կներեք
knerekʻformal
In Armenian, sorry can be expressed through several forms, with կներեք (knerekʻ) being the default form. Wiktionary also lists ներեցեք (nerecʻekʻ) and ներիր (nerir).
Meaning: expression of regret or sorrow (intj)
Ways to say it
| Armenian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| կներեք | knerekʻ | formal | |
| ներեցեք | nerecʻekʻ | formal | |
| ներիր | nerir | informal | |
| կներես | kneres | informal | |
| ներողություն | neroġutʻyun | /neɾoʁuˈtʰjun/ (Eastern Armenian) /neɾoʁuˈtʏn/ (Western Armenian) |
The phrase is used as an expression of regret or sorrow. You can also say ներողություն եմ խնդրում, which means 'I ask for forgiveness', to express your regret more formally or sincerely.
What does it mean word for word?
The noun ներողություն literally means 'forgiveness'.
Which one should you use?
կներեք is a formal way to say sorry, while կներես is used with friends or children. The form ներիր is an imperative command meaning 'forgive me' and is used informally.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Use կներեք when speaking to strangers, elders or in professional settings, whereas կներես is used with friends or children. The phrase ներողություն եմ խնդրում is a more formal or sincere way to express that you are sorry.
How do you pronounce it?
knerekʻ
Did you know?
- When asking for forgiveness in a deeply emotional or spiritual context, Armenians may use the word մեղք, which means 'sin', to describe the mistake they are sorry for.
- The word կներեք can function both as a way to say 'excuse me' to get attention and as a way to say 'I am sorry' for a mistake.
- In some dialects, especially in Western Armenian, the phrasing and pronunciation of apologies can differ slightly from the Eastern Armenian forms used in the Republic of Armenia.
Examples in context
- Ներիր, որ ստեցի քեզ։I'm sorry I lied to you.This sentence shows how to use the informal form ներիր to express regret for lying.Tatoeba #10716235 by vahanm, translation #2545912 by CK
- Կներեք, ես դա չհասկացա։Sorry, I didn't understand that.This sentence shows how to use the formal form կներեք to express that you did not understand.Tatoeba #13226635 by Proxima5, translation #12599150 by urro
- Կներես, զբաղված եմ եղել։Sorry, I was busy.This sentence shows how to use the informal form կներես to apologize for being busy.Tatoeba #13296290 by Proxima5, translation #2046682 by CK
- 59 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ani accidentally bumps into Artash in a crowded hallway.
- Անի AniԿներեք, ես պատահական էի հարվածել:Knereq, yes patahakan ei harvadel:Sorry, I hit you by accident.
- Արտաշ ArtashՈչինչ, ամեն ինչ լավ է:Vochninch, amen inch lav e:It's nothing, everything is fine.
- Անի AniՇնորհակալություն, որ հասկացաք:Shnorhakalutyun, vor haskatsaq:Thank you for understanding.
- Արտաշ ArtashԽնդրեմ, Անի, խնդիր չկա:Khndrem, Ani, khndir chka:You're welcome, Ani, no problem.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sorry” translations and entries ներողություն, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
