🇦🇲 Yerevan & Armenia Slang Dictionary

աբիժնիկ (Abijnik) Easily offended person, someone who holds grudges (from Russian "обидчик" - wrongdoer, but here meaning "обиженный" - offended one) Աբովյան (Abovyan) Abovyan Street (historic street in Yerevan, often pedestrianized) ախպեր (Akhper) Bro / brother / dude. A very casual form used between friends and in street conversation. ախպեր ջան (Akhper jan) Dear bro / my dear brother. Combines informal friendship with Armenian warmth. ախպերս (Akhpers) My bro / my brother. An affectionate informal way to address a close male friend. ախրանիկ (Akhranik) A bouncer or security guard at a club or venue. ամառ (amar) Summer անձրև (andzrev) Rain աշխատանք (Ashkhatank) Work, labor, employment. աշխարհ (Ashkharh) World (often used to express amazement, or the 'social scene') աշուն (ashun) Autumn/Fall աչքդ լույս (Achkd luis) Congratulations (literally "your eye light") ապե՛, հանգիստ (Ape, hangist) Bro, relax / take it easy. A casual way to tell someone to calm down. ապեր (Aper) Bro / brother (shortened from եղբայր/ապեր). ապրես (Apres) Bravo! / Well done! / Good job! Աջափնյակ (Ajapnyak) Ajapnyak District, a large residential district in western Yerevan արա (Ara) Hey man! / Dude! (Casual street call among close male friends; can sound rude to strangers). Արաբկիր (Arabkir) Arabkir District, a residential district in northern Yerevan բա (Ba) Well / So / Of course (common filler and soft agreement). բաստուրմա (basturma) Highly seasoned, air-dried cured beef բարև (Barev) Hello / Hi (Universal Armenian greeting). բոմբ (Bomb) Amazing, excellent, fantastic (from Russian "бомба" meaning bomb, used as "something explosive/great") բոմժ (Bomzh) Homeless person, tramp (from Russian "бомж" - Без Определённого Места Жительства) բուտիկ (Butik) A small boutique or clothing store. բրատ (Brat) Bro / brother. Russian-influenced Yerevan street slang used informally among friends. գաթա (gata) Traditional Armenian sweet bread or pastry գարուն (garun) Spring գետինն անցնել (Getinn antsnel) To pass into the ground (To be embarrassed, to wish the ground would swallow you) գլուխս տարար (Glukhs tarar) You took my head (You bothered me/drove me crazy) գորգ (Gorg) A traditional Armenian carpet or rug. գործ (Gorc) Work, business, task. ԳՈՒՄ-ի շուկա (GUM) A large indoor market in Yerevan, primarily for fresh produce and household goods. գրաֆիտի (Graffiti) Graffiti դավայ (Davay) Come on, let's go, alright (from Russian "давай") դե (De) Well / come on / so. A flexible conversational filler used to move a conversation along. դե լավ (De lav) Alright then / okay, fine. Often used to accept something or end a disagreement. դե հա, հասկացա (De ha, hasgatsa) Yeah, okay, I got it. A natural casual response when acknowledging what someone has explained. դուխ (Dukh) Spirit, courage, guts (from Russian 'dukh'). դրամ (Dram) Armenian currency unit (AMD). երաժշտություն (Erajshutyun) Music Երիտասարդական (Yeritasardakan) Yeritasardakan (Youth) Metro Station էշ մի սատկի (Esh mi satki) Don't die, donkey (Sarcastic, rude way of telling someone to stop complaining or being useless) Էվրիկա (Evrika) A well-known electronics store chain in Armenia. թեգ (Tag) Tag (stylized signature of a graffiti artist) ինչ ես ասում (Inch es asum) What are you saying? / What do you mean? Depending on tone, it can show surprise or disagreement. ինչ կա չկա (Inch ka chka) What's up? / What's going on? A casual way to ask how things are. լահմաջուն (lahmajun) Thin flatbread topped with minced meat and vegetables լավ (Lav) Okay / good / all right. A very common everyday word for agreement or acceptance. լուրջ ես ասում (Lurj es asum) Are you serious? / Are you really saying that? խաչքար (Khachkar) Khachkar (Armenian cross-stone) խորշակ (khorshak) Scorching, stifling heat (dry, intense, often windy heat) խորոված (khorovats) Armenian barbecue/grilled meat խուրջինդ տուր (Khurjint tur) Give me your bag/stuff (can imply "hand over your valuables" or "give me a share") կայֆ (Kaif) Pleasure, enjoyment, high (from Arabic/Turkish, via Russian "кайф") Կասկադ (Kaskad) The Cascade, a giant stairway in Yerevan city center Կասկադի համերգ (Cascadi hamerg) Cascade concert (referring to a concert held at the Cascade complex) կավե գործեր (Clay works) Clay works or clay pottery crafts sold in Yerevan. կաֆեշկա (Kafeshka) Small cafe/coffee shop (often cozy or informal) Կենտրոն (Kentron) Center District, the central administrative district of Yerevan Կիևյան (Kievyan) Kievyan Street (main street connecting Baghramyan to the Kievyan Bridge) կլաս (Klas) Class (can refer to a social group, or a level of quality, from Russian "класс") կրպակ (Krpak) Kiosk or small stand, often selling cigarettes, newspapers, snacks, or coffee. հա (Ha) Yes / Yeah (very common casual affirmative, more street than formal 'ayo'). հա բա (Ha ba) Of course! / Exactly! / Yeah, obviously. An emphatic casual agreement. հա