IRANIAN CHARACTER OF THE ARMENIAN LANGUAGE I. Sample

IRANIAN CHARACTER OF THE ARMENIAN LANGUAGE
“Müller's view, that Armenian is Iranian, has not been disproved, and must be designated as the
best established and the prevailing one at present." Dr. Heinrich Hubschmann
Xenophon, an ancient Greek general serving in some of the Persian expeditions, describes many
aspects of Armenian village life and hospitality. He relates that the people spoke a language that
to his ear sounded like the language of the Persians. (Xenophon. Anabasis. pp. IV.v.2–9.)
Eminent scholars of the Armenian language such as the former chair of the Linguistics Department at University of
Texas, the late Dr. Winfred Lehman concede that Armenian may be an Iranian subgroup language. Moreover, obvious
similarities in vocabulary and structure between the languages are well known to bilingual speakers of Persian and
Armenian. This is a small sample word list intended to demonstrate the depth of similarity in even the oldest, most core and
basic Persian and Armenian words which cannot necessarily be categorized as “loan words.” In some cases, certain derivate
words are listed. In most cases, derivative words are not listed, as a complete listing of derivative words would number in
the several thousands. This is a relatively random sample. I refer you to the following essay by the linguist Heinrich
Hubschmann, ON THE POSITION OF ARMENIAN IN THE SPHERE OF THE INDO-EUROPEAN LANGUAGES
http://www.utexas.edu/cola/centers/lrc/books/read12.html.
It is an extensive discussion of this very issue. Though ultimately Dr. Hubschmann’s findings as to the Iranian
character of the Armenian language are inconclusive, Hubschmann states unequivocally: “Müller's view, that Armenian is
Iranian, has not been disproved, and must be designated as the best established and the prevailing one at present."
I. Sample Word List *
Persian
Old Persian
Armenian
TIME AND EXPRESSIONS OF TIME, AGE
1. Zaman (time)
Zamanag
Zhamanak (time) ժամանակ
2. Zaman (time)
Zamanag
Zham (hour) ժամ
3. Zaman (time)
Zamanag
Zhamanel (to arrive)
4. Vaght (time)
Vaght (time)
5. Hengam (moment)
Angam Անգամ
hangamank հանգամանք (circumstance)
6. Hengam (moment)
7. Hengam (moment)
հանգամանք ժամանակին — actual state of things
8. Hengam (moment)
ստիպողական հանգամանք — emergency
9. Zood (soon)
Shoot (soon)
10. Hamishe (always)
Hamishag
Misht (always)
11. Javan (Young)
Jahel Jivan
12. Han (Middle Persian – old)
Hin հին
13. No (new)
Nor
Wordlist Compiled By David M. Taba, Esq. Copyright 2011 davidtaba@gmail.com
1
COLORS
14. Sepid (white)
15. Sia (black)
16. Kabood (blue)
17. Narenji (orange)
18. Banafsheh (violet)
19. N/A
20. N/A
21. Zard (yellow)
22. Goon (type)
23. Rang (color)
24. Rang (color)
Sepidag
Siav
nārang
Vanashak
Charmak (white)
Karmir (red)
Spitag (white)
Sev (black)
Kapooyt (blue)
Narenj (orange)
մանուշակ Manooshag
Jermak (white)
karmīr (red)
zartagoyn (saffron colored)
Gooyn (color) գոյն
Rang (type) ռանգ
Yerang (color, dye)
EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION
25. Naameh (letter)
Naamag
նամակ (namak) Naamag
26. Pasokh/sokhan (answer) Patsokhan
Patashkhan պատասխանի
27. Neshan (sign, to show)
Nshan (sign)
28. Neshan (sign, to show)
Nshanakoom (meaning/definition)
29. Manand (likeness)
Nman (likeness)
30. Nemane (example)
Nman/Nmoosh
31. Matyan/Matikan (Book) (Old Persian)
մատյան (matyan) (Journal)
32. Paygham (message)
Paygam
patgam (message)
33. Farhang
Frahang
hrahang (instruction)
34. Negar (look)
Nkar (picture)
35. Negarestan (Museam / Portrait Gallery)
Nkar (picture)
36. Zang (to call, ring, bell)
Zang (to call, ring, bell)
37. Dabir (scribe, secretary) Dipir
Dpir դպիր (chancellor)
38. Dabir
Dipir Hrovartagatz Dpir հրովարտակաց դպիր - secretary of State
39. Dabestan/Dabirestan (school/highschool)
Dbrotz (school)
40. Medad (Pencil)
Matit
41. Shagerd (student)
Ashagert
42. Dars (Lesson)
Das
Wordlist Compiled By David M. Taba, Esq. Copyright 2011 davidtaba@gmail.com
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LAW, GOVERNMENT, AND ADMINISTRATION
43. Divan (archives, registry)
Divan դիվան / Dvin*
*Also the origin of the modern Armenian city name Dvin, which was the location of a key
regional administration and records center of the Iranian Sassanian Empire.
