Ways to say it
| Armenian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| հորաքույր | horakʻuyr | /hoɾɑˈkʰujɾ/ (Eastern Armenian) /hoɾɑˈkujɾ/ (Western Armenian) |
| մորաքույր | morakʻuyr | /moɾɑˈkʰujɾ/ (Eastern Armenian) /moɾɑˈkujɾ/ (Western Armenian) |
| քեռակին | kʻeṙakin | /kʰerɑˈkin/ (Eastern Armenian) /keɾɑˈɡin/ (Western Armenian) |
Armenian uses specific terms to identify an aunt based on her relationship to your parents. You choose the word based on whether she is the sister of your father or the sister of your mother.
What does it mean word for word?
The term հորաքույր is a compound of հոր (father's) and քույր (sister). The term մորաքույր is a compound of մոր (mother's) and քույր (sister).
Which one should you use?
Unlike English, which uses one word for both sides of the family, Armenian distinguishes between a paternal aunt (հորաքույր) and a maternal aunt (մորաքույր).
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of հորաքույր is /hoɾɑˈkʰujɾ/. The [h] is like the 'h' in hot, the [ɑ] is like the 'a' in lava, the [kʰ] is like the 'c' in can, the [u] is like the 'oo' in cool and the [j] is like the 'y' in yes.
Did you know?
- While English uses 'aunt' for any parent's sister, Armenian includes a third term, քեռակին, specifically for a maternal uncle's wife.
- The word for aunt-in-law քեռակին contains the word կին, which is the general Armenian word for 'woman' or 'wife'.
- The word հորաքույր evolved from the Old Armenian form հօրաքոյր.
Examples in context
- Հորաքույրս քույր ու եղբայր չունի։My aunt does not have siblings.This sentence uses the form հորաքույր to describe a lack of siblings.Tatoeba #13050979 by JameezTranslates2, translation #11130126 by carlosalberto
- Հորաքույրս ճենապակյա տիկնիկների հավաքածու ուներ։My aunt had a collection of porcelain dolls.This sentence uses the form հորաքույր to describe a collection of dolls.Tatoeba #12877594 by Proxima5, translation #11582240 by sundown
- Հորաքույրս մեկ շաբաթ հիվանդանոցում էր, երբ այցելեցի նրան։My aunt had been in the hospital for a week when I visited her.This sentence uses the form հորաքույր to describe a hospital stay.Tatoeba #13053440 by kxcamb, translation #64931 by CK
Example conversation
Lilian and Aram are talking about family members at home.
- Լիլիան LilianՈրտե՞ղ է հորաքույրդ:Vorte՞gh e horakuyrd:Where is your aunt?
- Արամ AramՀորաքույրս աշխատանքի է գնացել:Horakuyrs ashkhatanq-i e gnatsel:My aunt has gone to work.
- Լիլիան LilianԱյո, նա շատ աշխատասեր է:Ayo, na shat ashkhataser e:Yes, she is very hardworking.
- Արամ AramՃիշտ ես, Լիլիան:Chisht es, Lilian:You are right, Lilian.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “aunt” translations and entries հորաքույր, մորաքույր, քեռակին, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries հորաքույր, մորաքույր, քեռակին, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
