Martial Arts

1. Կարո՞ղ եմ մեկ մարզման մասնակցել։

   Karogh em mek marzman masnaktsel?

   Can I take part in a single training session?

   Usage

   Wrestling, judo and sambo clubs in Yerevan work mainly on monthly registration and rarely have a formal drop-in system, but if you explain you are visiting they will almost always let you train once. This is the line to open with

   Grammar Note

   The Armenian question mark "՞" sits over the last vowel of the questioned word rather than at the end of the sentence ("karogh" becomes "karo՞gh"). The sentence closes with "։", which is not a Latin colon

2. Կարո՞ղ եմ մարզումը դիտել։

   Karogh em marzumy ditel?

   May I watch the training session?

   Usage

   Armenian sports clubs are relaxed about spectators and will rarely refuse. Children's groups usually train from around 16:00 to 18:00 and adults from 19:00. Shoes are never worn on the mats, so do not step onto them even as a visitor

   Grammar Note

   The definite article is a suffix: "-y" after a consonant and "-n" after a vowel, so "marzum" becomes "marzumy". Armenian attaches it to the end of the word, the opposite of English

3. Ձեռնոցներ վարձո՞վ եք տալիս։

   Dzernotsner vardzov ek talis?

   Do you rent out gloves?

   Usage

   "Dzernots" means glove. Boxing and kickboxing gyms in Yerevan usually keep spare pairs, but not always, so ask first. Hand wraps ("virakap") are generally sold rather than rented for hygiene reasons, and wrestling shoes are your own responsibility

   Grammar Note

   The present tense is analytic: a participle in "-um" or "-is" plus an auxiliary. "Vardzov" is the instrumental of "vardz" (fee), giving the pair "vardzov tal" (to rent out) and "vardzov vertsnel" (to rent)

4. Ես սկսնակ եմ, առաջին անգամն է։

   Yes sksnak em, arajin angamn e.

   I am a beginner, this is my first time.

   Usage

   Armenian clubs revolve around athletes who started as children and post no skill levels, so unless you say something you will be paired with experienced players. Tell both the desk and the coach and they will start you on breakfalls and basic grips

   Grammar Note

   Armenian has no grammatical gender, so the sentence is identical for male and female speakers. "E" is the third-person copula, and the definite article takes the "-n" form here, giving "angamn"

5. Խնդրում եմ, ավելի մեղմ։

   Khndrum em, aveli meghm.

   A bit gentler, please.

   Usage

   The shortest way to ask for lower intensity in grappling or striking drills. Armenian athletes come out of a strong wrestling and weightlifting tradition and hit hard, so a visiting beginner should not hesitate. To ask for the opposite, say "aveli uzhegh" (harder)

   Grammar Note

   The comparative is simply "aveli" plus the adjective. "Khndrum em" is a full verb meaning "I request" and can be placed either before or after what you are asking for

6. Ծունկս ցավում է, ոտքով հարվածներ չեմ կարող։

   Tsunks tsavum e, votkov harvatsner chem karogh.

   My knee hurts, so I cannot do kicks.

   Usage

   Say this before training starts. Armenian clubs use no intake form, so speaking up is the only way to flag an injury. Swap "tsunk" (knee) for "us" (shoulder), "mejk" (back) or "koch" (ankle)

   Grammar Note

   Possession can be marked by a suffix: "-s" for my, "-d" for your, so "tsunk" becomes "tsunks". Negation attaches "ch-" to the auxiliary, turning "em" into "chem"

7. Ամսական վճարը որքա՞ն է։

   Amsakan vchary vorkan e?

   How much is the monthly fee?

   Usage

   Yerevan clubs generally charge monthly, roughly 10,000-25,000 dram. Where a one-off visit is allowed it usually costs around 2,000-4,000 dram; to ask specifically, say "mek marzman arzheky vorkan e?". State sports schools mainly serve children, so adult visitors do better at private gyms

   Grammar Note

   Marking "vorkan" with "՞" shows it is the focus of the question. The price frame is fixed as "... -y vorka՞n e", so you only need to swap the subject

8. Կանանց համար առանձին խումբ ունե՞ք։

   Kanants hamar arandzin khumb unek?

   Do you have a separate group for women?

   Usage

   Combat sports in Armenia have long been male-dominated, but gyms in Yerevan increasingly run women's classes and self-defence courses ("inknapashtpanutyun"). Some clubs have female coaches, so it is worth asking in advance if that matters to you

   Grammar Note

   The postposition "hamar" (for) follows a noun in the genitive. The genitive plural of "kin" (woman) is irregular: "kanants"

9. Մարզումների ժամանակացույցը որտե՞ղ կարող եմ տեսնել։

   Marzumneri zhamanakatsuytsy vortegh karogh em tesnel?

   Where can I see the training schedule?

   Usage

   Armenian clubs usually post the timetable on a printed sheet by the desk or on Facebook and Instagram; many have no website. Sessions can be cancelled during competition season or on Armenian Apostolic Church holidays, so check on the day

   Grammar Note

   Plurals take "-ner" on polysyllabic words and "-er" on monosyllables; adding the genitive "-i" gives "-neri". "Zhamanakatsuyts" is a compound of "time" plus "indicator"

10. Այստեղ կոխ սովորեցնո՞ւմ եք։

    Aystegh kokh sovoretsnum ek?

    Do you teach kokh, Armenian wrestling, here?

