Ways to say it
| Armenian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| շնորհակալություն | šnorhakalutʻyun | /ʃ(ə)noɾ(h)ɑkɑluˈtʰjun/ (Eastern Armenian) /ʃənoɾ(h)ɑɡɑluˈtʏn/ (Western Armenian) |
| շնորհակալ եմ | šnorhakal em | /ʃ(ə)noɾɑˈkɑl em/ (Eastern Armenian) /ʃənoɾɑˈɡɑl em/ (Western Armenian) |
| մերսի | mersi | /meɾˈsi/ (Eastern Armenian) /meɾˈsi/ (Western Armenian) |
The primary ways to express gratitude in Armenian involve using the noun for "gratitude" or the phrase "I am grateful".
What does it mean word for word?
The noun շնորհակալություն (šnorhakalutʻyun) literally means "gratitude".
Which one should you use?
While շնորհակալություն is a noun used as a standalone interjection for "thank you", the phrase շնորհակալ եմ (šnorhakal em) is a more complete way to say "I thank you", literally meaning "I am grateful".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
շնորհակալություն is a formal way to say thank you. շնորհակալ եմ is more formal and complete than the single noun. In contrast, մերսի (mersi) is a colloquial, borrowed form used in casual settings among friends and family.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is šnorhakalutʻyun. The sounds are: [sh] as in [sh]ip, [ə] as in [a]gain, [n] as in [n]est, [h] as in [h]ot, [ɑ] as in l[a]va, [k] as in s[c]an, [l] as in [l]ace, [u] as in c[oo]l, [tʰ] as in [t]op and [j] as in [y]es.
Did you know?
- The use of մերսի in Armenia was popularized by Western Armenian repatriates who moved to the Armenian SSR between 1946 and 1948.
- The word շնորհակալ is derived from roots meaning 'grace' or 'favor', making the act of thanking someone a recognition of the grace they have shown.
Examples in context
- Շնորհակալ եմ նվերի համար:Thank you for the present.This sentence is useful for thanking someone for a present using շնորհակալ եմ.Tatoeba #13397493 by Proxima5, translation #274353 by CK
- Շնորհակալ եմ սուրճի համար:Thank you for the coffee.This sentence is useful for thanking someone for coffee using շնորհակալ եմ.Tatoeba #13079736 by Proxima5, translation #2645021 by CK
- Ա՜խ, շնորհակալ եմ, սիրելիս։Ah, I thank you, my dear.This sentence is useful for expressing thanks to a dear person using շնորհակալ եմ.Tatoeba #13220555 by Proxima5, translation #1807904 by Ameer
- 32 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ani is thanking Tigran for his help with her bags.
- Անի AniՇնորհակալություն օգնության համար, Տիգրան:Shnorhakalutyun ognutyan hamar, Tigran:Thank you for the help, Tigran.
- Տիգրան TigranԽնդրեմ, Անի ջան:Khndrem, Ani jan:You're welcome, dear Ani.
- Անի AniԴու շատ բարի ես:Du shat bari es:You are very kind.
- Տիգրան TigranՈչնչի, սիրով:Vochnchi, sirov:It was nothing, with pleasure.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “thank you” translations and entries շնորհակալություն, շնորհակալ եմ, մերսի, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries եմ, մերսի, շնորհակալ, շնորհակալություն, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
