զգույշ եղիր
zguyš ełir
To say "be careful" in Armenian, use զգույշ եղիր (zguyš ełir).
The phrase is a warning used to tell someone to avoid danger or a mistake.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the adjective զգույշ (careful or cautious) and the verb եղիր (be), which is the imperative singular form of the verb լինել (to be).
Which one should you use?
While զգույշ եղիր is a warning to avoid physical danger or mistakes, it is distinct from հետևիր, which means "follow" or "pay attention" and is used when someone is being inattentive.
How does it change in a sentence?
To address more than one person or to use a polite/formal tone with a single person, use the form զգույշ եղեք instead of the singular զգույշ եղիր.
How do you pronounce it?
zguyš ełir
Did you know?
- The word զգույշ shares a root with the Armenian word for 'sense' or 'feeling', linking the act of being careful to the act of sensing one's environment.
- In a high-stakes or urgent situation, speakers may drop the verb եղիր and simply shout զգույշ to signal immediate danger.
- Using the singular զգույշ եղիր with a stranger or a superior is considered a social error in Armenia, as it lacks the required formality of զգույշ եղեք.
Examples in context
- Զգույշ եղիր կարիճի հետ։Be careful with the scorpion.This example shows how to use զգույշ եղիր when warning about a scorpion.Tatoeba #13346708 by Proxima5, translation #7768498 by sharris123
- Զգույշ եղիր պատուհանի մոտ։Be careful near the window.This example shows how to use զգույշ եղիր when warning about being near a window.Tatoeba #13416647 by Proxima5, translation #2047640 by CK
- Զգույշ եղիր փողոցն անցնելիս։Be careful crossing the street.This example shows how to use զգույշ եղիր when warning someone while they are crossing the street.Tatoeba #13361810 by Proxima5, translation #434308 by lukaszpp
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Aram is warning Ani about a slippery floor.
- Արամ AramԱնի, զգույշ եղիր, հատակը սայթալի է։Ani, zguysh yeghir, hataky saytali e.Ani, be careful, the floor is slippery.
- Անի AniՇնորհակալություն, որ ասացիր։Shnorhakalyun, vor asatsir.Thank you for telling me.
- Արամ AramԱյո, դեռ չափսել են։Ayo, der chapsel en.Yes, they just mopped it.
- Անի AniՀասկացա, շատ զգույշ կլինեմ։Haskatsa, shat zguysh klinem.I see, I will be very careful.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
