ծիածան
ciacan/t͡sijɑˈt͡sɑn/
The English word "rainbow" is translated into Armenian as ծիածան (ciacan).
ծիածան is a noun used to describe the multicolored arch appearing in the sky.
Meaning: multicoloured arch in the sky (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the definite form "the rainbow", add the suffix –ը to the word to create ծիածանը. To form the plural "rainbows", use the form ծիածաններ.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is ciacan. The IPA is /tsijɑˈtsɑn/. For English speakers, the sounds are as follows: /ts/ is like the 'ts' in ca[ts], /i/ is like the 'ea' in s[ea]t (held for a short duration), /j/ is like the '[y]' in [y]es, /ɑ/ is like the 'a' in l[a]va and /n/ is like the 'n' in [n]est.
Did you know?
- Unlike the English word 'rainbow', which combines 'rain' and 'bow' from archery, ծիածան contains no reference to weapons.
- In Armenian folklore, the ծիածան is frequently imagined as a celestial path or a bridge connecting earth to the heavens.
- The word ծիածան is also used poetically to describe any shimmering or iridescent surface, even if it is not an arch in the sky.
Examples in context
- Ծիածանը յոթ գույն ունի։The rainbow has seven colours.This sentence is useful for noting that the ծիածան has seven colors.Tatoeba #13390402 by Proxima5, translation #12356291 by sundown
- Երկնքում գեղեցիկ ծիածան կա։Yerknum geghetsik tsiadzan ka.There is a beautiful rainbow in the sky.
- Այդ ծիածանը շատ պայծառ է։Ayd tsiadzane shat paytsar e.That rainbow is very bright.
Example conversation
Lilian and Levon are walking home after a rainstorm.
- Լիլիան LilianԼևոն, նայիր այնտեղ:Levon, nayir ayntegh:Levon, look over there.
- Լևոն LevonԻ՞նչն է, Լիլիան:Inchn e, Lilian:What is it, Lilian?
- Լիլիան LilianԳեղեցիկ ծիածան է հայտնվել:Geghetsik tsiatsan e haytnvel:A beautiful rainbow has appeared.
- Լևոն LevonԻսկապես շատ գեղեցիկ է:Iskapes shat geghetsik e:It really is very beautiful.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “rainbow” translations and entries ծիածան, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
