{IPA|/ɛ/}} is written {{angle bracket|է}}. For example: {{lang|hy|էջ}}, {{lang|hy|էակ}}.
3. In the middle of a word before a vowel, {{IPA|/ɛ/}} is written {{angle bracket|է}}. For example: {{lang|hy|գիտէիր}}, {{lang|hy|գործունէութիւն}}.
4. When followed by two consonants within a root word, {{IPA|/ɛ/}} is written {{angle bracket|ե}}. For example: {{lang|hy|ներկ}}, {{lang|hy|ուղերձ}}, {{lang|hy|խենդ}}, {{lang|hy|փեղկ}}.
5. When making a noun plural, {{angle bracket|եր}} or {{angle bracket|ներ}} is added to the end of the noun. For example: {{lang|hy|տուփ}} → {{lang|hy|տուփեր}}, {{lang|hy|դրամ}} → {{lang|hy|դրամներ}}.
6. When followed by {{angle bracket|լ}}, {{angle bracket|հ}}, {{angle bracket|ղ}}, {{angle bracket|մ}}, or {{angle bracket|ռ}}, {{IPA|/ɛ/}} is written {{angle bracket|ե}} (and not {{angle bracket|է}}). The following are exceptions: {{lang|hy|դէմ}}, {{lang|hy|վէմ}} and foreign proper nouns: {{lang|hy|Երուսաղէմ}}, {{lang|hy|Դանիէլ}}.

{{IPA|/i/}} is always written {{angle bracket|ի}}. For example: {{IPA|[iɹ]}} ("his"/"her") is written {{lang|hy|իր}}.

{{ordered list

| 1 = At the start of a word, {{IPA|/ɔ/}} is written {{angle bracket|օ}} unless the following sound is {{IPA|[v]}}, when {{angle bracket|ո}} is written. For example: {{IPA|[ɔɹˈɛŋkʰ]}} ("rule") is written {{lang|hy|օրէնք}}, and {{IPA|[ɔvɑˈsis]}} ("oasis") is written {{lang|hy|ովասիս}}.

| 2 = In the middle of a root word followed by two consonants, {{IPA|/ɔ/}} is written {{angle bracket|ո}} (not {{angle bracket|օ}}). For example: {{IPA|[kʰɔɹkʰ]}} ("rug") is written {{lang|hy|գորգ}}, {{IPA|[hɔɹtʰ]}} ("calf") is written {{lang|hy|հորթ}} and {{IPA|[pʰɔʁɡ]}} ("radish") is written {{lang|hy|բողկ}}.

| 3 = {{IPA|/ɔ/}} at the end of a word is written {{angle bracket|ոյ}}. For example: {{IPA|[jɛɹɛˈɡɔ]}} ("evening") is written {{lang|hy|երեկոյ}}, and {{IPA|[hɛˈdɔ]}} ("later") is written {{lang|hy|յետոյ}}. There are exceptions:

{{ordered list|list-style-type=lower-roman

| 1 = The words {{lang|hy|այո՛}} ("yes"), pronounced {{IPA|[ɑˈjɔ]}}, and {{lang|hy|ծօ՛}} ("you" in slang), pronounced {{IPA|[d͡zɔ]}}.

| 2 = Proper nouns. For example: {{lang|hy|Պետօ}} ("Bedo"), {{lang|hy|Քոնկօ}} ("Congo").

| 3 = Foreign words. For example: {{lang|hy|օթօ}} ("auto"), {{lang|hy|սոլօ}} ("solo"), {{lang|hy|զերօ}} ("zero"), {{lang|hy|մեթրօ}} ("metro").

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| 4 = When a vowel is added to a word ending in {{angle bracket|օ}}, the latter is changed to {{angle bracket|ոյ}}. For example: {{lang|hy|Պետօ}} ({{IPA|[bɛˈdɔ]}}) → {{lang|hy|Պետոյին}} ({{IPA|[bɛdɔˈjin]}}, "of/to Bedo"), {{lang|hy|Քոնկօ}} ({{IPA|[kʰɔŋˈɡɔ]}}) → {{lang|hy|Քոնկոյէն}} ({{IPA|[kʰɔŋɡɔˈjɛn]}}, "from Congo").

}}

{{IPA|/u/}} is always written {{angle bracket|ու}}. For example: {{IPA|[dun]}} ("house") is written {{lang|hy|տուն}}.

