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The Lord’s Prayer (Our Father)

The Lord’s Prayer, also known as Our Father, in Armenian word-by-word, transliterated, translated, and with etymological notes, as originally published on Arak-29.

The Lord’s Prayer is:

  • written as Տէրունական աղօթք in the classical orthography and Տերունական աղոթք in the reformed orthography.
    • pronounced Terunakan aghotk in Eastern Armenian.
    • pronounced Derunakan aghotk in Western Armenian.
  • also known as Հայր Մեր (Hayr Mer), or Our Father.
    • the pronunciation is the same in Eastern and Western Armenian.

Հայերեն/ArmenianTransliterationTranslationEtymology
ՀայրHayrFatherEng. father/Arm h = Eng f = Lat. p, as in paternal
մերmerourEng. our/Ger. unser/Lat. noster
(pater noster = hayr mer = father our)
որvorwho=Eng. who/Lat. quo
յերկինսherginsin heavenh=in, ergin=heaven, s=in, h-prefix from i before vowels, i+yergins = hergins, i+yergri = hergri
եսesare-thouLat. es, Fr. es, Span. estas/
-s ending means you (singular), thou
սուրբsurphallowedholy; see Sanskrit çubhra clean
եղիցիyeghitsibeEng. colony, wheel, cycle/Arm. yeghi=be, become, -tsi =may it, -tsin= may they/Arm. gh = Eng. l, Boghos=Paul, agh=salt
անունanunnameEng. name, noun
քոkothyEng. thy, Lat. tuo (tuo=>kuo=>ko)
եկեսցէyegestsecomeEng. come, Lat. convene, yeg– come, estse = may it (as in Arm. gyank– ‘life’ Eng. quick, Lat. vivacious)
արքայութիւնarkayutyunkingdomEng. arch as in monarch (Gk.) utyun=tion
քոkothysee above; related kez, zkez, zken=you, kum=your
եղիցինyeghitsinbesee above; -n=they, Sp. estan, Lat. exeunt, Fr. sont
կամքgamkwillEng. care, charity, God’s caring wish for us/Arm. pare-gam (pari=good): well-wisher or friend
քո kothysee above
որպէսvorbesashow from vor= which + -bes=way, as in inchbes es = how are you?
յերկինսherginsin heavens=plural as in heavens (note: base word is yergink)
եւyevandEng. epi, epidermis, epitaph, meaning, on top of (p>v)
յերկրիhergriearthEng. earth, h=on + yergir=earth, Arm. yergink ‘heaven’ derives from Arm. yergir
զհացz-hatsbreadz=direct object (of dur, give) hats= Eng. food=Latin pasture, Fr. pain, as in companion, someone who breaks bread (pan) with (com) you, as in, Arm. unt=with + ger=eat =>unger; hov-iv = someone who pastures the ewes, i.e., shepherd, pastor
մերmeroursee above; related forms: mek=we, mez=to us, zmez=us, merots=our
հանապազորդhanabazortdailyhanabaz=continual; ort=ly
տուրdurgive-thoudu=Eng. donate, -r = you sg., thou, see danir lead
մեզmezussee above
այսօրaysorthis dayays=Eng. this; -or=day
եւyevandsee above
թողtoghforgiveEng. tolerate, Lat. tollis =take away, see toghu-mk
մեզmezussee above
զպարտիսz-bardisdebtsz- =direct object (of togh) -s =pl. direct object, see bard-a-ban =debt-keeper
մերmeroursee above
որպէսvorbesassee above
եւyevandsee above
մեքmekwesee above, mek becomes menk in Mod. Arm.
թողումքtoghumkforgivesee above, -mk = we, as in havadamk=we believe
մերոցmerotsouree above, -ots/-ats=to pl.
պարտապանացbardabanatsdebtorssee above, -ats=to pl., indirect object (of toghumk), give pardon to debtors
եւyevandsee above
մի՛minotmi = don’t, not to be confused with miayn, mimyants = one, one another
տանիր danirleadEng. donate, give over to, -r=thou, you singular
զմեզzmezusz- direct object (of danir)
իiintoEng. in, means at, into, on, from depending on context and suffix of following word
փորձութիւնportsutyuntemptationEng. peril -utyun = -tion
այլaylbutEng. else
փրկեաprg-yadeliverrescue, save, as in Prg-ich, Savior, –ya=thou, you singular, command
իifromEng. in=from due to suffix char-e
չարէchar-eevilch=not, ar=create, as in ar-ar-ich=Creator, constructive – creative vs. destructive – evil, -e=from
Originally published on Arak-29 in Notes on Holy Communion in the Armenian Apostolic Church.

3 Comments

  1. Lois Argenian-Hartman Lois Argenian-Hartman Jun 25, 2022

    I am born in Southern California and did not learn to read Armenian and can barely speak. I have looked all my life for a verbatim translation of our “Hyar Mer” into English so I could better understand our most precious prayer. I am so pleased to have found it here, today. I thank you with all my heart and will sing in with new proudness in Church now.

  2. John Minasian John Minasian Aug 4, 2022

    I wanted to buy coffee. However, you don’t have PayPal to charge to. I worry about posting my credit card number.

  3. sarkis sarkissian sarkis sarkissian May 21, 2025

    WHY ISNT’ THE END OF HE LORD’S PRAYER THERE??l? IT IS OT IN FULL??? HOW COME???

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