բա, ապեր (Ha ba, aper) Of course, bro! / Exactly, bro! An emphatic friendly agreement. հա, ճիշտ ա (Ha, chisht a) Yeah, that's right / yes, true. հալալ (Halal) Lawful, permissible (often implying earned honestly or fairly). Հանրապետության Հրապարակ (Hanrapetutyan Hraparak) Republic Square, the central square of Yerevan հաջող (Hajogh) Good luck / take care / all the best. A casual way to wish someone well, especially when parting. հասկացա (Hasgatsa) Got it / I understood. հարուստ (Harust) Rich, wealthy. հոգիս հանեց (Hogis hanec) S/he took out my soul (S/he annoyed me greatly, exhausted me) հոպար (Hopar) Uncle / older male relative; also used respectfully or familiarly for an older man in some contexts. ձեռ առնել (Dzer arnel) To mock, to tease, to make fun of ձեռք բերել (Dzerk berel) To acquire, to obtain, to gain. ձմեռ (dzmer) Winter ճշտով ապեր (Chshtov aper) True bro! / For real brother! (Used when confirming an undeniable truth). Մալաթիա-Սեբաստիա (Malatia-Sebastia) Malatia-Sebastia District, a large residential district in western Yerevan, named after historic Armenian cities մանեթ (Manet) Coin, small change (old slang, derived from Russian 'moneta'). Մաշտոց (Mashtots) Mashtots Avenue (major avenue in Yerevan, named after Mesrop Mashtots) մատնաքաշ (matnakash) Traditional Armenian leavened bread with a distinctive hand-pressed pattern մարշրուտկա (marshrutka) Minibus (public transport) մետրո (metro) Subway/Metro մերսի (Mersi) Thanks! (Universal casual way to say thank you in Yerevan). Յանդեքս (Yandex) Yandex Taxi (ride-hailing service) Նոր Նորք (Nor Nork) Nor Nork District, a large residential district in eastern Yerevan Շենգավիթ (Shengavit) Shengavit District, a district in southwestern Yerevan շեֆ (Shef) Boss / chief. Informally used to address someone, not necessarily an actual manager. շոգ (shog) Hot (weather) շուկա (Shuka) Market (general term for any market, open-air or covered). շուստրի (Shustri) Quick, nimble, clever, shrewd (from Russian "шустрый") որմնանկար (Mural) A large mural or street painting on a building facade. չեմ հասկանում (Chem haskanum) I don't understand. չէ (Che) No / not. A very common casual negative response. չկա (Chka) There isn't / no / nothing. Common casual street phrasing for saying something is unavailable or absent. չկա խնդիր (Chka khndir) No problem / don't worry. չոտկի (Chotki) Cool, awesome, precise (from Russian "чёткий") չքավոր (Chkavor) Poor, destitute. պակա (Paka) Bye (informal, from Russian "пока") պայծառ (paytsar) Bright/Clear (weather, sunny) պաշոլ (Pashol) Get lost, go away (rude, from Russian "пошёл") պատվեր (Patver) Order (as in, placing an order for food or service) պոնչիկ (ponchik) Fried dough pastry, often filled with cream or jam (Armenian donut) ջազվե (jazzve) Small pot used for brewing Armenian/Turkish coffee ջան (Jan) Sweetheart / dear / soul. Added after any name (e.g., 'Arman jan') to show warmth and affection. ջուրը գցել (Jure gcel) To throw into the water (To mess things up, to ruin plans) ՍԱՍ (SAS) A popular supermarket chain in Armenia. Սասունցի Դավիթ (Sasuntsi Davit) Sasuntsi Davit (David of Sasun) Train Station, Yerevan's central railway station and surrounding area. սմոգ (smog) Smog սուպերմարկետ (Supermarket) Supermarket (general term). սուջուխ (sujukh) Dry, spicy fermented sausage սուրճ (Soortch) Coffee (iconic Armenian coffee ritual). սուրճ (surj) Coffee (specifically Armenian/Turkish style coffee) սպաս (spas) Traditional Armenian yogurt soup with herbs and groats վայ (Vay) Wow! / Oh! An emotional reaction to surprise, shock, or admiration. Վերնիսաժ (Vernissage) Open-air market in Yerevan, famous for arts, crafts, souvenirs, and jewelry. Վերնիսաժի նկարիչներ (Vernissage painters) Vernissage painters (artists selling their work at the Vernissage market) տարի (Tari) Year տաքսի (taksi) Taxi տոմս (Toms) Ticket տոնավաճառ (Tonavachar) Fair or bazaar, often seasonal or themed, selling various goods. տուսովկա (Tusovka) A party or gathering, popular local slang for a social event. ցավդ տանեմ (Tsavd tanem) I'll take your pain (expression of deep affection/empathy) ցավդ տանեմ (Tsavt tanem) Deeply affectionate phrase literally meaning 'Let me take your pain/trouble'. ցուրտ (tsurt) Cold (weather) փաբ (Pab) Pub փակ շուկա (Pak shuka) Covered market, often referring to the building of a large indoor market (like the old GUM market building). փող (Pogh) Money (informal, common street slang). փողոցային երաժիշտ (Busker) A street musician performing in Yerevan's public spaces. փողոցային կատարող (Street performer) A street performer, entertainer, or artist performing outdoors. քուչա (Qucha) Street / the street / street life. A colloquial Yerevan-style form associated with the street, neighborhood life, and informal urban culture. քուչի կռիվ (Quchi kriv) Street fight / street brawl. Literally 'fight of the street'; can also describe rough street-style confrontation.