աղավնի
aġavni/ɑʁɑvˈni/
The Armenian word for pigeon is աղավնի (aġavni).
The term refers to birds belonging to the Columbidae family, encompassing both pigeons and doves.
Meaning: bird of the dove and pigeon family Columbidae (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is aġavni (/ɑʁɑvˈni/). The /ɑ/ sound is like the [a] in l[a]va, the /ʁ/ is similar to the French [r] in rue or a Northumbrian burr, the /v/ is like the [v] in van, the /n/ is like the [n] in nest and the /i/ is like the [ea] in seat, though it is short in duration.
Did you know?
- The Armenian alphabet's unique sounds, like the one in աղավնի, were created by Mesrop Mashtots specifically to capture the phonetic nuances of the language.
- The term աղավնի appears frequently in traditional Armenian folk songs to symbolize a longing for home or a message sent to a distant loved one.
- The word աղավնի is inherited from Old Armenian, the classical form of the language used in the first translated manuscripts of the 5th century.
Examples in context
- Այն աղավնին շատ գեղեցիկ է։Ayn aghavnin shat geghetsik e.That pigeon is very beautiful.
- Աղավնին կանգնեցավ պատուհանի վրա։Aghavnin kangnetsav patuhani vra.The pigeon landed on the window.
Example conversation
Ani and Artash are sitting in a park watching birds.
- Անի AniԱրտաշ, նայիր, մի աղավնի թռչում է։Artash, nayir, mi aghavni trchum e.Artash, look, a pigeon is flying.
- Արտաշ ArtashԱյո՛, այն շատ սպիտակ է։Ayo, ayn shat spitak e.Yes, it is very white.
- Անի AniԱյն աղավնին գալիս է մեր մոտ։Ayn aghavnin galis e mer mot.That pigeon is coming near us.
- Արտաշ ArtashԱյո՛, այն ուտում է հաց։Ayo, ayn utum e hats.Yes, it is eating bread.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pigeon” translations and entries աղավնի, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries աղավնի, CC BY-SA 4.0.