44. Mohr (seal)
45. Mohr (seal)
46. Drafsh ((flag)
47. Mard (man)
48. Azad (free)
49. Azadegan (the free ones)
50. Marz (frontier)
51. Marzban (borderguard)
52. Dehghan
53. Saman (Boundary/limit)
54. Pasban (guardian) Parapan
55. Shahrestan
56. Taj (crown)
57. Taj (crown)
58. Taj (crown)
59. Darban (door/gate-keeper)
60. Farman (command)
61. Farmandar (commander)
62. Farman (command)
63.
Farman (command)
64.
Farman (command)
65.
Farman (command)
66.
Farman (command)
67.
Farman (command)
68.
Gah (Place)
69.
Dad
(Justice)
70.
Dadan (To Give/bestow)
71.
Dad (Justice)
72.
Davar (Judge/Referee)
73.
Davar (Judge/Referee)
74.
Davar (Judge/Referee)
75.
Davar (Judge/Referee)
76.
Davar (Judge/Referee)
77.
Davar (Judge/Referee)
Tag
Tag
Tag
Framan
muhr
morhak (sealed deed)
Drosh դրօշ
Mard մարդ
Azad
Azadagan
Marz (province)
Marzban (governor)
Dehkan
սահման (sahman)
պահապան (pahapan)
շահաստան (šhahastan)
Tag (crown)
Tagavor (king),
Tagoohi (queen)
darapan “door-keeper”
Hraman հրաման
Hramanatar
հակառակ հրաման — counterorder
հրամանք — destiny, fate, lot, fatality; doom
հրաման հաւատոց — doctrine of faith
հրաման պատասխանւոյ — oracle
անդարձ հրաման — irrevocable order
հրաման տալ վասն տանն իւրոյ — to make one's will
Da
Datavar
Datavar
Datavar
Datavar
Datavar
Datavar
Gah (throne)
Dat (Justice) դատ
տալ (dal, “to give”)
դատել (datel)
Datavor (Judge)
արդարադատաւորութիւն
դատաւորաբար
դատաւորանոց
դատաւորարան
դատաւորութիւն
Wordlist Compiled By David M. Taba, Esq. Copyright 2011 davidtaba@gmail.com
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78.
79.
80.
81.
82.
83.
84.
85.
86.
87.
88.
89.
90.
91.
92.
93.
94.
95.
96.
Davar (Judge/Referee)
Datavar
նդատաւոր
Dadgah
Dataran (Court)
Dadegan
Datagan դատական համակարգ — judicial system
Dadegan
Datagan դատական նիստ — sitting of the court
Dadegan
Datagan դատական հայց — legal action
Far (glory)
Parrk փառք
Nokhost (First/Foremost/Prime)
նախ (nakh)
Nokhost
Nakhvadar
Nakharar նախարար
Nokhost (First/Foremost/Prime)
նախագահ
Nokhost (First/Foremost/Prime)
նախդիր
Nokhost (First/Foremost/Prime)
նախամայր
Ganj (treasure)
գանձապահ (ganjapah)
Ganj (treasure)
գանձարան (ganjaran) (treasury)
Ganj “treasure”
գանձել (ganjel) (to treasure)
Dašht “field, plain”
Dasht
Dashtagerd (old Persian)
dastakert “village, estate”
Doshvar (difficult)
Dzhvar
Band (enclose)
բանտ Bant (prison)
բանտարկել Bantarkel (to imprison)
Band (enclose)
97.
Band (enclose)
98.
99.
100.
Band (enclose, imprison)
Zendan (prison)
Kalantari (police station)
բանտարկություն (bantarkut’yun) (imprisonment)
պինդ (pind, “firm, hard, solid”)
zndan զնդան
կալանատուն (kalanatun)
WAR, WEAPONS, AND MILITARY
101.
