ժամանակ
žamanak/ʒɑmɑˈnɑk/
The Armenian word for time is ժամանակ (žamanak).
ժամանակ is used to refer to time as a measurement of a quantity of time.
Meaning: measurement of a quantity of time (noun)
Which one should you use?
While ժամանակ means 'time' as a general concept or duration, it is distinct from ժամ (žam), which specifically means 'hour'.
How does it change in a sentence?
You can modify the form of ժամանակ to change its grammatical function. Adding the suffix –ը results in ժամանակը, which means 'the time'. To express the plural 'times', use ժամանակներ. To indicate possession or the phrase 'of time', use the genitive form ժամանակի.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is žamanak. The pronunciation is /ʒɑmɑˈnɑk/. For the sounds, the [ɑ] is like the 'a' in l[a]va, the [m] is like the 'm' in [m]ine, the [n] is like the 'n' in [n]est and the [k] is like the 'c' in s[c]an.
Did you know?
- In Armenian culture, the concept of 'time' is often expressed through the word ժամանակ, but when referring to a specific 'era' or 'period', ժամանակաշրջան is used, meaning 'time-circle'.
- In Armenian, if you want to say 'once upon a time', you do not use the word for 'time' at all, but rather the phrase մի անգամ, which literally means 'one time' using the word for 'occurrence'.
- Armenian has a specific way of talking about 'time' in a spiritual sense, often using ժամ to refer to the designated hours of prayer in the church.
Examples in context
- Ես շատ ժամանակ չունեմ։I do not have much time.This sentence demonstrates the use of ժամանակ to express having much time.Tatoeba #10715376 by vahanm, translation #67688 by CK
- Մի՛ վատնեք ձեր ժամանակը։Don't waste your time!This sentence shows the use of ժամանակ when advising someone not to waste time.Tatoeba #13194566 by Proxima5, translation #9143925 by Ergulis
- Նա վատնում է իր ժամանակը:He's wasting his time.This sentence uses ժամանակ to describe someone wasting their time.Tatoeba #12937441 by Proxima5, translation #7386839 by CH
- 111 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ani and Aram are discussing a project deadline.
- Անի AniՄենք ունե՞նք ժամանակ ավարտելու համար:Menk unenknk zhamanak avartelu hamar?Do we have time to finish?
- Արամ AramՈչ, ժամանակը շատ քիչ է:Voch, zhamanaky shat kich e:No, the time is very short.
- Անի AniԱրամ, մեզ պետք է ավելի շատ ժամանակ:Aram, mez petk e aveli shat zhamanak:Aram, we need more time.
- Արամ AramԵս կփորձեմ ժամանակ գտնել:Yes kphordzem zhamanak gtnel:I will try to find time.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “time” translations and entries ժամանակ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
