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Unit 16 · զ, ժ, շ and ռ · Meet

զ, ժ, շ and ռ

Distinguish z, zh, sh and the rolled r.

About this unit

Hissing sounds come in pairs: the second one buzzes. The rolled ռ completes the two r sounds.

  • զbasket
    throat buzzes
    զամբյուղ · basket
  • ժclock / hour
    throat buzzes
    ժամ · clock / hour
  • շdog
    air rubs, no buzz
    շուն · dog
  • ռradio
    rolled
    ռադիո · radio

In զրո you hear a short helping vowel, zəro. It is not written.

More words to read

zero

զրո

zero
Reading tips

Pair ս with զ: the second has voice. Pair շ with ժ the same way. Watch the shape as well as the sound.

Armenian distinguishes ր and ռ. Both use the tongue near the ridge behind the upper teeth, but ռ has the stronger trill.

Listen to զրո. A short helping vowel makes the first consonant group easier to say. Read what is printed; do not insert an extra ը when writing it.

Reading practice

Hiss or buzz: s and z

Listen to both models. Then: which one is the mystery sound?

Listen first

hissing s
buzzing z
Mystery sound

Hiss or buzz: s and z

Listen to both models. Then: which one is the mystery sound?

Listen first

hissing s
buzzing z
Mystery sound

Hiss or buzz: sh and zh

Listen to both models. Then: which one is the mystery sound?

Listen first

hissing sh
buzzing zh
Mystery sound

Hiss or buzz: sh and zh

Listen to both models. Then: which one is the mystery sound?

Listen first

hissing sh
buzzing zh
Mystery sound

Tap or roll

Listen to both models. Then: which one is the mystery sound?

Listen first

short tap
rolled r
Mystery sound

Tap or roll

Listen to both models. Then: which one is the mystery sound?

Listen first

short tap
rolled r
Mystery sound

Letters in words

Match each letter to the highlighted letter.

Find the sound

Match the sounds to the letters.

Read with support

Match the words to their pictures.

Read with support

Match the words to their pictures.

Read without a sound cue

Match the words to their pictures.

Read without a sound cue

Match the words to their pictures.

Sound to spelling

Listen. Choose the spelling.

Spelling to sound

Read the word. Choose its sound.

շուն

Sound to spelling

Listen. Choose the spelling.

Hear the trained contrast

Listen to the practice syllable. Choose its spelling.

Build the word

Listen and build the word in typing order.

clock / hour

Build the word

Listen and build the word in typing order.

dog

Build the word

Listen and build the word in typing order.

basket

Recall the spelling

Listen and build the word without its picture.

Recall the spelling

Listen and build the word without its picture.

Recall the spelling

Listen and build the word without its picture.

Finish practice to save this unit.

You can read and write this

Distinguish z, zh, sh and the rolled r.

Next unit
clock / hour

ժամ

clock / hour
dog

շուն

dog
basket

զամբյուղ

basket
zero

զրո

zero
radio

ռադիո

radio
Use a Armenian keyboard

On your phone, add Armenian in Settings → Languages or Keyboards. On a computer, add an Armenian input language in the operating system settings.

Use the on-screen letters whenever you prefer. The ու key inserts its two written characters together; spaces and punctuation have their own keys.

All letters

Ա ա
i

a. Open a, as in father.

մ
i

m. In lowercase մ, the tall stroke is on the right.

ն
i

n. In lowercase ն, the tall stroke is on the left; compare it with մ.

Ի ի
i

i. A clear ee sound.

Ու ու
i

Capital form: Ու. In an ALL-CAPITAL word, write ՈՒ: the second part becomes Ւ. Both forms spell u.

է
i

e. A clear e, as in bed.

ըshort ə, as in “about”
i

ə. A short neutral vowel, like the first sound of about.

Լ լ
i

l

Ս ս
i

s

հ
i

h

յ
i

y. The consonant y of yes, not the vowel in my.

Վ վ
i

v

Ր րone quick tap
i

ր is a brief tongue tap. The isolated recording includes a short helping vowel; that vowel is separate from the consonant. Compare the stronger rolled ռ, and listen to ր inside the words below.

արևսար
Օ օ
i

o. A plain o vowel, including at the start.

Ֆ ֆ
i

f. Often in borrowed words.

ե
i

At the start of a word, ե usually sounds ye, as in ես. Inside a word it sounds e, as in մեր.

եսմերInside a word: e in մեր · մեր
Ո ո
i

At the start of a word, ո usually sounds vo, as in որ. Inside a word it sounds o, as in տոմս. ով (who) is an exception: it begins with plain o.

որտոմսովInside a word: o in տոմս · տոմս
և
i

և is a joined letter (a ligature), spelling the sequence e + v, not one consonant. It sounds yev at word start and ev inside a word, as in արև. Its capital spelling Եվ uses two letters; all capitals use ԵՎ.

ևարևInside a word: ev in բարև · բարև
բthroat buzzes
i

b. Voiced b.

պno puff of air
i

p. Plain p, with little breath.

Փ փpuff of air
i

pʰ. p with a puff of air.

դthroat buzzes
i

d. Voiced d.

Տ տno puff of air
i

t. Plain t, with little breath.

թpuff of air
i

tʰ. t with a puff of air; never English th.

գthroat buzzes
i

g. Voiced g, always hard.

կno puff of air
i

k. Plain k, little breath.

Ք քpuff of air
i

kʰ. k with a puff.

Խ խair rubs, no buzz
i

kh / x. Friction like ch in Scottish loch.

ղthroat buzzes
i

gh / ʁ. Voiced back-of-mouth friction; not g + h.

զthroat buzzes
i

z

ժthroat buzzes
i

zh / ʒ. The middle sound in measure.

շair rubs, no buzz
i

sh / ʃ. As in ship.

ռrolled
i

rolled r. A stronger rolled r; compare the short tap ր.

ձthroat buzzes
i

dz. Voiced d + z released as one joined sound.

Ծ ծno puff of air
i

ts. Plain ts, little breath.

Ց ցpuff of air
i

tsʰ. ts with a puff.

ջthroat buzzes
i

j / dʒ. Voiced, as in jam.

ճno puff of air
i

ch / tʃ. Plain ch, little breath.

չpuff of air
i

chʰ / tʃʰ. ch with a puff.