Basic Conversational Armenian by Half Breed!

[Guest]

Ok Kazza, here goes, also Pilafhead! This is survival Armenian to get you through ordering in an Armenian restaurant, haggling in a deli or otherwise eavesdropping on mets ma!

 

Shooting the Breeze

 

Inch norutsyun? Whats new?

 

Vochinch, noown ban!- nothing, same old!

 

Inch es anum? What are you doing

 

Vochinch, gortsi- Nothing, working

 

Interogation-Armenian Style

 

Anoona inch a? - What's your name?

 

Yes_________em- Im__________

 

Vordeghes aprum? Where do you live?

 

________mechem aprum? I live in____________

 

Kani dareganes?-How old are you

 

_____dareganem-Im______ years old

 

Inch gortses anum? What's your profession?

 

Amusnatses?-Are you married

 

Voch-no

Ayo-yes

 

Some harsher words(Garo, will you permit these?)

 

Eshak-idiot

Apush-dodo, dummie

Kuft utes-Eat meat literally, but used like "eat sh** (I censored it myself Garo), Im not sure this is used by all Armenians, maybe only Barskahays

Gna gorvi-get lost

Khent-crazy

 

And some sweeter words

 

Sirun-nice, pretty, attractive

hamegh, aghvor-tasty, delicious

tsert ch'tsava- May your hand not hurt

[Guest]

Farsi joon,

 

Inch norutsyun?

I could say vochinch ban on my behalf - but ive been chatting to you guys! That's not noown ban!

 

I wish there was vochinch, but i'm far from it! I have been gortsi in the night shift last night, messaged you guys then straight back out the morning again.

 

I already know your aroona. But you didn't tell me your last aroona in your last message!

 

Interegation, joon? AYO!

 

The other night on the forum, I said to Garo, Inch es anum? Garo didnt mind - he just told me to go away and stop being silly, in the same lighthearted way. Suits me - But Ararat totally flipped! We had a row and now he is not speaking to me.

 

Tsert Ch'tsava,

 

Kazz

[Guest]

Kazza jan,

 

Inch bes es? Norutsyun ga? Yes ekelem tun(Im home). Already I have been a very bad teacher, I used "joon" with you instead of "jan", the former being Persian! I like how you are starting use the Armenian with the English. Nothing wrong with this. My Mexican students when they transition into English will start gradually writing more and more in English ( I go to el mercado ayer!). Some think this is not good, I however think it works.

 

One small correction its "anoon" (name). "Aroon" is blood!

[Guest]

Cool!

 

First off, "Vocheench" is my eBay name! So you two stop using my name in vain When people ask me what it means, I enjoy saying "ohh, nothing". Now don't go bidding against me on those rare Armenian items!

 

In Dikranegertsi (from now on noted as MFD--my family's dialect) I know "Ha" and "Cheh" for yes and no. But I do know the proper "voch" and "ayo".

 

For "what's new" or "whatta you up to?", MFD is "Eench gel nas" or "Eench gen eese?" The double "ee"s indicate where in MFD, the vowels are long.

 

In MFD, "Gna gorvi" is "Kna Gori".

 

Isn't "eshak" literally jackass or donkey? In MFD, it's "eshag" or "eshu boch"

 

For awhile there about a year or so ago, I was diligently using my old Western Armenian college textbook and creating flash cards, etc. Time to get back on that horse. It's either that or finally taking some classes at Glendale CC or Pasadena CC.

 

Mike

 

 

P.S. This post required two quick calls to my mom and grandma

 

Hey, I've posted enough vapid nonsense to now be a "member". Junior, shmunior!

 

 

 

[This message has been edited by Pilafhead (edited October 11, 2000).]

[Guest]

Pilafhead, yeah we use "ha" and "che" it is more informal. "Inch gnes?" is pure Thachkahayeren for my family. We like to occasionally break into a parody of this dialect, so we will say "inch gnes, manchuk?"

 

Here are some more lessons!

 

Eating: The Armenian pastime!

 

Inch gootenk?- What will we eat?

 

Shaat sovatsem!- Im hungry!

 

Akhozhak choonem-I don't have an appetite(rarely heard among Armenians)

 

MM, shaat hamegha! -Its delicious!

 

Kakhtsra-its sweet

 

chora-its dry

 

Anoosht-Bon appetit, your welcome

 

Ger!-eat!

 

Vay, shaat arakes ootoom!- You eat too fast!

 

Che, mersi arten gooshtem!-No thanks, Im already full( gooshtem is a suspect word, we say it in Barskahayeren!)

 

Akh! Shaatem gere!- I ate too much!

 

Gofe (surj) g'sires?-Would you like some coffee?

[Guest]

Farsi joon,

 

Well how 'bout this! Your getting me and Pilafhead speaking the basics and communicating in the space of one day! I'm so exited! Lets not stop doing this. I've got confidence in us, I know we can do it.

 

go farsi! go farsi! (sorry now THAT was gettin' beyond silly.)

