հարս
hars/hɑɾs/
To say sister-in-law in Armenian, use հարս (hars).
հարս (hars) is the word a family uses for a woman who has married into it, so it covers a brother's wife. The same word also means bride and daughter-in-law.
Which one should you use?
Armenian has separate kinship words for different in-law relations. հարս fits a brother's wife, while the sister of your husband or wife has her own words.
How do you pronounce it?
It is pronounced /hɑɾs/ in one syllable. The h is like the h in hot, the vowel is like the a in lava, the r is a single tap of the tongue and the final s is like the s in sip.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use հարս for your spouse's sister. It describes a woman who joined your own family through marriage.
When do people say it?
In Armenian families the հարս traditionally has a recognized place in the household of her husband's family, and relatives often call her by this word.
Did you know?
- The Armenian language employs an intricate system of kinship terms that specifies whether a relative is related by blood or by marriage, unlike the broader 'in-law' suffix in English.
- In many Armenian households, relatives may address a woman as հարս directly instead of using her actual name.
- The word հարս is a direct descendant of the Old Armenian word հարսն, maintaining its core meaning of a bride or newcomer for centuries.
Example conversation
Tigran and Lilian are talking about their family.
- Տիգրան TigranԼիլիան, ո՞ւր է քո հարսը:Lilian, ur e ko harsu?Lilian, where is your sister-in-law?
- Լիլիան LilianՆա հիմա գտնվում է քաղաքում:Na hima gtnvum e kaghakum:She is in the city right now.
- Տիգրան TigranԵս ուզում էի նրան տեսնել:Yes uzum ei nran tesnel:I wanted to see her.
- Լիլիան LilianԵս կհասկացնեմ նրան քո մասին:Yes khaskatsnem nran ko masin:I will tell her about you.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry հարս, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries հարս, CC BY-SA 4.0.
