Սուրբ Ծնունդ
Surb Cnund/suɾpʰ t͡səˈnund/
Christmas in Armenian is Սուրբ Ծնունդ (Surb Cnund).
Սուրբ Ծնունդ is used to refer specifically to the feast day of the birth of Jesus Christ. While English speakers might use 'Christmas' to refer to the entire holiday season, in Armenian, this phrase refers to the specific day of the celebration.
Meaning: festival or holiday commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ which in Western Christianity is celebrated on December 25 in most places (name)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the adjective Սուրբ, meaning 'Holy' and the noun Ծնունդ, meaning 'Birth'.
How does it change in a sentence?
When you are referring to the specific holiday within a sentence, the definite article suffix -ը is often added to the end of the phrase, resulting in Սուրբ Ծնունդը.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is Surb Cnund (IPA: /suɾpʰ tsəˈnund/). The /s/ sound is like the [s] in sip, /u/ is like the [oo] in cool, /pʰ/ is like the [p] in port, /ts/ is like the [ts] in cats, /ə/ is like the [a] in again, /n/ is like the [n] in nest and /d/ is like the [d] in dog.
Did you know?
- The Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates Սուրբ Ծնունդ on January 6, rather than December 25. This follows the tradition of the early church and the Julian calendar.
- The word Ծնունդ is used in Armenian for any birth, not just that of Christ. It is a general term for the act of being born.
- The adjective Սուրբ can be used as a title for saints. If a person is called Սուրբ, it indicates they have been canonized by the church.
Examples in context
- Վաղը Սուրբ Ծնունդ է։Tomorrow is Christmas Day.This sentence is useful for stating that tomorrow is Սուրբ Ծնունդ.Tatoeba #12981472 by Proxima5, translation #323245 by CK
- Ինչպե՞ս եք նշում Սուրբ Ծնունդը:How do you celebrate Christmas?This sentence is useful for asking how someone celebrates Սուրբ Ծնունդ.Tatoeba #13119053 by Proxima5, translation #10578870 by CK
- Վաղը մենք նշում ենք Սուրբ Ծնունդը։Tomorrow we celebrate Christmas.This sentence is useful for saying that we celebrate Սուրբ Ծնունդը tomorrow.Tatoeba #13384604 by Proxima5, translation #12230702 by Miktsoanit
- 7 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Tigran and Ani are talking about their upcoming holiday plans.
- Տիգրան TigranԻ՞նչ ես անելու Սուրբ Ծնունդին:Inch es anelu Surb Tsnundin?What are you doing for Christmas?
- Անի AniԵս ընտանիքիս հետ եմ անցկացնելու Սուրբ Ծնունդը:Yes entaniqis het em antskatsnelu Surb Tsnunde.I am spending Christmas with my family.
- Տիգրան TigranԴա շատ հրաշալի է, Անի:Da shat hrashali e, Ani:That is wonderful, Ani.
- Անի AniՇնորհավոր Սուրբ Ծնունդ, Տիգրան:Shnorhavor Surb Tsnund, Tigran:Merry Christmas, Tigran.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “Christmas” translations and entries Սուրբ Ծնունդ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