 

Inch bes es norutsyan ga? Yes ekelem tum, also. I've been there for quite a while, I come home then jump on the computer and log on. You log on all at different times because of the time zones, I get Pilafheads around 8pm, I always get your posts any time between 12 and 12.30 pm sharp.

 

Shaat sovastem. Inch gootenek? Depends on whatever I cook! Whatever I make, at any time, shaat hamegha! I am a good cook.

 

I visited my cousin at H Samuels yesterday. Then I picked her up and we went to her house to help uncle with his work. He was ungrateful and grumpy as usual. My Aunt baked a cake. Anoosht bon appetit, Ger! she said. It was Kakhtsra ges chora. Didnt turn out so nice this time. "Inch norutsyan?" She asked uncle.

"vochinch, noown ban! Inch es anum?"

"vochinch, gortsi"

Well that's so typical of him, he never tells her anything!

"Gote surj g'ires?" she offers to me.

"Cheh, I can't, i'm allergic to it"

 

I cut my finger on the fence. Lots of aroon.

 

Then I went home and went to Wood Green with my friend. we were having a nice time, then this old 50 year old turkish man that i KNOW is married asks her:

"Anoona incha a? Kari dareganes? Vordeghes aprum? Amusnatses?"

My friend just gave him a really funny look and he went away. She then said to me, that's all very well, but I wish it was a nice armenian boy!

 

{ The end }

 

of my little story (or lesson 2)

 

Farsi jan, I know about "joon" being farsi. I heard u say it to Iranyar. I did it purposely!

 

Yes, I've done my homework! That sounds turkish bashing but it really isnt, I swear! There are a lot of turkish guys in wood green like that.

 

Pilaf ears, never mind us dishoouring your family name, and do some homework!

[Guest]

I wish you two could hear me trying to read these phrases over the phone to my grandmother to 1) see if she understands and 2) get the MFD equivalent. Between my slaughtering pronounciation and her slight hearing problem, it might as well be a Marx Brothers skit.

 

Her and my mother came over tonight and were busting my chops over the earlier phone calls. Luckily, I ducked out to the LA Kings Hockey Game with my uncle.

 

I DID practice my Armenian with him though. At one point he told a young girl to sit down so he could see. She seemed to be upset by this so I said to him, "Ahmoteh. Bizdig aghchig" What I meant was, "You embarass me. She's just a young girl". It maybe crappy pidgin Hye, but he understood.

 

Baby steps friends, baby steps.

 

[This message has been edited by Pilafhead (edited October 12, 2000).]

[Guest]

Kazza

a little correction about

"Anoosht-Bon appetit, your welcome".

I think Half Breed mistyped it. The right is "Anoosh" without that 't'.

[Guest]

Oh, sorry. ANOOSH-bon appetit!

 

You must admit - I am making good work aren't i? You must be proud of us!

[Guest]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Kazza:
Oh, sorry. ANOOSH-bon appetit!

You must admit - I am making good work aren't i? You must be proud of us!

---

Anoosh Noosh. How's that? Sweet almonds. One of those useless rhymes you learn as a kid. Oh yeah, comes up all the time in conversation. And why on earth, do I know how to say "Look at the fat cat" in Armenian???

As with any foreign language though, I CAN cuss up a storm. Honest to god, "kack yeres" is a term of endearment in our family. In MFD, it's "kack edees", but it really is a term used with affection. It's always a hoot the first time new odar spouses in the family get that one translated into English.

[Guest]

Garo jan, I have always heard my family saying "anoosht" with a slight schwa "a" sound between the sh and t. I think it is the inflection for "you." Of course my Armenian is highly suspect!

[Guest]

Expressing emotions and volitions

 

Uzumem-I want

Hoknatsem-Im tired

Sovatsem-Im hungry

G'sirem-I would like

Urakhem-Im happy

T'khurem-Im sad

J'ghaynem-Im angry

Sbaghvatzem-Im busy

Hivandem-Im sick

Tsaravem-Im thirsty

 

Good luck, hope I don't corrupt you with my "kharn'vatz" Armenian. Armenian purists, please scan for any Farsi intrusions, I sometimes don't even realize it. For years I thought "dige" "masalan" and "shooloogh" were Armenian!

[Guest]

I thought that "I want" is Goozem. And "sovnatsem" seems different. I know, I know, sit down and quit questioning the teacher.

 

Anyway, here goes...

 

Pambag goozem. (very silly, but I just think the word "pambag" sounds funny)

 

Hoknatsem. Kun goozem.

 

Sovnatsem. Gov goodem.

 

G'sirem gatneghen.

 

Urakhem. Hdbid yem yes.

 

J'gaynem. Toon kheghtel goozem.

 

Sbaghvatzem. NOT!

 

Hivadnem. Takagh goozem.

 

Tsaravem. Karechur goozem.

 

 

If those are wrong, I'm taking this dictionary back! Oops..I mean ...if those are wrong it must be my regional dialect.

[Guest]

Goodness! I don't know who's words to use!

 

I dont know if i trust you pilaf because I dont know whether you are to be trusted or not..(hey mambo, mambo italiano...)

