էշ
ēš/eʃ/
The English word donkey is translated into Armenian as էշ (ēš) or ավանակ.
Meaning: a domestic animal (noun)
Ways to say it
| Armenian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| էշ | ēš | /eʃ/ (Eastern Armenian) /eʃ/ (Western Armenian) |
| ավանակ | avanak | /ɑvɑˈnɑk/ (Eastern Armenian) /ɑvɑˈnɑɡ/ (Western Armenian) |
Both terms refer to the domestic animal known as a donkey.
Which one should you use?
էշ is the standard and most common term, while ավանակ is a more formal or literary synonym for donkey.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is ēš. The sound /ʃ/ is like the [sh] in ship.
Did you know?
- While էշ is the everyday word for the animal, it is also frequently used as a harsh insult to call someone a fool or an idiot.
- The Armenian word էշ is an inherited term from Old Armenian, remaining virtually unchanged in pronunciation and meaning for centuries.
- The word էշ is used in various Armenian idioms to describe someone who is clumsy or lacks social grace.
Examples in context
- Ես էշ ունեմ։I have a donkey.This sentence demonstrates the use of էշ to express possession.Tatoeba #13377262 by Proxima5, translation #7538261 by CK
- Այդ էշը մեծ է։Ayd eshë mets e.That donkey is big.
Example conversation
Nane and Levon are visiting a farm.
- Նանե NaneԼևոն, նայի, ինչ փոքր էշ է:Levon, nayi, inch p’ok’r esh ē:Levon, look, what a small donkey!
- Լևոն LevonԱյո, շատ սիրուն է:Ayo, shat sirun ē:Yes, it is very cute.
- Նանե NaneԿարո՞ղ ենք կերտռել էշին:Karogh enk kert’rel eshin?Can we feed the donkey?
- Լևոն LevonՀարցնենք տնտեսին:Harts’nenk tntesin:Let's ask the owner.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “donkey” translations and entries էշ, ավանակ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ավանակ, էշ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
