How to Say Merry Christmas in Armenian

Asia

Nov 3

Written by Kelsey Cecil

Merry Christmas in Armenian

Շնորհավոր Սուրբ Ծնունդ

Shnorhavor Surb Tsnund

Say it like this: shnor-hah-VOR soorb tsuh-NOOND

Big letters show the part to say louder.

Quick answer

In Armenian, Merry Christmas is Շնորհավոր Սուրբ Ծնունդ (Shnorhavor Surb Tsnund), said like shnor-hah-VOR soorb tsuh-NOOND.
Happy New Year is Շնորհավոր Նոր Տարի (Shnorhavor Nor Tari).
People say it in Armenia, Georgia, Lebanon, Iran and more.

What Shnorhavor Surb Tsnund means

Armenian has its own alphabet of 38 letters, created by Mesrop Mashtots around the year 405.

Other ways to say it in Armenian

Happy New Year

Շնորհավոր Նոր Տարի

Shnorhavor Nor Tari

Say it like this: shnor-hah-VOR nor tah-REE

congratulations on the new year, a happy new year

To write in a Christmas card

Շնորհավոր Ամանոր և Սուրբ Ծնունդ

Shnorhavor Amanor yev Surb Tsnund

Say it like this: shnor-hah-VOR ah-mah-NOR yev soorb tsuh-NOOND

Where people speak Armenian

ArmeniaGeorgiaLebanonIranSyriaRussia

Armenian (հայերեն (hayeren)) belongs to the Indo-European, its own branch (Armenian) language family.

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On Christmas Eve, Rally the corgi rides the Christmas Train to more than 100 places and teaches kids how to say Merry Christmas at every stop. Practice Armenian today, then follow his trip.

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Christmas traditions where people speak Armenian

Christmas on January 6: The Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates Christmas on January 6, together with Epiphany. On that day the Church remembers both the birth of Jesus and his baptism, so the two are one holiday.^[1]
The light Christmas Eve meal: The Christmas Eve meal, called khetum, is light after a week of fasting. Dishes include rice, fish and nevik, a chard and chickpea dish, and sweet treats such as rojik, walnuts on a string covered in grape jelly.^[1]
Dzmer Pap and the tree in Yerevan: In Armenia, gifts are usually given at New Year, not Christmas. The gift bringers are Dzmer Pap, Winter Grandfather, and Gaghant Baba. A big festive tree stands in Republic Square in Yerevan from early December.^[1]

🎄 Quick game: Merry Christmas in Armenian

Three quick questions for kids. Tap an answer to play.

Say Merry Christmas in more languages

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Questions parents ask

How do you say Merry Christmas in Armenian?

The most common way to say Merry Christmas in Armenian is Շնորհավոր Սուրբ Ծնունդ (Shnorhavor Surb Tsnund). It is pronounced "shnor-hah-VOR soorb tsuh-NOOND". Armenians also use the longer Շնորհավոր Ամանոր և Սուրբ Ծնունդ, which wishes both a happy New Year and a happy Holy Birth. The words mean congratulations on the New Year and the Holy Birth.^[1][2]

How do you pronounce Merry Christmas in Armenian?

Say it like this: shnor-hah-VOR soorb tsuh-NOOND. The capital letters show the stressed syllable, so say that part a little louder and longer. Armenian words are usually stressed on the last syllable, so say shnor-hah-VOR and tsuh-NOOND. The letter ծ sounds like ts in cats, and Սուրբ is a single syllable like soorb.

What does Merry Christmas mean word for word in Armenian?

Word for word it is 'Շնորհավոր' (Shnorhavor, congratulations or blessed) plus 'Սուրբ' (Surb, holy) plus 'Ծնունդ' (Tsnund, birth). So the whole greeting means congratulations on the Holy Birth. The word Շնորհավոր can be used for any congratulations, such as birthdays and weddings, so children will hear it often.^[1][2]

How do you write Merry Christmas in Armenian?

Write it in the Armenian alphabet as Շնորհավոր Սուրբ Ծնունդ, which in Latin letters is Shnorhavor Surb Tsnund. The Armenian alphabet has 38 letters, and each word starts with a capital when you write the holiday greeting. Reading right to left is not needed, since Armenian runs left to right like English.

How do you say Happy New Year in Armenian?

Happy New Year in Armenian is Շնորհավոր Նոր Տարի (Shnorhavor Nor Tari), pronounced "shnor-hah-VOR nor tah-REE". It means congratulations on the new year, a happy new year. Armenians say Շնորհավոր Նոր Տարի for the new year, and New Year is the bigger gift-giving holiday. The word Ամանոր is another word for New Year, used in the joint greeting.^[3][1]

Is there a formal and a casual way to say Merry Christmas in Armenian?

Շնորհավոր Սուրբ Ծնունդ is warm and polite, so children can say it to anyone. Armenian uses a plural or polite form when speaking to elders, but this holiday phrase stays the same, and many Armenians simply add a hug or a kiss on the cheek.^[1]

When do people say Merry Christmas in Armenian?

Armenians say it around January 5 and 6, since the Church celebrates on January 6. Because gifts and parties come at New Year, many also use the joint greeting in late December and early January.^[1]

Which day is the main Christmas celebration for Armenian speakers: Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?

Christmas Eve is January 5 and Christmas Day is January 6, which is also Epiphany. The Eve meal, called khetum, is light after a week of fasting. Christmas Day is the more religious occasion, while New Year is the main party and the day for gifts in Armenia.^[1]

Why do Armenians celebrate Christmas on January 6?

The Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates Christmas on January 6, together with Epiphany. On that day the Church remembers both the birth of Jesus and his baptism, so the two are one holiday. This is why the greeting Շնորհավոր Սուրբ Ծնունդ is heard in early January rather than on December 25.^[1]

How can I teach Merry Christmas in Armenian to kids?

Teach the three words one at a time: shnorhavor (congratulations), surb (holy) and tsnund (birth). Show each Armenian word on a card, then have children say the whole greeting on January 5 and 6. Tracing the unusual Armenian letter shapes makes a fun craft.

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