102.
103.
104.
105.
106.
107.
108.
109.
110.
Separ/ salar (military leader)
Doshman (enemy)
Asp (horse)
Asp (horse)
Sepahbod (commander) Spabet
Dashneh (dagger)
Dashnag
Khesht (dart/spear)
Asht
Nayzeh (spear)
Goorz (mace, club)
Nav (boat)
Salar / spasalar
Tshnami (թշնամի/դուշման)
aspar (shield)
aspet (knight)
Aspahapet
Dashnag դաշնակ
Ashten աշտեն, աշտե
նիզակ (nizak)
գուրզ (gurz)
Nav
Wordlist Compiled By David M. Taba, Esq. Copyright 2011 davidtaba@gmail.com
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111.
112.
113.
114.
115.
116.
117.
118.
119.
120.
121.
122.
123.
124.
125.
Pahlavan (hero, champion)
փահլևան (pahlevan)
Zoor
(strength/force)
Zor զոռ
-Ped/Bed (Leader)
պետ (pet)
-Ped/Bed (Leader)
պետ վարժից — master
-Ped/Bed (Leader)
պետ հարց — patriarch
Ashti (truce)
hasht հաշտ (peace)
Dashn (Old Persian/Contract/Treaty)
դաշն (dašhn)-agreement
Dashn (Old Persian/Contract/Treaty)
անդաշն
Dashn (Old Persian/Contract/Treaty)
գագաթնադաշն
Dashn (Old Persian/Contract/Treaty)
դաշնադիր
Dashn (Old Persian/Contract/Treaty)
դաշնակ
Dashn (Old Persian/Contract/Treaty)
դաշնակապէս
վտանգ (vtang) (danger, misfortune)
Tang (Tight/Narrow)
Vtang
Tang (Tight/Narrow)
Vtang
վտանգաւ — perilously, hazardously,
Tang (Tight/Narrow)
Vtang
ի վտանգ արկանել, դնել ի վտանգի,
մատնել ի վտանգ — to put in jeopardy, to endanger, to compromise
126.
Tang (Tight/Narrow)
Vtang
ի վտանգ արկանել զանձն — to put
oneself in jeopardy, to risk or venture oneself
INTELLIGENCE, PERCEPTION, EMOTIONS, GAMES
127.
128.
129.
130.
131.
132.
133.
134.
135.
Hoosh (to sense)
bahoosh (intelligent)
bihoosh (unconscious)
Agah (knowing/informed)
Khandeh/Khandidan (laughter)
Soog (grief, sorrow)
Kherad (wisdom)
Honar (art, talent)
Hanjar* (road, way, rule)
Hishel (to remember)
Apoosh (foolish)
Akah
Khind խինդ (joy)
սուգ (sug) (sadness)
khrat խրատ
Hnar
Hanchar հանճար (genius)
*From Middle Persian *hančār. As to how the sense of “road” can be related to
“intelligence”, compare Persian ‫( راه‬rāh), meaning both “road” and “intellect”.
136.
137.
138.
139.
140.
141.
142.
Kaam (wish)
Afsoos (regret)
Apsos
handēs, (Middle Persian)
handēs, (Middle Persian)
Kin/Kineh (vengefulness)
Kadag (Old Persian) – joke
Nard (Backgammon)
gaam կամք and կամ
Apsos
հանդես (handes) (amusement)
հանդիսանալ (handisanal)
ken քէն
katak
նարդի (nardi)
Wordlist Compiled By David M. Taba, Esq. Copyright 2011 davidtaba@gmail.com
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143.
Shatranj (chess)
ճատրակ (čhatrak)
շախմատ (šhakhmat)
RELIGION, FATE, FORTUNES
144.
145.
146.
147.
148.
149.
150.
151.
152.
153.
154.
155.
156.
157.
158.
159.
160.
161.
162.
163.
164.
165.
166.
