Armenian

A language of Armenia

ISO 639-3

hye

Alternate Names

Armjanski Yazyk, Ena, Ermeni Dili, Ermenice, Haieren, Somkhuri

Population

2,960,000 in Armenia (2013 UNSD). Total users in all countries: 5,327,020.

Location

Widespread.

Language Maps

Azerbaijan

Georgia

Jordan and Syria

Language Status

1 (National). Statutory national language (1995, Constitution, Article 12).

Classification

Indo-European, Armenian

Dialects

Eastern Armenian, Erevan (Eriwan), Tbilisi (Tiflis), Karabagh, Shamakhi (Schamachi), Astrakhan (Astrachan), Dzhulfa (Dschugha, Dschulfa), Agulis, Khvoy-Salmst (Choi-Salmst), Urmia-Maragheh (Urmia-Maragha), Artvin (Artwin), Karin (Erzerum, Erzurum), Mus (Musch), Van (Wan), Tigranakert (Diarbekir, Diyarbakir), Kharberd (Charberd, Erzenka, Erzincan), Shabin-Karahissar (Schabin-Karahissar), Trabzon (Trapezunt), Hamshen (Hamschen), Malatya (Malatia), Kilikien, Syria (Syrien), Arabkir, Ararat, Akn, Sebaste, Ewdokia (Tokat), Smyrna (Izmir), North Komedia, Constantinople (Istanbul, Konstantinopel), Rodosto, Crimea (Krim), Ashkharik. Eastern Armenian (4,341,000) in Armenia and its Turkish and Iranian borderlands; Western Armenian (879,612) used elsewhere and only understood by some in Iran. In Syria, people in Kessaberen (northeastern mountain village of Kessab) and Musa Dagh village (now relocated to Lebanon) speak related varieties which other Western Armenian speakers do not understand. Most Kessaberen users now learn Western Armenian. Western Armenian (Turkey) and Ararat (Russian Federation) are easily intelligible.

Typology

SVO; both prepositions and postpositions; noun head final; indefinite article affix; case-marking (7 cases); verb affixes mark person, number; passives; tense; causatives; comparatives; 30 consonant and 7 vowel phonemes; non-tonal; stress on final syllable.

Language Use

91% of the ethnic group in Russia spoke it as L1 (1979 census). All ages. Also use Russian [rus].

Language Development

Fully developed. Bible: 1883–1994.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Armenian

Writing

Armenian script [Armn], primary usage. Braille script [Brai].

Other Comments

Christian.

Also spoken in:

Expand All Collapse All

Azerbaijan

Language nameArmenian

Population

120,000 in Azerbaijan (2011 UNSD).

Location

Nagorno-Karabakh region, widespread.

Alternate Names

Armjanski, Ermenice, Haieren, Somkhuri

Dialects

Western Armenian.

Status

7 (Shifting).

Language Use

Used as L2 by Udi [udi].

Other Comments

Christian.

View other languages of Azerbaijan

Cyprus

Language nameArmenian

Population

1,410 in Cyprus (2013 UNSD).

Alternate Names

Armjanski, Ermenice, Haieren, Somkhuri

Dialects

Western Armenian.

Status

7 (Shifting).

Language Use

Also use Greek [ell], Turkish [tur].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Urban population. Christian.

View other languages of Cyprus

Georgia

Language nameArmenian

Population

448,000 in Georgia.

Location

Samtskhe-Javakheti region.

Alternate Names

Haieren, Somkhuri

Status

5 (Dispersed).

View other languages of Georgia

Hungary

Language nameArmenian

Population

440 in Hungary (2011 census). Ethnic population: 3,290 (2011 census).

Location

Budapest county.

Alternate Names

Haieren

Status

5 (Dispersed).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Hungary

Iran

Language nameArmenian

Population

102,000 in Iran (2015 J. Leclerc).

Location

North, Azarbayjan-e Sharqi, Azarbayjan-e Gharbi, and Ardebil provinces; Khoi, Shahpur, Ahar, Tabriz, Tehran, Isfahan, and Shiraz areas.

