Ways to say it
| Armenian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| բարև | barew | /bɑˈɾev/ (Eastern Armenian) /pɑˈɾev/ (Western Armenian) |
|
| բարև ձեզ | barew jez | /bɑˈɾev d͡zez/ (Eastern Armenian, word by word) | |
| բարև Ձեզ | barew Jez | /bɑˈɾev d͡zez/ (Eastern Armenian, word by word) | formal |
| ողջույն | oġǰuyn | /voχˈt͡ʃʰujn/ (Eastern Armenian) /voχˈt͡ʃujn/ (Western Armenian) |
The word բարև is a common greeting used similarly to 'hello' or 'hi' in English. It is typically used among friends, family or acquaintances.
What does it mean word for word?
The word բարև (barew) is a greeting that functions as 'hello'.
Which one should you use?
բարև is used when addressing friends or children. For strangers or groups, use the polite or plural form բարև ձեզ (barew jez). Additionally, ողջույն (oġǰuyn) serves as a slightly more formal or literary way to say 'greetings' compared to the standard բարև.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
բարև ձեզ is the polite form used for strangers or groups. You can use բարև Ձեզ (with a capitalized Ձեզ) to add an extra layer of formal respect when addressing a single person.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is barew. The pronunciation is /bɑˈɾev/. For the sounds, [b] is like the 'b' in bee, [ɑ] is like the 'a' in lava and [v] is like the 'v' in van.
Did you know?
- Armenian uses a unique alphabet created by Mesrop Mashtots in 405 AD, meaning the letters used to write բարև are part of one of the world's oldest surviving writing systems.
- In Armenian culture, a greeting is often accompanied by a light kiss on both cheeks or a firm handshake, depending on the gender and relationship of the speakers.
- The word բարև is actually the instrumental case of the word for 'good' բարի. It originally functioned as a wish for someone to be 'with good'.
Examples in context
- Բարև, անունդ ի՞նչ է։Hello, what is your name?This sentence shows how to use բարև when asking someone's name.Tatoeba #10716098 by vahanm, translation #1102991 by jamessilver
- Բարև, ո՞ւր ես գնում։Hello, where are you going?This sentence demonstrates using բարև when asking about someone's destination.Tatoeba #13261394 by Proxima5, translation #13187578 by atitarev
- Ես ուզում էի բարևել նրան:I wanted to say hello to her.This sentence uses the verb form of բարև to express the intent of greeting someone.Tatoeba #12667966 by Proxima5, translation #3907332 by CH
- Բարև, ինչպես ես?Hello, how are you?
- 16 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Tigran and Ani meet on the street.
- Տիգրան TigranԲարև, Անի՛:Barev, Ani!Hello, Ani!
- Անի AniԲարև, Տիգրան:Barev, Tigran!Hello, Tigran!
- Տիգրան TigranԻնչպե՞ս ես:Inchpes es?How are you?
- Անի AniԼավ եմ, շնորհակալություն:Lav em, shnorhakalutyun.I am well, thank you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hello” translations and entries բարև, ողջույն, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (բարև, ձեզ) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries բարև, ողջույն, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
