Armenia trivia: 46 questions and answers

Yerevan. Yerevan is the capital and by far the largest city. More than a third of Armenia's people live there.

Dram. The Armenian dram (AMD) was introduced in November 1993. The lari is Georgia's currency, the manat Azerbaijan's and the lira Turkey's.

False. False. Mount Ararat stands in Turkey, although it can be seen clearly from Yerevan and appears on Armenia's coat of arms.

Russia. Russia does not border Armenia. Armenia's neighbours are Georgia to the north, Azerbaijan to the east, Iran to the south and Turkey to the west.

Mount Aragats. Mount Aragats, at 4,090 m, is the highest point in Armenia. Ararat is higher but lies in Turkey, Elbrus is in Russia and Kazbek is in Georgia.

Mesrop Mashtots. The monk and scholar Mesrop Mashtots created the alphabet around 405. Its first task was a translation of the Bible.

Gregory the Illuminator. Gregory the Illuminator converted the king, after being held, as tradition says, for 13 years in a pit at Khor Virap. He is Armenia's patron saint.

True. True. On 24 April 1915 the Ottoman authorities arrested hundreds of Armenian community leaders in Constantinople, and the day is now the Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day.

False. False. The Armenians lost the battle and their leader Vardan Mamikonian was killed, but their resistance continued, and in 484 they won the right to keep their Christian faith.

The Mediterranean Sea. Cilicia lay on the Mediterranean Sea, in what is now southern Turkey. Its kings ruled from 1198 until 1375.

Lavash. Lavash, large paper-thin sheets of bread, was inscribed by UNESCO in 2014 as an expression of culture in Armenia.

Grilled. Khorovats means 'grilled'. It is meat, often pork or lamb, grilled on skewers over embers.

A whole pumpkin. Ghapama is a whole pumpkin stuffed with rice, dried fruit, nuts, butter and honey, and cut into wedges at the table.

True. True. Khash simmers all night and is eaten on winter mornings with garlic, salt and crumbled dried lavash.

False. False. Zhingyalov hats is filled with a mound of chopped wild and garden greens, often 10 to 20 kinds, and is popular during Lent.

Yogurt and water. Yogurt and water: tan is matsun, the Armenian yogurt, mixed with water and salt, and the classic drink with khorovats on a hot day.

Churchkhela. In Georgia the same sweet is called churchkhela. Khachapuri is cheese bread, khinkali are dumplings and pkhali is a vegetable and walnut spread.

Gyumri. Gyumri was called Alexandropol under Russian rule and Leninakan in Soviet times. Vanadzor was called Kirovakan.

Vagharshapat. Vagharshapat, also known as Etchmiadzin, is home to the Mother See and Etchmiadzin Cathedral.

True. True. Jermuk's name comes from an Armenian word for a warm mineral spring, and its water is bottled and sold across the region.

False. False. Vanadzor is the third-largest city. Gyumri is the second-largest.

Geghard. Geghard means 'spear', after the spear said to have wounded Jesus, which was once kept at the monastery.

Deep pit. Khor Virap means 'deep pit', after the pit where Gregory the Illuminator was held, according to tradition. Noravank means 'new monastery' and Tsitsernakaberd 'swallow's fortress'.

True. True. It is built in the Ionic order and is usually dated to the first century AD. It was rebuilt from its original stones between 1969 and 1975.

False. False. When the lake was partly drained in the Soviet era, the water fell by about 20 m and the island became a peninsula.

A cable car to Tatev Monastery. It is a cable car to Tatev Monastery, about 5.7 km long, that crosses the Vorotan gorge in about 12 minutes.

Haghpat Monastery. Haghpat Monastery, together with nearby Sanahin, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Armenia's other two sites are Etchmiadzin with Zvartnots, and Geghard with the upper Azat valley.

The victims of the Armenian genocide. Tsitsernakaberd, built in 1967, is Armenia's official memorial to the victims of the Armenian genocide. Thousands of people lay flowers there every 24 April.

Apricot. The duduk is traditionally made of apricot wood, and in Armenian it is also called tsiranapogh, 'apricot pipe'.

The names of its first two letters. Aybuben comes from the names of its first two letters, ayb and ben, just as 'alphabet' comes from the Greek alpha and beta.

True. True. The shoe was found in 2008 and, as of 2026, is the oldest leather shoe found anywhere. The same cave held one of the oldest known wineries.

True. True. Chess is hugely popular in Armenia, and its men's team won the Chess Olympiad in 2006, 2008 and 2012.

False. False. About 3 million people live in Armenia, while by some estimates about 8 million Armenians live abroad, above all in Russia, the United States and France.

About 1,900 m. Lake Sevan lies at about 1,900 m above sea level and covers about 1,240 km².

shnorhakalutyun. Shnorhakalutyun means 'thank you'. Barev means 'hello', tstesutyun 'goodbye' and ayo 'yes'.

Mountain. Sar means 'mountain'. A lake is lich, a church yekeghetsi and bread hats.

True. True. Jan is an affectionate word put after a name or a word like 'mother', and you will hear it everywhere.

Yes. Ayo means 'yes'. 'No' is voch, 'hello' is barev and 'please' is khndrem.

False. False. Barev dzez is the polite 'Hello'. 'Good night' is bari gisher.

Kenatsd!. Kenatsd! means 'Cheers!' or 'To your health!'. Tstesutyun is 'goodbye', bari luys 'good morning' and neroghutyun 'sorry'.

In the morning. You say it in the morning: bari luys means 'Good morning', literally 'good light'. In the evening you say bari yereko.

Hashivy, khndrum em. Hashivy, khndrum em means 'The bill, please'. Chem haskanum is 'I don't understand', Inchpes ek? is 'How are you?' and Shnorhavor! is 'Congratulations!'

Georgia. Georgia, like Iran, has open road crossings into Armenia. The land borders with Turkey and Azerbaijan have long been closed to ordinary travellers.

True. True. Men also take off their hats, and many women cover their hair with a scarf, which is appreciated but not strictly required of visitors.

A small stone drinking fountain. A pulpulak is a small stone drinking fountain with running water, often from mountain springs, and a free way to refill your bottle. The shared minibus is called a marshrutka.

True. True. Cards work in most places in Yerevan, but outside the capital cash is often the only way to pay.