What does Barev mean in Armenian?

Barev (Բարեւ) means 'Hello' in Armenian. It is the informal greeting used between friends and people of similar age. The more formal version is Barev Dzez (Բարեւ Ձեզ), which you would use with elders or in professional settings.

HAYEREN

Armenian Language Guide

100 Armenian Words to Know Before You Visit Armenia

Q: Is Armenian hard to pronounce?

Armenian has a few sounds that don't exist in English, particularly the rolled 'r', the guttural 'gh' sound, and the aspirated consonants. However, most basic words for tourists are very manageable with a little practice. Armenians are patient and appreciative when visitors try.

Q: What language is spoken in Armenia?

The official language of Armenia is Armenian (Հայերեն, Hayeren). It is an Indo-European language with its own unique alphabet, created in 405 AD by the monk Mesrop Mashtots. Russian is also widely understood, especially by those over 40, as a legacy of the Soviet era.

Armenian (Հայերեն, Hayeren) is one of the oldest continuously spoken languages in the world. Locals light up when visitors make even a small effort. Here are the 100 most useful words — with pronunciation guides for every single one.

100

Essential Words

🔊 Quick Pronunciation Key

ay — like "eye"
kh — guttural, like Scottish "loch"
gh — soft guttural "r" (from the throat)
ts — like "cats"
dz — like "beds"
ch — like "cheese"
j — like "jar"
sh — like "shoe"
CAPS — stressed syllable
uh — like the "a" in "sofa"

👋 Greetings & Courtesy

#	English	Armenian Script	Transliteration	How to Say It
1	Hello (informal)	Բարեւ	Barev	BAH-rev
2	Hello (formal) Use with elders or in professional settings	Բարեւ Ձեզ	Barev Dzez	BAH-rev DZEZ
3	Good morning	Բարի լոյս	Bari Luys	BAH-ree LOOYS
4	Good evening	Բարի երեկոյ	Bari Yereko	BAH-ree YEH-reh-ko
5	Good night	Բարի գիշեր	Bari Gisher	BAH-ree GEE-sher
6	Goodbye	Ցտեսութիւն	Tstesutyun	ts-te-soo-TYOON
7	Thank you Full formal version	Շնորհակալութիւն	Shnorhakalutyun	sh-nor-hah-kah-loo-TYOON
8	Thank you (casual) Everyone uses this — borrowed from French	Մերսի	Mersi	MER-see
9	Please / You're welcome	Խնդրեմ	Khndrem	k-HUN-drem
10	Sorry / Excuse me	Ներողութիւն	Neroghutyan	neh-ro-ghoo-TYOON
11	Yes	Այո	Ayo	AH-yo
12	No	Ոչ	Votch	votch
13	OK / Fine / Good	Լաւ	Lav	lahv
14	Very good	Շատ լաւ	Shad lav	shad LAHV
15	Congratulations	Շնորհաւորում եմ	Shnorhavorum em	sh-nor-hah-vo-ROOM em

💬 Basic Conversations

#	English	Armenian Script	Transliteration	How to Say It
16	How are you? (informal)	Ինչպէ՞ս ես	Inchpes es?	inch-PES es
17	How are you? (formal)	Ինչպէ՞ս էք	Inchpes ek?	inch-PES ek
18	What is your name?	Անունդ ի՞նչ է	Anund inch e?	ah-NOOND inch eh
19	My name is ___	Անունս ___ է	Anuns ___ e	ah-NOONS ___ eh
20	Do you speak English?	Անգլերէն գիտե՞ս	Angleren gites?	ang-leh-REN gee-TES
21	I don't understand	Չեմ հասկանում	Chem haskanum	chem has-KAH-noom
22	Please repeat that	Կրկնէ՛, խնդրեմ	Krknes, khndrem	KUUR-knes k-HUN-drem
23	I am Armenian Even if you're diaspora, this earns huge warmth	Ես Հայ եմ	Yes Hay em	yes HYE em
24	I am American	Ես ամերիկացի եմ	Yes Amerikatsi em	yes ah-meh-ree-KAH-tsee em
25	I love Armenia	Սիրում եմ Հայաստանը	Sirum em Hayastan	see-ROOM em hye-ah-STAN

💡 Pro Tip: "Barev" Opens Every Door

Armenians are extremely hospitable people. Walking into a shop, café, or home and saying Barev with a smile instantly changes the entire interaction. You'll likely be offered coffee, fruit, or a seat whether you asked for them or not. Lean into it.