Khaj / Khadeh (straight branch)
Khach (cross)
Fereshteh (angel)
Fereshtag
Hreshtag (angel)
div (devil/evil)
Dev դեւ
Jaan (life, soul, “dear”)
Jaan ջան
Rastakhiz (resurection)
Արիստակէս (Aristakēs )
Gonah (sin)
Vinah
vnas “injury, harm, sin”
Beh (goodness, correct) Veh
վեհ (veh)(sublime)
Beh (goodness, correct) Veh
վեհություն (vehut’yun)
Bad
Vad
Vad
Bakht (luck, fortune)
Bakht բախտ
Bakhsh/Bakhshidan (forgiving/portion)
Bashkh բաշխ (portion, alms)
Paikar
պատկերք — the Divine Person
ishnohr (Old Persian - gratitude)
šhnorh “grace, gratitude”
Homayoun (blessed, lucky) Humayk
հմայք (hmayk’) (charm)
Homayoun (blessed, lucky) Humayk
հմայել (hmayel)
Homayoun (blessed, lucky) Humayk
հմայիչ (hmayičh)
Homayoun (blessed, lucky) Humayk
հմայական
Homayoun (blessed, lucky) Humayk
հմայահաւանութիւն
Homayoun (blessed, lucky) Humayk
հմայանամ
Homayoun (blessed, lucky) Humayk
հմայեակ
Homayoun (blessed, lucky) Humayk
հմայիմ
Homayoun (blessed, lucky) Humayk
հմայութիւն
Homayoun (blessed, lucky) Humayk
հմայումն
SEASONS, TEMPERATURE, HOT AND COLD
167.
168.
169.
170.
171.
172.
173.
Sard (cold)
Sarma
(coldness)
Dagh (hot)
Garm (warm)
Tab(fever/heat) /Tabestan (summer)
Zemestan (winter)
Tab(fever/heat)
Tsoord
Saar
Dak
Jerm
Tap/տապ (humid)
Zhemer
Tapak “frying-pan
Wordlist Compiled By David M. Taba, Esq. Copyright 2011 davidtaba@gmail.com
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174.
nam (damp)
նամ (nam)
MEDECINE/HUMAN BODY
175.
176.
177.
178.
179.
180.
181.
182.
183.
184.
185.
186.
187.
Pezeshk (doctor, physician)
Dayeh (nurse)
Dayak
Khal (birthmark, mole)
Dard (pain)
Darman (cure)
Koor (blind)
Lal (one who cant talk)
Rag (vein)
Bazoo (arm/muscle)
Chaneh (Chin)
Chaneh (Chin)
Dast (hand)
Dastag
Chakaad (top of head) Chakat
բժիշկ (bžišk)
դայեակ (dayeak)
խալ (khal)
Dard
Darman
Kor քոռ
Lal
(Yerag) երակ
Bazook
չանա (čhana)
ծնոտ (jçcnot) (jaw)
Dastak (wrist) դաստակ
ճակատ (č ̣hakat) (forehead/facade)
DOING, CONSTUCTION, BUILDINGS, TOOLS
188.
189.
190.
191.
192.
193.
194.
195.
196.
197.
198.
199.
200.
201.
202.
203.
204.
Kandan (to chisel/pick) Kandak
Mandan (to stay)
Varz/Varzesh
Tigh (blade)
Mikh (nail)
Mikh (nail)
Mikh (nail)
Moom (candle wax)
Moom (candle wax)
Gombad (dome)
kandak
Mnal (to stay)
վարժ (varž)(exercise, practice)
Tigh
mekh մեխ
մեխել (mikhel)
մեխակ (mikhak)
մոմ (mom) (candle)
մեղրամոմ (meġramom)
Gmbet գմբեթ
Dar (door)
Door
Sazidan (to suit)
sazidan (to suit)
saz (composition)
Durgar (carpenter)
Chak (crack)
Pelleh/Pellegan(Stairs)
սազել (sazel)
պատշաճ (patšhadz)
saz /սազ
դուրգար (durgar)
ճաք (jč̣hak’)
փիլաքյան (pilakyan)
Wordlist Compiled By David M. Taba, Esq. Copyright 2011 davidtaba@gmail.com
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205.
206.
207.
208.
209.
210.
211.
212.
213.
214.
Zanjir (chain)
(znjchil) զնջիլ
Ghali (rug)
Khali
Otagh (bedroom)
Otyag (balcony)
Takht (bed, couch)
թախտ
takht
dastgah (workplace)
dazgah դազգահ (workbench)
dastyar (assistant)
dastyar
Dast (hand)+ kard (doing)
dastakert “possession, property;”
Dast (hand)
dastarāk “towel”
Paikar
Patkar
պատկեր (patker)
Paikar
(ընդ պատկերի — in the image of, in the likeness of
COMMERCE, TRADE, CLOTHES, GOODS
215.