Alternate Names

Armani, Armjanski, Erâmani, Ermenice, Haieren, Somekhuri

Dialects

Eastern Armenian, Agulis, Astrakhân, Jolfâ (Dzhulfa), Karabagh Shamakhi, Khoi-Salmst (Khvoy), Urmia-Maragheh.

Status

4 (Educational).

Language Use

Vigorous. Home, church. All ages. Also use Iranian Persian [pes], South Azerbaijani [azb].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L2: 80%. Taught in Armenian private schools.

Other Comments

Christian.

View other languages of Iran

Iraq

Language nameArmenian

Population

60,000 in Iraq (2014 J. Leclerc).

Location

Al Basrah, At Ta’mim, Dahuk, Ninawa, and Baghdad governorates.

Alternate Names

Haieren

Dialects

Western Armenian.

Status

7 (Shifting). Recognized language (2005, Constitution, Article 4(1)).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Christian.

View other languages of Iraq

Israel

Language nameArmenian

Population

3,000 in Israel (2005 J. Leclerc).

Location

Jerusalem.

Alternate Names

Armjanski, Ermenice, Haieren, Somkhuri

Dialects

Western Armenian.

Status

7 (Shifting).

Language Use

Also use South Levantine Spoken Arabic [ajp].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. The Eastern Armenian dialect of Armenian [hye] is spoken in Armenia, Turkey, and Iran; Western Armenian in other countries, including Israel. Christian.

View other languages of Israel

Jordan

Language nameArmenian

Population

6,500 in Jordan (2013).

Alternate Names

Haieren

Dialects

Western Armenian.

Status

7 (Shifting).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Christian.

View other languages of Jordan

Lebanon

Language nameArmenian

Population

218,000 in Lebanon (2013).

Location

Centuries-old established presence, Beirut and Tripoli cities; Mont-Liban Governorate, El Metn district, Beirut suburbs Bourj Hammoud and Mezher; Beqaa Governorate, Zahle district, Anjar town; other communities scattered elsewhere.

Alternate Names

Armanski, Ermenice, Haieren, Somkhuri

Dialects

Western Armenian.

Status

5 (Dispersed). De facto language of national identity.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Christian.

View other languages of Lebanon

Poland

Language nameArmenian

Population

2,210 in Poland (2013 UNSD).

Alternate Names

Haieren

Status

5 (Dispersed). Recognized language (2005, Minorities Act of 2 January, Article 2(2)).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Poland

Romania

Language nameArmenian

Population

720 in Romania (2003 UNSD).

Location

Cluj department.

Alternate Names

Haieren

Status

5 (Dispersed). Recognized language (2005, National Minority Status Law, Article 3(2)).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Romania

Syria

Language nameArmenian

Population

83,000 in Syria (2014 J. Leclerc).

Location

Enclaves near rivers, urban centers, Dayr az Zawr and Al Hasakah governorates.

Alternate Names

Armjanski, Ermenice, Haieren, Somkhuri

Dialects

Western Armenian.

Status

5 (Dispersed).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Christian.

View other languages of Syria

Turkey

Language nameArmenian

Population

61,000 in Turkey (2014 J. Leclerc). 1,000 monolinguals (1965 census). Ethnic population: 70,000 (1980).

Location

Many in Istanbul; and in east Turkey, Kars Province, scattered elsewhere.

Alternate Names

Armjanski, Ermenice, Haieren, Somkhuri

Dialects

Western Armenian.

Status

6b (Threatened).

Language Use

Also use Turkish [tur].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Hemshin are Armenian Muslims, living near the Laz [lzz] language area. Christian, Muslim.

View other languages of Turkey

Ukraine

Language nameArmenian

Population

99,900 in Ukraine.

Alternate Names

Haieren

Status

5 (Dispersed).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Ukraine

Ethnologue

Armenian

Primary tabs

A language of Armenia

Also spoken in:

Browse by

Current Edition

Products

Related Sites

Contact