Animals

1. Շուն

   Shun

   Dog

   Usage

   Yerevan has strays too. "Shuny ktsets indz" means a dog bit me

2. Կատու

   Katu

   Cat

   Usage

   Common in courtyards and on cafe terraces

3. Թռչուն

   Trchun

   Bird

   Usage

   Birds in general. ռ is a strongly trilled r

4. Ձուկ

   Dzuk

   Fish

   Usage

   Also a menu word; the Sevan trout, ishkhan, is an Armenian speciality

5. Ձի

   Dzi

   Horse

   Usage

   Riding tours run from mountain villages. ձ is a voiced "dz"

6. Կով

   Kov

   Cow

   Usage

   Cows walk on rural roads as a matter of course — worth knowing if you drive

7. Խոզ

   Khoz

   Pig

   Usage

   If you avoid pork, show this with «voch» (no). Applied to a person it is an insult, so keep it literal

8. Հավ

   Hav

   Chicken / hen

   Usage

   Also the menu word; "havi mis" is chicken meat

9. Բադ

   Bad

   Duck

   Usage

   Seen on lakes and ponds; also useful when asking what a duvet is filled with

10. Այծ

    Ayts

    Goat

    Usage

    Common on mountain slopes. ծ is an unaspirated "ts"

11. Ոչխար

    Vochkhar

    Sheep

    Usage

    Word-initial ո is "vo". Flocks cross the roads, and mutton, vochkhari mis, is a staple

12. Էշ

    Esh

    Donkey

    Usage

    Still a working animal in mountain villages. Applied to a person it is an insult, so keep it literal

13. Արջ

    Arj

    Bear

    Usage

    Brown bears live in the forests of Dilijan and Syunik — use it when asking whether hiking alone is advisable

14. Գայլ

    Gayl

    Wolf

    Usage

    A real concern on high pastures, which is what the gampr shepherd dogs guard against

15. Աղվես

    Aghves

    Fox

    Usage

    Seen at dusk in fields and on forest tracks. ղ is a voiced sound made at the back of the throat

16. Ճագար

    Chagar

    Rabbit

    Usage

    ճ is an unaspirated "ch". A wild hare may be called napastak instead

17. Մուկ

    Muk

    Mouse

    Usage

    Report one at the front desk; the bigger rat is arrnet

18. Առնետ

    Arnet

    Rat

    Usage

    Use it for a hygiene complaint. ռ is the trilled r

19. Օձ

    Odz

    Snake

    Usage

    You may meet one while hiking; venomous species exist, so seek medical help if bitten

20. Մողես

    Moghes

    Lizard

    Usage

    They sun themselves on monastery walls and basalt slopes, and are harmless

21. Գորտ

    Gort

    Frog

    Usage

    Heard by rivers and irrigation channels

22. Կրիա

    Kria

    Turtle / tortoise

    Usage

    Land tortoises live on the dry hills — watch your step

23. Չղջիկ

    Chghjik

    Bat

    Usage

    Comes up on cave tours such as the Areni caves

24. Մոծակ

    Motsak

    Mosquito

    Usage

    Essential in summer on the Ararat plain and by rivers — show it at a pharmacy to get repellent

25. Ուտիճ

    Utich

    Cockroach

    Usage

    Report one at the front desk. Never apply it to a person — it is an insult

26. Մրջյուն

    Mrjyun

    Ant

    Usage

    They find food on terraces and in self-catering flats — use it when asking for a clean-up

27. Մեղու

    Meghu

    Bee

    Usage

    Armenian mountain honey, meghr, is a classic souvenir; also use it to report a sting allergy

28. Սարդ

    Sard

    Spider

    Usage

    Common in old stone guesthouses; dangerous species are rare

29. Թիթեռ

    Titer

    Butterfly

    Usage

    Seen in alpine meadows. The final ռ is a trilled r

30. Ճանճ

    Chanch

    Fly

    Usage

    They settle on food at outdoor tables — use it when asking for a cover

31. Արծիվ

    Artsiv

    Eagle

    Usage

    Seen circling over the gorges, and a bird that appears on Armenian heraldry

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