    Usage

    "Kokh" is Armenian traditional standing wrestling, in which the wrestlers grip the jacket and throw. Regional styles differ — Lori and Shirak among them — and the ceremonial form still opens with a dance to duduk and dhol accompaniment. Ordinary modern clubs, though, mostly teach "ymbshamart" (wrestling), judo and sambo, so it is worth asking rather than assuming

    Grammar Note

    Adding the causative infix "-etsn-" to "sovorel" (to learn) gives "sovoretsnel" (to teach). The digraph "ու" spells a single vowel, so the question mark goes between the two letters as "ո՞ւ"

11. Ըմբշամարտի մրցաշար որտե՞ղ կարող եմ տեսնել։

    Ymbshamarti mrtsashar vortegh karogh em tesnel?

    Where can I watch a wrestling tournament?

    Usage

    Armenia has built its Olympic medal record on wrestling and weightlifting, and domestic tournaments run regularly at Yerevan sports halls, often with free entry. Kokh appears less as competition than as a demonstration at regional festivals and cultural events, which is the easiest way for a visitor to see it

    Grammar Note

    "Ymbshamart" is a compound meaning "grappling combat" and covers wrestling generally. The same element "-mart" (combat) builds "tsanramart" (weightlifting) and "brntskamart" (boxing)

12. Այս հնարքը կրկին ցույց տվեք, խնդրում եմ։

    Ays hnarky krkin tsuyts tvek, khndrum em.

    Please show me that technique once more.

    Usage

    Many Armenian coaches speak Russian rather than English, so having this line in Armenian is genuinely useful — and asking in the local language goes down well. Add "dandagh" (slowly) and they will break the movement down

    Grammar Note

    "Tsuyts tal" (to show) is a compound of "sign" plus "to give", and only the second part inflects in the imperative: "tur" to one person you know well, "tvek" as the polite form

13. Ե՞րբ կկարողանամ սպարինգի մասնակցել։

    Yerb kkaroghanam sparingi masnaktsel?

    When will I be able to join the sparring?

    Usage

    Sparring carries injury risk, so Armenian clubs gate it behind the coach's approval. In wrestling and judo the test is whether you can break-fall safely; until then you will be kept on basic grip work. Let the coach decide rather than pushing to join

    Grammar Note

    The future is formed by prefixing "k-" to the verb, turning "karoghanam" into "kkaroghanam". "Masnaktsel" governs a dative object, so "sparing" becomes "sparingi"

14. Ցնցուղ և հանդերձարան կա՞։

    Tsntsugh yev handerdzaran ka?

    Is there a shower and a changing room?

    Usage

    Older Armenian sports halls may have no working shower, or no hot water. Bring your own towel and sandals. The mat room is a shoes-off area, and people wear indoor shoes or sandals between the changing room and the mat

    Grammar Note

    "Ka" is the invariable existential verb "there is". The character "և" is a ligature of "ե" and "ւ" unique to the Armenian script. The suffix "-aran" derives place nouns: "handerdz" (clothing) gives "handerdzaran" (changing room)

15. Ձեռքերը վեր, նայիր հակառակորդի աչքերին։

    Dzerkery ver, nayir hakarakordi achkerin.

    Hands up, look your opponent in the eyes.

    Usage

    Said by the coach. One of the most frequent cues just before engaging or during striking drills. Armenian coaches call out short, forceful commands — there is nothing rude about it, and it is often clipped to a single "dzerkery!"

    Grammar Note

    The imperative ends in "-ir" for the familiar form and "-ek" for the polite or plural ("nayir" / "nayek"). "Nayel" takes a dative object, so "achker" becomes "achkerin". "Dzerkery ver" is a verbless command

16. Հարվածիր ամբողջ ուժով, մի՛ խնայիր։

    Harvatsir amboghj uzhov, mi khnayir.

    Hit with all your strength, do not hold back.

    Usage

    Said by the coach. The standard call when the coach on the pads wants full power, and also a signal that you may hit at full force. If instead you hear "hangist" (easy, relax), you are tensing up too much

    Grammar Note

    A prohibition is "mi" plus the imperative, and standard orthography puts the emphasis mark "՛" over "mi". "Uzhov" is the instrumental of "uzh" (strength), meaning "by means of"

17. Հինգ րոպե ընդմիջում, ջուր խմեք։

    Hing rope yndmijum, jur khmek.

    Five-minute break, drink some water.

    Usage

    Said by the coach. Armenian sports halls have no air conditioning and Yerevan tops 35 degrees in summer, so water breaks are called between rounds. Bring your own bottle — Yerevan has free drinking fountains ("pulpulak") all over the city where you can refill

    Grammar Note

    Addressing the whole class takes the plural imperative "khmek" (to one person, "khmir"). After a numeral the noun stays singular — you do not say "ropener"

18. Այսօրվա համար բավական է։ Ապրե՛ս։

    Aysorva hamar bavakan e. Apres.

    That is enough for today. Well done!

    Usage

    Said by the coach to wrap up the session, usually followed by handshakes all round. Reply with "shnorhakalutyun" (thank you). Armenian clubs have no tipping culture, but being invited for coffee afterwards is common

    Grammar Note

    "Apres" is the subjunctive of "aprel" (to live) — literally "may you live" — but functions as a set expression of praise. The exclamation mark "՛" is written over the final vowel

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