Learning how to talk about your body and health is a practical step in your Armenian language journey.

This vocabulary is essential for describing how you feel, visiting a doctor, or just pointing out a specific ache.

Armenian has specific words for different body parts that you’ll use frequently in everyday conversation.

Here are the most common terms for body parts and health-related phrases in both Eastern and Western Armenian.

Head and face vocabulary

The head and face are the most common body parts we refer to in daily life.

Most of these words are spelled similarly in both major Armenian dialects.

However, Eastern and Western Armenian speakers often pronounce these words differently.

I’ve included both pronunciations in the table below to help you sound natural.

Upper and lower body parts

Armenian sometimes uses the same word to describe an entire limb.

For example, the word for hand and arm is the exact same word.

The word for foot and leg is also the same word.

You rely on context to know whether someone means their hand or their whole arm.

Internal organs and body systems

You’ll likely need these words if you ever have to explain a specific internal issue to a doctor.

These words are also heavily used in Armenian idioms and poetry.

The word for heart is a very popular term of endearment in Armenian culture.

Expressing pain in Armenian

Knowing the vocabulary is helpful, but you also need to know how to put it into a sentence.

The most common way to say something hurts is by attaching the letter “ս” (s) to the end of the body part.

This letter “ս” acts as the word “my” in Armenian grammar.

Then, you add the verb for “hurts”.

The verb is different depending on whether you’re speaking Eastern or Western Armenian.

In Eastern Armenian, you use the word ցավում է (tsavum e).

In Western Armenian, you use the phrase կը ցաւի (gu tsavi).

Common health and sickness phrases

Sometimes you need to express how you’re feeling generally.

If you catch a bug or feel unwell, these phrases will help you communicate your condition clearly.

Here’s how you say you’re sick in Eastern Armenian.

Here’s the same phrase in Western Armenian.

If you just have a standard cold, you can use a different phrase entirely.

If the situation is serious, you might need to ask for medical help.

If you’re looking for medicine, you’ll need to find the local pharmacy.

You can use the word դեղ (degh/tegh) whenever you need to ask for a specific medication.