If you want to be able to read and write in Armenian then the first step is learning the alphabet.
This can be daunting at first but with the right resources you’ll master it in no time.
This guide will give you the resources you need and tell you how to learn the Armenian alphabet.
So, how much do you actually need to learn?
Table of Contents
What Is The Armenian Alphabet?
The Armenian alphabet was created around the year 405 AD by Mesrop Mashtots who was an Armenian linguist. He used the Greek alphabet as a model to design the Armenian alphabet.
During the 18th and 19th centuries, this alphabet was widely used in the Ottoman Empire.
In Armenian, the alphabet is called այբուբեն (aybuben).
Armenian is written from left to right.
How Many Letters Are There In The Armenian Alphabet?
The Armenian alphabet originally had 36 letters however eventually 2 more letters and 1 symbol were added.
The current Armenian alphabet has 38 letters. It has 31 consonants and 7 vowels.
There is another symbol և that is sometimes counted as an additional letter but is actually a ligature. A ligature is when 2 letters are joined together, this letter actually just stands for ‘and’ in English so isn’t really a letter.
This might sound complicated but there are plenty of resources out there to help you learn the Armenian alphabet. There’s lots of variety and different resources that meet different peoples needs.
Let’s have a look at some.
Learn The Armenian Alphabet Online
There’s plenty of great online resources that will help you learn the Armenian alphabet, many of which are completely free.
Memrise
Memrise is an online language learning app that uses fun games to help it’s users learn their chosen language.
They have a free Armenian alphabet course that will teach you to recognise the Armenian letters and the sounds they make. This course is super detailed, it uses both IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) and has audio so you can hear the pronunciation.
If you don’t understand the IPA system and want something a bit simpler, you can also try this Armenian alphabet course instead.
Memrise is really interactive and gradually introduces all the letters slowly so you have time to consolidate them all. There’s also plenty of opportunities to practice what you’ve learnt.
Quizlet
Quizlet is an online learning tool that uses flashcards and games to help you learn!
They have a free flashcard deck featuring the Armenian alphabet. There’s loads of different ways to study the flashcards with Quizlet.
I’d recommend using the ‘Learn’ feature which creates a personalised study plan just for you and uses spaced repetition to help you master the alphabet. You can also learn with games such as ‘Match’ where you match the corresponding letters.
Learn 101
This website is a great reference point for the Armenian alphabet. It shows all the letters in a handy table.
The best part is that you can click on any letter and hear the pronunciation.
Click here to visit their website.
Learn The Armenian Alphabet With YouTube Videos
YouTube is a fantastic resource for learning any language as there are so many videos uploaded everyday from all around the world.
Videos are really useful resources as they will help you to improve your pronunciation. It’s important to know how to say the letters of the alphabet correctly.
I’ve selected a few handy videos that you can use to help you learn the Armenian alphabet.
Video Resource 1
This video is a great introduction to the Armenian alphabet as it goes over each letter, showing you both the uppercase and lowercase version of the letter. It also provides the pronunciation and an example Armenian word that uses the letter.
Check it out below:
Video Resource 2
This video is really handy if you’re wanting to learn to write in Armenian. It goes over each letter individually showing you how to hand write both the uppercase and lowercase version of each letter.
Check it out below:
Video Resource 3
This is a great reference video for the Armenian alphabet as it quickly goes through each letter showing you how to pronounce the letter and gives an example Armenian word that uses the letter.
Check it out below:
Armenian Alphabet Song
This fun Armenian alphabet song video aimed at kids is a great way to remember the Armenian alphabet as it’s super memorable. Sing along and learn the alphabet.
Check it out below:
Learn The Armenian Alphabet With Worksheets And Books
Worksheets and workbooks are especially good for learning how to write Armenian letters.
If you want to be able to read and write in Armenian then try out some of these resources.
Tracing Book
You can use an Armenian handwriting workbook like this one, to practice writing the letters. It has plenty of space in the workbook for you to trace the letters as well as space for you to write them yourself.
This is one of the better practice workbooks available as it teaches you how to hand-write the letters correctly, be careful that some workbooks get you to trace print letters which isn’t the correct way as handwritten Armenian letters are written differently.
Alphabet Book
If you’re looking for a book that teaches you the Armenian alphabet in a fun way then try ‘How I Taught My Chinese Wife To Read Armenian’. This book uses fun comics to teach you Armenian.
Reference Book
If you’re looking for a book that goes into lots of detail then try ‘Eastern Armenian Comprehensive Self-Study Language Course’. It’s a great reference point that covers the alphabet in lots of detail and gives lots of examples so you can truly master the Armenian alphabet.
This book is a complete guide to the Armenian language so will teach you so much more than just the alphabet and will help you to master the language.
Free Worksheets
If you’re looking for a free resource, then check out the free worksheets by Hye Home.
You can print these out and practice writing the letters, the worksheet gives space to trace the letters and write them by yourself.
The great thing about these worksheets is that they show you both the print form of the letters and the hand written form.
Thanks for reading this guide on how to learn the Armenian alphabet.
I’ve covered a range of different resources for all different types of learners, hopefully you found something useful that suits your learning style.
If you want to learn some beginner phrases in Armenian, try learning how to say ‘how are you’ in Armenian.
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