🔢 Numbers 1–10

#	English	Armenian Script	Transliteration	How to Say It
26	One	Մէկ	Mek	mek
27	Two	Երկու	Yerku	YER-koo
28	Three	Երեք	Yerek	YEH-rek
29	Four	Չորս	Chors	chors
30	Five	Հինգ	Hing	hing
31	Six	Վեց	Vets	vets
32	Seven	Եօթ	Yot	yot
33	Eight	Ութ	Ut	oot
34	Nine	Ինը	Ine	EE-nuh
35	Ten	Տասը	Tase	tahs
36	One hundred	Հարիւր	Haryur	hah-RYOOR
37	One thousand	Հազար	Hazar	hah-ZAR

🍽️ Food & Drink

#	English	Armenian Script	Transliteration	How to Say It
38	Water	Ջուր	Jur	joor
39	Coffee Armenian coffee is similar to Turkish coffee	Սուրճ	Surj	soorch
40	Tea	Թէյ	Tey	tay
41	Bread Lavash is the iconic Armenian flatbread	Հաց	Hats	hahts
42	Meat	Միս	Mis	mees
43	Fish	Ձուկ	Dzuk	dzook
44	Wine	Գինի	Gini	gee-NEE
45	Beer	Գարեջուր	Garejur	gah-reh-JOOR
46	Cheers! The most important toast you'll ever learn	Կենա՛ց	Genats!	geh-NAHTS
47	Delicious	Շատ համով է	Shad hamov e	shad hah-MOV eh
48	Restaurant	Ճաշարան	Jasharan	jah-shah-RAN
49	The bill, please	Հաշիւը, խնդրեմ	Hashiv, khndrem	hah-SHEEV k-HUN-drem
50	I'm hungry	Սոված եմ	Sov em	sov em
51	I'm thirsty	Ծարաւ եմ	Tsarav em	tsah-RAV em
52	Bon appétit / Enjoy your meal	Բարի ախորժակ	Bari akhorjak	BAH-ree ah-khor-JAK

🗺️ Getting Around

#	English	Armenian Script	Transliteration	How to Say It
53	Where is ___?	Որտե՞ղ է ___	Vortegh e ___?	vor-TEGH eh
54	Right	Աջին	Ajin	AH-jin
55	Left	Ձախ	Dzakh	dzakh
56	Straight ahead	Ուղիղ	Ughigh	oo-GHIKH
57	Near / Close	Մօտ	Mot	mots
58	Far	Հեռու	Heru	hoor
59	Taxi	Տաքսի	Taksi	TAK-see
60	Bus	Աւտոբուս	Avtobus	AV-to-boos
61	Metro / Subway	Մետրօ	Metro	meh-TRO
62	Airport	Օդանաւակայան	Odanavakayan	o-dah-nah-vah-kah-YAN
63	Hotel	Հիւրանոց	Hyuranots	hyoo-rah-NOTS
64	Street	Փողոց	Poghots	po-GHOTS
65	I don't know the way	Ճանապարհը չեմ գիտեր	Janaparh chem giter	jah-nah-PARH chem gee-TER

🛍️ Shopping & Money

#	English	Armenian Script	Transliteration	How to Say It
66	How much does it cost?	Ի՞նչ արժէ	Inch arje?	inch ar-JEH
67	Expensive	Թանկ է	Tank e	tank eh
68	Cheap / Affordable	Էժան է	Ezhan e	eh-ZHAN eh
69	I want ___	Ուզում եմ ___	Uzum em ___	oo-ZOO-nem em
70	Do you have ___?	Ունէ՞ք ___	Unek ___?	oo-NEK
71	Market / Bazaar	Շուկայ	Shuka	SHOO-kah
72	Store / Shop	Խանութ	Khanut	khah-NOOT
73	Money	Փող	Pogh	pogh
74	Card (payment)	Քարտ	Kart	kart

🚨 Emergency & Health

#	English	Armenian Script	Transliteration	How to Say It
75	Help!	Օգնութի՛ւն	Ognutyun!	og-noo-TYOON
76	Police	Ոստիկան	Vostikan	vos-tee-KAN
77	Doctor	Բժիշկ	Bzhishk	buh-ZHEESHK
78	Hospital	Հիւանդանոց	Hivandanots	hee-van-dah-NOTS
79	Fire!	Հրդե՛հ	Hrdeh!	huur-DEH
80	I need help	Օգնութիւն է պէտք	Ognutyun e petk	og-noo-TYOON eh petk
81	I am sick	Հիւանդ եմ	Hivand em	hee-VAND em
82	Pharmacy	Դեղատուն	Deghatun	deh-gyah-TOON

