ինչ
inčʻ/int͡ʃʰ/
The English word "what" is translated into Armenian as ինչ (inčʻ).
The word ինչ is an interrogative pronoun. It can also function as a conjunction to introduce a subordinate clause.
Meaning: what? (interrogative pronoun) (pron)
Which one should you use?
The form ինչպիսի is used specifically to begin an exclamation. Additionally, if you want to ask about manner rather than an object, you would use the related word ինչպե՞ս (how).
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When you add the definite article -ը to the end, it becomes ինչը, which means "the thing that" or a specific "what".
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is inčʻ. The sound /i/ is like the [ea] in seat, but short in duration. The /n/ is like the [n] in nest. And the /tʃʰ/ is like the [ch] in chin.
Did you know?
- The word ինչ is a direct descendant of the Old Armenian word ինչ, meaning its core meaning has remained stable for over a millennium.
- In Armenian, the word ինչ can be used as an exclamation of disbelief or surprise, similar to how an English speaker might shout 'What!' when they cannot believe what they have just heard.
- When asking 'What?' in a casual setting, Armenians often use the word ինչ with a rising intonation and a specific facial expression to signal that they didn't hear the speaker, rather than actually seeking new information.
Examples in context
- Ահա թե ինչ իմացա։Here's what I learned.This sentence shows the use of ինչ as a conjunction meaning "what".Tatoeba #13180512 by Proxima5, translation #5759259 by CK
- Ինչի՞ն է դա գալիս:What does it come to?Tatoeba #12412918 by Proxima5, translation #11170560 by CK
- Չգիտե՞ս՝ դա ինչ է։Don't you know what that is?This sentence uses ինչ to introduce a subordinate clause within a question.Tatoeba #13331041 by Proxima5, translation #6788302 by CK
- Ինչու դու ես այստեղ։Why are you here?
- 905 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Artash and Ani are talking about a package that arrived.
- Արտաշ ArtashԻնչ է սա-ն?Inch e sa-n?What is this?
- Անի AniԴա իմ նոր գիրքն է։Da im nor girk’n e.That is my new book.
- Արտաշ ArtashԻնչի՞ մասին է գիրքը։Inchi՞ masin e girk’y.What is the book about?
- Անի AniԱյն պատմություն է արվեստի մասին։Ayn patmut’yun e arvesti masin.It is a history of art.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “what” translations and entries ինչ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ինչ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
