բարև, ինչպե՞ս ես
barev, inchpes es
բարև, ինչպե՞ս ես (barev, inchpes es) is the Armenian phrase for "hello, how are you".
This phrase is a common greeting used to initiate a conversation and inquire about a person's well-being.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of բարև (hello) and ինչպե՞ս ես (how are you).
Which one should you use?
The form բարև, ինչպե՞ս ես is the informal version used for friends, family or children. In contrast, if you are addressing strangers, elders or a group of people, you should use Ինչպե՞ս եք.
How do you pronounce it?
barev, inchpes es
When do people say it?
When someone asks ինչպե՞ս ես, a common response is Լավ եմ, which means "I am well".
Did you know?
- The question mark in ինչպե՞ս is placed over the vowel of the stressed syllable rather than at the end of the sentence.
- In Armenian culture, a greeting is often accompanied by a kiss on the cheeks, though the number of kisses can vary by region and relationship.
- The word բարև is actually a shortened version of an ancient phrase meaning 'with good'.
Examples in context
- Բարև, ինչպե՞ս ես:Barev, inchpes es?Hello, how are you?
- Բարև, ինչպե՞ս ես այսօր:Barev, inchpes es aysor?Hello, how are you today?
- Բարև, ինչպե՞ս ես դու:Barev, inchpes es du?Hello, how are you doing?
Example conversation
Two friends meet on the street.
- Արտաշ ArtashԲարև, ինչպե՞ս ես, Մարիամ:Barev, inchpes es, Mariam?Hello, how are you, Mariam?
- Մարիամ MariamԼավ եմ, շնորհակալություն, իսկ դու:Lav em, shnorhakalutyun, isk du?I am fine, thank you, and you?
- Արտաշ ArtashԵս էլ եմ լավ, շնորհակալ եմ:Es el em lav, shnorhakal em.I am also fine, thank you.
- Մարիամ MariamՈւրախ եմ լսել:Urakh em lsel.I am glad to hear that.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries բարև, ես, CC BY-SA 4.0.
