English Armenian Dictionary
The English-Armenian dictionary on the website represents the online version of N. R. Baratyan's English-Armenian Dictionary. It contains 70,000 words and phrases.
By the Author
Dictionaries age like people.
It is a well-known truth that language is a living organism, which evolves and changes over time. It is also true that any event in the social life of a nation finds its reflection in the vocabulary of that language. Thus, words and meanings expressing old concepts and realities fall out of use and are replaced by words and meanings reflecting new concepts and realities. This is why, in all developed countries, dictionaries are usually republished with updates and additions every five to ten years, or new dictionaries are published.
The “English-Armenian Dictionary,” edited by H. A. Asmangulyan and M. I. Hovhannisyan, was published in 1984. Being a high-quality dictionary, it has satisfied the needs of many generations of English learners for years. However, since then, numerous changes have occurred in our country, from the political system to science and other fields, which naturally are not reflected in this dictionary, and it has thus aged despite retaining its merits—a situation implying the need for a new dictionary. On the other hand, every new dictionary is largely conservative, as it is based on previously created similar dictionaries. Their core vocabulary remains the same, simply updated with new words and meanings reflecting new phenomena and concepts. This dictionary contains around 70,000 words and phrases selected based on usage frequency. Its composition principles generally align with the traditions of classical lexicography while taking modern lexicography rules into account. Each entry consists of an English headword, grammatical and stylistic notes, and the Armenian translation. Free and stable expressions formed by the headword and their Armenian equivalents are provided. Grammatical notes are minimized to be accessible to a broader audience. Special attention is given to word combinations, reflecting English’s rich idiomatic language. Examples are provided to clarify meanings or specific uses of a word, such as proverbs or sayings. In Armenian translations, idiomatic value is preserved, or close equivalents are given with special notes.
Unlike many dictionaries where different meanings of polysemous words are numbered (e.g., demand v. 1. to require, 2. to need, 3. to ask), here, meanings are not numbered but clarified with synonyms or usage notes in parentheses. This approach is intentional. As noted, language changes alongside the evolution of concepts and realities. What was once the primary meaning of a word may later become the second or third meaning or fall out of use altogether. For example, the verb "broadcast" was initially defined as "to scatter/spread/sow seeds carelessly" but is now primarily used in the sense of "to broadcast." Another example is "revolution," which initially meant "rotation, a complete turn, especially of celestial bodies." While retaining this meaning, its primary meaning today is "revolution, social upheaval," a meaning it did not have previously. The complexity is heightened by the fact that different dictionaries often assign different numbers to the meanings of the same word. Numbers are used only when a word simultaneously has different parts-of-speech meanings (e.g., work 1. n. work, 2. v. to work). This dictionary includes as many conversational expressions as possible, fulfilling the primary function of language as a means of communication. Special emphasis is placed on so-called "phrasal verbs," a fundamental form of verb formation in English today (e.g., look at - to look, look for - to search, look after - to care for, look through - to scan, look out - to watch out). Of the many scientific terms, only widely known and frequently used ones are included, with specific attention to terms and expressions related to computing and the activities of the European Council. Whenever possible, the most recent and widely used neologisms have been included.
To avoid repeating a key word or phrase multiple times, it is indicated with the (~) tilde sign; for example, country/y native ~ native country foreign ~ foreign country many ~ies many countries.
[However, in the online version, the ~ sign has been replaced by the word itself.]
If the same word appears in multiple expressions, a slash (/) is used to avoid repetition; for example, oval/round/thin/happy face is read as oval face, round face, thin face, happy face. Of course, this dictionary does not claim to be perfect (especially considering the time between its creation and publication), but it represents years of diligent work, long teaching experience, and a strong desire to serve national objectives. Like all dictionaries, this dictionary is also based on several dictionaries, reference books, encyclopedias, and other sources.