Armenian

A language of Armenia

ISO 639-3

hye

Alternate Names

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

Population

2,960,000 (2013 UNSD). Total users in all countries: 5,169,640.

Location

Widespread.

Language Maps

Jordan and Syria

Azerbaijan

Georgia

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:

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Azerbaijan

Language nameArmenian

Population

120,000 (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.

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Cyprus

Language nameArmenian

Population

1,410 (2013 UNSD).

Alternate Names

Armjanski, Ermenice, Haieren, Somkhuri

Dialects

Western Armenian.

Status

7 (Shifting).

Language Use

Also use Greek [ell]. Also use Turkish [tur], especially older adults.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Urban population. Christian.

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Georgia

Language nameArmenian

Population

315,000 (2014).

Location

Samtskhe-Javakheti region.

Alternate Names

Haieren, Somkhuri

Status

5 (Dispersed).

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Hungary

Language nameArmenian

Population

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

Location

Budapest county.

Alternate Names

Haieren

Status

5 (Dispersed).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Iran

Language nameArmenian

Population

102,000 (2015 J. Leclerc).

Location

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

Alternate Names

Armani, Armjanski, Ermenice, Erâmani, 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.

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Iraq

Language nameArmenian

Population

60,000 (2014 J. Leclerc).

Location

Al Basrah, Baghdad, Dahuk, Kirkuk, and Ninawa governorates.

Alternate Names

Haieren

Dialects

Western Armenian.

Status

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

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Christian.

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Israel

Language nameArmenian

Population

3,000 (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.

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Jordan

Language nameArmenian

Population

6,500 (2013).

Alternate Names

Haieren

Dialects

Western Armenian.

Status

7 (Shifting).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Christian.

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Lebanon

Language nameArmenian

Population

218,000 (2013).

Location

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

Alternate Names

Armanski, Ermenice, Haieren, Somkhuri

Dialects

Western Armenian.

Status

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

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Christian.

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Poland

Language nameArmenian

Population

2,210 (2013 UNSD).

Alternate Names

Haieren

Status

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

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Romania

Language nameArmenian

Population

740 (2014 UNSD).

Location

Cluj department.

Alternate Names

Haieren

Status

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

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Syria

Language nameArmenian

Population

83,000 (2014 J. Leclerc).

Location

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

Alternate Names

Armjanski, Ermenice, Haieren, Somkhuri

Dialects

Western Armenian.

Status

5 (Dispersed).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Christian.

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Turkey

Language nameArmenian

Population

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

Location

Many in Istanbul; Kars province: east Turkey; 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.

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Ukraine

Language nameArmenian

Population

50,300 (2001 census). Ethnic population: 99,900 (2001 census).

Alternate Names

Haieren

Status

5 (Dispersed). Recognized language (2004, Law, Status of Indigenous Peoples of Ukraine, Article 1(5)).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Ethnologue

Armenian

Primary tabs

A language of Armenia

Also spoken in:

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