 

I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll use mostly Farsi's because he has more experience with the languages, and some of yours Pilaf. I dont mind the Farsi influences but just so long as you are not teaching me TOTALLY Farsi and not telling me!

 

Farsisteve and people, as I was at college today, and the goons, pigs, the plod and the narks are on patrol(we arent spposed to use the internet for "non academic purposes") and they are not looking I go to Hyeforum! And I saw two boys in our class looking at the "Andy" website! I thought, that looks familiar, then remebered the Andy-the-persian-elvis-who-aint-but-he's-Armenian chats on here. I them told the about us lot on here, and they said they were iranian and if you knew any Persian girls to send them to them! Then I said what by Parcel force or DHL. It was just funny the way they asked!

 

Anyway, Uzumem........

 

The little words like and, or, they he said, she said, etc, to liknk between the words you have told me. And what about feminine/masculine things?

 

Then I will do my work.

[Guest]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Kazza:
Goodness! I don't know who's words to use!

---

Don't use mine! Besides my use of "goozem" (I want) and "goodem" (I eat),all the other words came right out of an Armenian-English dictionary, but I have no idea as to its accuracy.

Sorry to cause the distraction, continue on Half Breed.


[This message has been edited by Pilafhead (edited October 13, 2000).]

[Guest]

[This message has been edited by Pilafhead (edited October 13, 2000).]

[Guest]

Pilafhead, your Armenian is perfectly fine, go with it! Goozem is also used, just as in English you can say the same thing in 3, 4 different ways. You seem like you know a lot more Armenian than you may think. Also keep in mind dialect differences.

 

Kazza, unless I am a total dodo, Armenian has no masculine/feminine articles such as in Spanish or French. Thank God! This makes it easier. Also tell those Irunis, biya be California, khaylee dokhtar iruni ghashang hast!

[Guest]

Farsi Jan,

 

Waddas that mean? You tell me and then I can tell them!

 

I heard Nune today.

[Guest]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Kazza:
I heard Nune today.

---

This is one thread I DON'T wanna drift in, but do you mean you heard her for the first time today? Was she on Top Of The Pops?

I think her first two albums (or CDs, or whatever you kids call 'em these days) are great and the second two are spotty. Ooff, highdeh, don't get me started on music again...



[This message has been edited by Pilafhead (edited October 13, 2000).]

[Guest]

Applying what you have learned

 

Read this dialog and make out what's going on.

 

Mama jan, inch gutenk?

 

Cotletem sarke, yev brinz. Salat uzumes?

 

Che, chem sirum!

 

Ha, bayts lava ko hamar! Lusi, ko papen egela tun. Vazi mahat garejoor thar irar hamar!

 

Can you understand what these two "tikins" are talking about?

 

Tikin Maro, ko tkhen hala chi amusnatse?

 

Akh che, inch anem irar het? Yev ko akhchik Meline?

 

Meline shaata gortsum, yev asuma vor zham chuni marti hamar.

 

Vay sekht! Inch bes gelni? Gartsumem vor Sarkis shaat lav gelni Melinei hamar. Lav gorts uni, mahat Mercedes a kushum, el inch g'sires?

 

Vay, yev Meline shaat lava epum! Akh, amena lav dolmaner a sarkum!

 

 

What about these two barons?

 

Asadoor jan, ches uzum mahat hay jasharan batsenk Glendalei mech?

 

Inch, khentes? Ches gartsum vor shaat ga arten? Amen tekh vor etumes Hay ga. Yes uzumem mahat Sushi Bar bastem!

 

Ay mart jishtits vor gizhes! Chinatsi ches!

 

Sushi chinatsi chi, zhaponatsi gerakoora!

 

Lav Chinatsi, Zhaponatsi, inch darperutsun?

[Guest]

Farsi,

 

I recognise certain words from them , But not the whole meanings of the passage. Like I know the mum and her littlle girl were talking about getting her to eat dinner, and they were eating brinz, and I THINK to call her dad, and the other one there were girls talking about their husbands or something.

The third I'm not sure.

 

Please help!

[Guest]

Kazza joon,

 

You were pretty close with the first dialog. In the second dialog, two Armenian matrons are discussing their unmarried son and daughter and working on match-making! In the third dialog, two Armenian gentlemen are discussing whether to open an Armenian restaurant or Sushi Bar in Glendale. Here are some key words that might help you:

 

jasharan-restaurant

Zhaponatsi-Japanese

Chinatsi-Chinese

epum-third person of epel(to cook)

kushum-third person of kushel(to drive)

 

Also how are you with the colors and days of the week, months of the year etc?

[Guest]

Steve jan,

 

I don´t want to go too much into this. Just the word you wrote as "eshak", actually the word is Turkish, "eshek" (written with a s cedille). It means literally donkey.

[Guest]

PS: Translation of the Farsi phrase-Come to California, there are many beautiful Iranian girls here!

[Guest]

Boghos, I think it was Nvard who convinced me that "eshak" is really Armenian, and the Turks borrowed or stole it. Like they did with everything else. I used to think it was Turkish. Who really knows? Also, it is used universally by Armenians.