216.
217.
218.
219.
220.
221.
222.
223.
224.
225.
226.
Arz/Arzesh/Arzan (value)
Baj (payment/tax)
Baz
Ambar (storage)
Bar (goods)
Bar (goods)
Bazaar (market)
Vazar
Bazargan (merchant)
Vazaragan
Bazaar (market)
Roz (day)
Rozig
Ganj “treasure”
Kafsh (shoes)
Kafshik
Shabi (nightly shirt)
Shapik*
Arzhi
Bazh բաժ
ambar ամբար
bar բար
barapan
Vazhaar
Vazhaaragan (merchent)
Vazharel (to sell)
rōzhik “salary, daily bread”
Ganj գանձ
koshik կօշիկ
շապիկ (šapik) (shirt)
*sacred garment of Zoroastrians
227.
228.
Shalvar (pants)
Shalvar
Varti/Vartik
Varti/Vartik
շալվար (shalvar)
(Vartik)/վարտիք/ անդրավարտիք
FOODS/EATING/TASTES
229.
230.
231.
232.
233.
234.
235.
236.
Anosh (old Persian) –sweet
Charb (greese, oil)
Charp
Khorak (food)
Khordan (to eat)
Khordan (to eat)
Panir (cheese)
Kareh (butter)
Karak
Rayhan (basil)
Anōošh
Jcharp ճարպ
khortik խորտիկ (snack)
khoharar (a cook)
khohanos (kitchen)
պանիր (panir)
կարակ (karak)
Rayhan
Wordlist Compiled By David M. Taba, Esq. Copyright 2011 davidtaba@gmail.com
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237.
238.
239.
240.
241.
242.
243.
244.
245.
246.
247.
248.
249.
250.
251.
252.
253.
254.
255.
256.
257.
258.
259.
Tut (berry)
Tut թութ
Aloo / Alooche (plum)
ալոճ (aloč ̣h) fruit of hawthorn
Gilas (cherry)
գիլաս (gilas)
Lobiya (bean)
Lobi
Moraba (jam)
Moraba
Darchin (cinnamon)
Darchin
Shekar (sugar)
Shakar
Shakar շաքար
Berenj (rice)
Brinz բրինձ
Bademjan (eggplant)
բադրիջան (badriǰan)
Khorma (date)
խուրմա (khoorma)
Kashk (barley)
Kask
կասկ (kask)
Polo (rice)
Pilov
Chasht (breakfast) Chash (Lunch) (Old Persian)
ճաշ (Jchašh)
սպասք ճաշոյ — dinner-service
սեղան ճաշոյ — dinner-table
զանգակ ճաշոյ — dinner-bell
ճաշոյ ժամ — the three canonical hours, Third, Sixth and Ninth
ճաշ անպաճոյճ — frugal meal or table
ճաշ գործել — to get dinner ready
ճաշ առնել — to give a dinner
ճաշ մեծ գործել — to give a grand dinner-party
պատրաստ է ճաշն — dinner is on the table
ճաշարան (Jchašharan) – restaurant
ANIMALS, HUSBANDRY, NATURE, STONES, GEMS
260.
261.
262.
263.
264.
265.
266.
267.
268.
269.
270.
271.
Asp (horse)
bāz, (“hawk, falcon”)
Bolbol (nightinggale)
Babr (Tiger)
Vagr
Kapi (monkey,ape)
Kapik
Pil (Elephant)
Pil
Nahang (crocodile)
Nihang
Simorgh (mythical flying creature)
Zoruk (leech)
Tuzuruk
paridaiza (old Persian)
Derakht (tree)
Bagh/Baghche (garden)
Aspastan (stable)
բազե (baze)
blbol
վագր (vagr)
կապիկ (kapik)
փիղ (pigh)
nhang (mythical sea monster)
siramarg (peacock)
տզրուկ (tzruk)
partêz “garden պարտէզ
Derakht (paradise)
Bakhcha բաղչա
Wordlist Compiled By David M. Taba, Esq. Copyright 2011 davidtaba@gmail.com
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272.
273.
274.
275.
276.
277.
278.
279.
280.
