Order anything by pointing in Armenian
I would like, this one, how much, the bill: survive any counter or menu. Play the ten Armenian words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 11 Armenian phrases in this lesson
- Ես կուզեի...yes koo-ZE-ee
- I would like...
- Այս մեկըays ME-kuh
- This one
- Որքա՞ն արժեvor-KAN ar-ZHE
- How much is it?
- Հաշիվը, խնդրեմha-SHEE-vuh, khun-DREM
- The bill, please
- Քարտովkar-TOV
- By card
- Կանխիկkan-KHEEK
- In cash
- Ջուրjoor
- Water
- Սուրճsoorch
- Coffee
- Թեյtey
- Tea
- Գարեջուրga-re-JOOR
- Beer
- Առանց...a-RANTS
- Without...
The polite conditional: "ես կուզեի մեկ սուրճ" (yes koo-ZE-ee mek soorch), I would like a coffee.
Point and say it. Adding "խնդրեմ" (khun-DREM) is polite.
The question mark with the raised circle (՞) is the Armenian interrogative mark placed on the stressed syllable. Useful before ordering to avoid surprises. Menus in tourist areas often lack prices.
Hailing a waiter with a scribbling gesture also works everywhere. Tipping around 10 percent is now expected in Yerevan restaurants, though it is less common in smaller towns.
Card payment is widely accepted in Yerevan cafes and shops, less so in small towns and markets. The suffix -ov means "by means of," so քարտ (card) becomes քարտով (by card).
Always carry some cash outside Yerevan. Small vendors, marshrutka minibuses, and rural guesthouses typically only accept կանխիկ. ATMs are plentiful in the capital but rare in villages.
Armenian tap water in Yerevan is generally safe to drink and comes from mountain springs. Bottled water is cheap and widely available. Specify սառը ջուր (sa-RUH joor) for cold water.
Armenian coffee is boiled in a small pot, like Turkish coffee, and served strong.
Local draft beer is cheap. For a toast, brandy and wine come out more often than beer.
"Առանց շաքարի" (a-RANTS sha-ka-REE), without sugar.