Eastern vs Western Armenian: what is the difference?

Armenian has two literary standards. Speakers understand each other, but pronunciation, some grammar and spelling differ.

Eastern Armenian

Spoken in Armenia, in Armenian communities of Russia and other former Soviet countries, and in Iran. Armenia uses the reformed spelling (reforms of the 1920s–1940s). Barik teaches Eastern Armenian.

Western Armenian

The language of the diaspora formed after 1915: Lebanon, Syria, France, the USA, Argentina and the Armenians of Istanbul. It keeps the classical (pre-reform) spelling — as do the Armenians of Iran.

Main differences

• Voiced and voiceless consonants. What is "b" in the East is often "p" in the West and vice versa: the name Պետրոս is "Petros" in the East and "Bedros" in the West.
• Present tense. Eastern: գրում եմ — "I write". Western uses a particle: կը գրեմ.
• Spelling. The same word can be spelled differently: Eastern յուղ, classical իւղ.
• Vocabulary. Some everyday words differ; Western borrows more from French and Arabic, Eastern from Russian.

Which one to learn

If you are going to Armenia, talk to Armenians from Russia or learn for family from Armenia — Eastern. If your family is from Beirut, Marseille or Los Angeles, Western is closer to them, but they will understand Eastern too.

Where to start

The alphabet is the same: 39 letters that you can learn in a week — here is the day-by-day plan.