The {{IPA|[ə]}} vowel is usually not written. For example: {{IPA|[mədɑˈd͡zum]}} ("thought") is written {{lang|hy|մտածում}} (not {{lang|hy|մըտածում}}), and {{IPA|[əskʰɑnt͡ʃʰɛˈli]}} ("marvelous") is written {{lang|hy|սքանչելի}} (not {{lang|hy|ըսքանչելի}}).

{{angle bracket|ը}} is written in the following cases:

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

{{IPA|/ʏ/}} is always written {{angle bracket|իւ}}. For example: {{IPA|[kʰʏʁ]}} ("village") is written {{lang|hy|գիւղ}}.

{{IPA|/œ/}} is a rare sound to write foreign words and is always written {{angle bracket|էօ}}. For example: the female name {{IPA|[œʒɛˈni]}} ("Eugenie") is written {{lang|hy|Էօժենի}}, a transcription of letters.

Armenian has nine diphthongs: {{IPA|/jɑ/}}, {{IPA|/jɛ/}}, {{IPA|/ji/}}, {{IPA|/jɔ/}}, {{IPA|/ju/}}, {{IPA|/ɑj/}}, {{IPA|/ej/}}, {{IPA|/ij/}}, {{IPA|/uj/}}.

{{IPA|/jɑ/}} is written differently depending on its context.

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

{{IPA|/jɛ/}} is written differently depending on its context.

1. At the start of a word, it is written {{angle bracket|ե}}. For example: {{IPA|[jɛˈɾɑz]}} ("dream") is written {{lang|hy|երազ}}. {{angle bracket|ե}} between two consonants represents {{IPA|/ɛ/}} (see above for details).
2. In the middle of a word, {{IPA|/jɛ/}} is written {{angle bracket|յե}}. For example: {{IPA|[hɑjɛˈli]}} ("mirror") is written {{lang|hy|հայելի}}. {{angle bracket|յե}} at the start of a word represents {{IPA|[hɛ]}} (see below for details).
3. At the end of a word, {{IPA|/jɛ/}} is written {{angle bracket|յէ}} (never {{angle bracket|յե}}). For example: {{IPA|[nɑˈjɛ]}} ("look!") is written {{lang|hy|նայէ՛}}.

{{IPA|/ji/}} is never at the start of a word and is written differently depending on its context:

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

{{IPA|/jɔ/}} is always written {{angle bracket|եօ}}. For example: {{IPA|[ˈjɔtʰə]}} ("seven") is written {{lang|hy|եօթը}}.

{{IPA|/ju/}} is written differently depending on its context:

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

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

{{IPA|/ej/}} is written {{angle bracket|էյ}}. For example: {{IPA|[tʰej]}} ("tea") is written {{lang|hy|թէյ}}.

{{IPA|/ij/}} is written {{angle bracket|իյ}}. For example: {{IPA|[ijˈnɑl]}} ("to fall") is written {{lang|hy|իյնալ}}.

{{IPA|/uj/}} usually occurs in the middle of a word, and is written {{angle bracket|ոյ}}. For example: {{IPA|[kʰujr]}} ("sister") is written {{lang|hy|քոյր}}.

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.

• {{cite book | last = Melkonian | first = Zareh | title = Գործնական Քերականութիւն — Արդի Հայերէն Լեզուի (Միջին եւ Բարձրագոյն Դասընթացք) | edition = Fourth | year = 1990 | location = Los Angeles | language = Armenian}}

• [http://www.arak29.am/PDF_PPT/5-Lenguage/orthogr_files/v3_document.htm Arak29 Learn Classical Orthography] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303083014/http://www.arak29.am/PDF_PPT/5-Lenguage/orthogr_files/v3_document.htm |date=2016-03-03 }}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20170926014945/http://www.envisionarmenia.com/etymology/ Arak29 Etymology]
• [https://spw.uni-goettingen.de/projects/aig/lng-xcl.html glottothèque - Ancient Indo-European Grammars online], an online collection of video lectures on Ancient Indo-European languages, including videos the writing system of Classical Armenian

Armenian Orthography converters

• [http://www.nayiri.com/ Nayiri.com] (integrated orthography converter: reformed to traditional)

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Category:Armenian alphabet