⏰ Time & Days

#	English	Armenian Script	Transliteration	How to Say It
83	Today	Այսօր	Aysor	eye-SOR
84	Tomorrow	Վաղը	Vaghe	VAHG-huh
85	Yesterday	Երէկ	Yerek	YEH-rek
86	Morning	Առաւօտ	Aravot	ah-rah-VOT
87	Evening	Երեկոյ	Yereko	YEH-reh-ko
88	Night	Գիշեր	Gisher	GEE-sher
89	Now	Հիմա	Hima	hee-MAH
90	Wait / One moment	Սպասել	Spasel	spa-SEL

🇦🇲 Culture, Places & Identity

#	English	Armenian Script	Transliteration	How to Say It
91	Armenian (person)	Հայ	Hay	hye
92	Armenia	Հայաստան	Hayastan	hye-ah-STAN
93	Yerevan The capital — pronounced softly, not "yeh-REE-van"	Երեւան	Yerevan	yeh-reh-VAN
94	Mount Ararat Armenians call it Masis — the sacred mountain	Մասիս	Masis	MAH-sees
95	Church	Եկեղեցի	Yekeghetsí	yeh-keh-gheh-TSEE
96	Family	Ընտանիք	Yntanik	un-tah-NEEK
97	Friend	Ընկեր	Enker	un-KER
98	Beautiful	Գեղեցիկ	Geghetsik	geh-gheh-TSIK
99	I like it / I love it	Սիրում եմ	Sirum em	see-ROOM em
100	Long live Armenia! The ultimate show of solidarity	Կեցցէ՛ Հայաստան	Ketse Hayastan!	kah-ET-see hye-ah-STAN

🥂 One Word That Will Make You Instantly Popular

Genats! (geh-NAHTS) — it means "cheers" and it's the Armenian toast. Say it at a dinner table, at a rooftop bar in Yerevan, or when someone hands you a shot of homemade mulberry vodka. You will be welcomed with open arms. Pair it with Sirum em Hayastan and you may be invited to someone's home for dinner.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Armenian hard to pronounce?

Armenian has a few sounds that don't exist in English — particularly the guttural "gh" (from the throat, like a soft French "r"), the aspirated consonants, and the "kh" sound (like the Scottish "loch"). But most basic words for tourists are very manageable with a little practice. Armenians are patient and genuinely touched when visitors make the effort.

Do people in Yerevan speak English?

English is increasingly spoken in Yerevan, especially among younger people, hotel staff, and in tourist areas around Republic Square, the Cascade, and Northern Avenue. Outside major cities and among older generations, Armenian and Russian are more common. Even a few Armenian words will make a noticeable difference in how you're received.

What language is spoken in Armenia?

The official language is Armenian (Հայերէն, Hayeren) — an independent branch of the Indo-European family with its own 38-letter alphabet, created in 405 AD. Russian is also widely understood, particularly by Armenians over 40, as a legacy of the Soviet era. You'll see signage in both Armenian and Russian in many places.

What does "Barev" mean?

Barev (Բարեւ) means "Hello" in Armenian. It's the informal greeting used between friends, peers, and casual encounters. The more formal version is Barev Dzez, which you'd use with elders, in professional settings, or when addressing a group.

Is there a difference between Eastern and Western Armenian?

Yes. Eastern Armenian is spoken in the Republic of Armenia and Iran. Western Armenian is spoken by diaspora communities — including Armenian-Americans in Los Angeles, Glendale, and Burbank. The words on this page use Eastern Armenian pronunciation, which is what you'll hear on the ground in Yerevan. Some words and pronunciations differ between the two dialects.

Planning a Trip to Armenia?

Keep these handy travel guides open alongside your phrasebook.

Yerevan City Guide Top things to do, neighborhoods, food, and day trips in the pink city. Read the guide → Where to Stay in Armenia Best neighborhoods and hotel prices in Yerevan, Dilijan, Gyumri, and beyond. Read the guide → Monasteries & Churches Geghard, Tatev, Khor Virap, Noravank, and the best day trips from Yerevan. Read the guide → Museums to Visit The Matenadaran, History Museum, Cafesjian, and more cultural stops. Read the guide → Budget & Currency The Armenian dram, daily costs, tipping, and how to pay on the ground. Read the guide →

🇦🇲 Support the Armenian Community in Los Angeles

Find Armenian-owned restaurants, bakeries, businesses, and services in Glendale, Burbank, and all of Southern California.

Browse the Directory → Read the Blog