281.
bun, (“bottom”, “base”)
vard (flower) old Persian
Sombol
Banafsheh (violet)
Vanashak
Choban (Shepherd)
Choob (wood/stick)
Gohar (precious stone)
Rooy (copper / zinc)
Almoss (diamond)
Zang (rust)
բուն (bun) (original / Tree trunk)
Vard (Rose)
սմբուլ (smbul)
մանուշակ.Manooshag
չոբան (čhoban)
չոփ (čhop’)
Gohar
արույր (aruyr)
ալմաստ/ալմաս (almast/(almas)
zhang ժանգ (rust)
NUMBERS
282.
283.
284.
285.
286.
Hezar (thousand)
Yek (one)
Chahar (Four)
Noh (Nine)
Dah (Ten)
Hazar հազար
Mek
Chors
Een (nine)
Tas
ARMENIAN HISTORICAL FIGURES, PROPER NAMES AND SURNAMES
287.
Armanestan
Armina*
Armenia
*The word Armenia, itself, is of Iranian origin. The name Armenia is first attested in
the Old Persian Behistun inscription (515 BC) as Armina Armenians themselves refer to
themselves as “Hye” and to their region as “Hayastan”
**Also see Պարսկահայաստան Parskahayastan (literally: Persian Armenia)
288.
Seyyed-e-Nava (Lord of Songs/Verse)
th
Sayat Nova*
*The name of the most popular 18 century Armenian poet, Sayat Nova, is Persian,
meaning “Lord of Songs.” Sayat Nova has the same stature in Armenian Culture as
Ferdowsi has in Persian culture, and his Armenian is laced generously with Persian.
289.
Grikor Partev (Gregory the Parthian)
Grikor Partev*
*St. Gregory the Illuminator, the man who converted Armenians to Christianity, was of
Iranian Parthian descent, hence the name “Partev” (meaning Parthian, an Iranian tribe)
290.
Sahak Partev (Isaac the Parthian)
Sahak Partev*
*Another early Armenian Apostolic Church Leader and Saint, was of Iranian Parthian
descent, hence the name “Partev” ” (meaning Parthian, an Iranian tribe)
291.
292.
Tir (Persian Zoroastrian God, also arrow)
Tirgan (Persian ‘Of Tir’)
Tiran
Metz Tigran*
*Quintissential ancient Armenian King, has same role in Armenian culture that Cyrus
the Great has in Persian culture
293.
294.
Tirdad (given by Tir)
Tirandaz (shooting arrows)
Trdat
Trendez* (Fire Festival)
Wordlist Compiled By David M. Taba, Esq. Copyright 2011 davidtaba@gmail.com
10
*Trendez is a pre-Christian Armenian festival of jumping over fires (still practiced
today), identical to the Persian Zoroastrian Chaharshanbeh Souri festival of jumping
over fires, also still practiced today by Iranians.
295.
296.
297.
298.
299.
300.
301.
302.
303.
304.
305.
306.
307.
308.
Bahram (Persian King) Vahram
Anahita (Old Persian God)
Shapur (Persian King) Shapur
Ardishir (Persian King) Artashir
Ardavan (Persian King) Artabanus
Artavazd (Persian King)
Khosro (Persian King) Khosrow
Narseh (Persian King)
Dariush (Persian King)
Vardanis (old Persian: Brave)
Bagadata (God Given)
Surena*
Suren
Karen*
Karen
Mehran*
Mihr
Vahram, Vram
Anahid / Ani
Shapuh, Vramshapuh
Artashes
Artabanus
Artavazd
Khosrov
Narseh
Dareh
Vartan
Bagrat / Bagratuni
Suren*
Karen*
Mher*
*Proper names derived from the names of the seven aristocratic Iranian Parthian clans
or the Seven Houses of the Sassanian Empire (in Persian "Haft Khandan"):
1. the House of Aspahapet, of Apartvaticene (Yazd)
2. the House of Dahae, of Astabene (Kuchan)
3. the House of Karen, of Hyrcania (Gorgan)
4. the House of Mihran, of Comisene (Semnan)
5. the House of Parni, of Parthyene (Parthaunis)
6. the House of Sohae, of Margiane (Merv)
7. the House of Suren, of Sakestan (Sistan)
309.
310.
311.
312.
313.
314.
315.
–Dokht (daughter of)
Varazdokht, Khosrovidokht
Gohar
Gohar
nshan (Persian: sign)
Nshan
Gorgen (Persian: Gorg wolf+diminuative “en”)
Gurgen
artak (Old Persian “fast”)
Artak
Farzdan (Old Persian God) Frazdan
Hrazdan
-ian
-ian
*in adjectives (“belonging to”), particularly in names and patronymics, of Iranian
origin. Almost all Armenian surnames contain this suffix. the "ian" suffix is the plural
form of the "i" suffix in Persian meaning "having the qualities of" or "belonging to".
