Language/Armenian/Vocabulary/Armenian-Idioms

Armenian Idioms

Absolutely! Let's dive into the world of Armenian idioms. These expressions, although may seem odd when directly translated, reveal significant cultural insights and rich storytelling traditions of Armenia. They are not just words but small capsules of wisdom and humor, which are an integral part of Armenian daily conversations. So, let's unravel these linguistic gems and explore the vibrant and fascinating world of Armenian idioms!

Interesting Idioms in Armenian

Literal translation	Idiom in Armenian	Meaning
(of something) to come of hands	ինչ-որ բան ձեռքից գալ	to be able to do something (usually of manual work) ձեռք առնել
(of something) to come of hands	ինչ-որ բան ձեռքից գալ	to be able to do something (usually of manual work)
get off the water dry	ջրից չոր դուրս գալ	to avoid trouble, to get off the hook
nail head	մեխի գլուխ	an unimportant person
someone's luck brings (goods) for one	ինչ-որ մեկի բախտը բերել	to be lucky
the head works	գլուխն աշխատել	to be smart
to be a game and dance	խաղ ու պար լինել	to be easy (for someone to do something)
to be guilty with leg to head	ոտքով-գլխով մեղավոր լինել	to be fully, clearly guilty
to bend the neck in front of someone	մեկի առաջ վիզ ծռել	to ask someone, to make a request
to bend the neck in front of someone	մեկի առաջ վիզ ծռել	to ask someone, to make a request
to buy hand	ձեռք առնել	to tease
to cut the voice	ձայնը կտրել	to shut up
to eat each others flesh	իրար միս ուտել	to fight each other, squabble
to fall on head	գլխի ընկնել	to figure out, to guess, to understand
to fall on head	գլխի ընկնել	to figure out, to guess, to understand
to gain face	երես առնել	to get spoiled
to get into its own path (for a process)	հունի մեջ ընկնել	to get normalized
to get into its own path	հունի մեջ ընկնել	(for a process) to get normalized
to hang from a hair	մազից կախված լինել	to be in a dangerous situation, to be on the verge of loss
to hang from a hair	մազից կախված լինել	to be in a dangerous situation, to be on the verge
to hang the nose	քիթը կախել	to act offended, to be offended
to hang the nose	քիթը կախել	to act offended, to be offended
to have holes on the mouth	ծակ բերան լինել	to be someone who talks a lot, who engages in rumors a lot
to have holes on the mouth	ծակ բերան լինել	to be someone who talks a lot, who engages in rumors a lot
to iron someone’s head	գլուխ հարթուկել	to fool, to brainwash
to iron someone’s head	գլուխ հարթուկել	to fool, to brainwash
to lack space for dropping a niddle	ասեղ գցելու տեղ չլինել	to be very crowded
to lack space for placing the foot	ոտք դնելու տեղ չլինել	to be very crowded
to make water murky	ջուրը պղտորել	to stir confusion especially in human relations
to make water murky	of loss ջուրը պղտորել	to stir confusion especially in human relations ձայնը կտրել to cut the voice to shut up
to measure with one’s own yards	սեփական արշինով չափել	to judge others by yourself, to project one’s own values on others
to measure with one’s own yards	սեփական արշինով չափել	to judge others by yourself, to project one’s own values on others
to plant, to erect the nose	քիթը տնկել	to act arrogantly
to plant, to erect the nose	քիթը տնկել	to act arrogantly
to play with fire	կրակի հետ խաղալ	to do something dangerous
to play with fire	կրակի հետ խաղալ	to do something dangerous
to pretend to be stupid	իրեն հիմարի տեղ դնել	to pretend not to understand facts that are not beneficial to one.
to pretend to be stupid	իրեն հիմարի տեղ դնել	to pretend not to understand facts that are not beneficial to one.
to pretent not to listen	չլսելուն տալ	to act as if one has not heard something that is not beneficial to one
to pretent not to listen	չլսելուն տալ	to act as if one has not heard something that is not beneficial to one
to spill oil on fire	կրակին յուղ լցնել	to aggravate the problem
to spill oil on fire	կրակին յուղ լցնել	to aggravate the problem
to stick the nose into something	քիթը խոթել	to be too curious
to stick the nose into something	քիթը խոթել	to be too curious
to strike with an eye	աչքով տալ	to bring bad luck onto something (usually by seeing it)
to strike with an eye	աչքով տալ	to bring bad luck onto something (usually by seeing it)
to take someone’s mind out	մեկին խելքահան անել	to make someone crazy (about something)
to take someone’s mind out	մեկին խելքահան անել	to make someone crazy (about something)
with foot and head	ոտքով-գլխով	fully, totally

Sources

https://slaviccenters.duke.edu/sites/slaviccenters.duke.edu/files/handbook_of_armenian.pdf

Other Lessons

• Time
• Colors gowyner գույներ
• Days of the week
• Food
• Introduce Yourself Ինչպես ներկայանալ
• Nature
• Body
• Farewell Հրաժեշտի արտահայտություններ
• Frequently Used Verbs
• Count from 1 to 10