The Iranian “-an” ending for pluralization is comparable to “ner” ending for
pluralization in Armenian.
Wordlist Compiled By David M. Taba, Esq. Copyright 2011 davidtaba@gmail.com
11
II. Prefixes and Suffixes
Persian prefixes and suffixes, from which thousands of derivative words and terms are
constructed, are ubiquitous in Armenian. The following suffixes are of Iranian origin:
1. -astan in nouns denoting places, especially in names of countries: aspastan “stable
of horses” (from morphology asp “horse”); darastan “garden” (from dar “tree”);
Hayastan “Armenia” (from Hay “Armenian”);
2. -aran in nouns denoting places: ganjaran “treasury” (from ganj “treasure”); from
old Persian dāna- “receptacle,” cf. Parthian -arān
3. -arên in adjectives and adverbs denoting languages: yonarên “Greek” asorarên
“Syriac” (from Asori), etc. from Old Persian -ādayana- “manner, way,” Persian.
āyīn “norm, custom”
4. -kar “doing, making”:”); vnasakar “hurtful” (from vnas “damage”), etc.; from
Persian. kar / -gar/-gāar (to work)
5. -kert “made, done”: dastakert “building, village” (lit. “handmade” from dast
“hand”); place name Tigranakert (lit. “founded by Tigran”), etc.; from Old
Persian -kṛta “made, done,” , Middle Persian -kirt, -gird , Modern Persian
“kardan” (to do).
6. -ooo(r)hi in feminines, starting from a single loanword, ṭag-ooo(r)hi “queen”
from old Persian. *tāga-bṛθryā (feminine to ṭagavor “king,” literally Persian
“bearing the crown”)
7. -pan “protecting”: marzpan “margrave, protecting the frontiers” (from marz
“frontier”); barapan/darapan “doorkeeper” etc.; from Persian. -pān, -bān,
8. -pet “chief,” first in numerous titles borrowed from Persian. (sparapet “army
leader,” dprapet “secretary-in-chief”, etc from Persian. -pet- “lord, chief.” The
extremely large number of these formations is clear evidence of the profound
influence of the Ashkanian and Sasanian feudal aristocracy and military on
Armenia.
9. džh- or ṭšh- “dis-, mis-, un-” from Persian. dsh-.
10. ham- “same/together” from Iranian *hame-: Armenian words: hampuyr (kiss),
hamamayr (of the same mother), hamalsaran (university) etc.
Wordlist Compiled By David M. Taba, Esq. Copyright 2011 davidtaba@gmail.com
12
11. –ak/ik in diminutives (from substantives or adjectives): navak “boat” from nav
“ship;” kapoyt-ak “bluish” from kapoyt “blue;” from Middle Persian -ak, -ag;
12. -akan in adjectives (“belonging to”): ašhkharhakan “worldly” from ašhkharh
“world;” vazhaṟakan “merchant” from vazhaṟ “trade, commerce;” from Iranian akāna-, -akān, -agān. This is one of the most common Armenian suffixes.
III. Simple present tense conjugation sample “to stay”
Persian
Armenian
Man mimoonam
To mimooni
An mimooneh
Mah mimoonim
Shoma mimoonin
Anha / Ishan mimoonan
Yes mnoomem
Do mnoomes
Na mnoomeh
Menk mnoomenk
Duk mnoomek
Nrank mnoonen
That man is free.
An mard azadeh (Persian)
Ayn mard azateh (Armenian)
Sources:
•
M. Bedrossian (1879), New Dictionary Armenian-English (Venice: S. Lazarus Armenian Academy)
•
G. Awetikʿean, X. Siwrmēlean, M. Awgerean (1836-37), Nor Baṙgirkʿ Haykazean Lezui (Venice)
•
H. Azhaṙian (1926-35), Hayerēn Armatakan Baṙaran (Yerevan: Yerevan State University), 2nd ed., 1971-79
•
Encylopedia Iranica, (R. Schmitt, H. W. Bailey)
Wordlist Compiled By David M. Taba, Esq. Copyright 2011 davidtaba@gmail.com
13

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