"Mer Hayrenik" ("Our Fatherland") is the national anthem of Armenia. Adopted on July 1, 1991, it is based on the anthem of the First Armenian Republic (1918-1920), but with different lyrics.

The lyrics were written as a poem by poet Mikael Nalbandian (1829-1866) and later set to music by composer Barsegh Kanachyan (1885-1967).

The Lyrics in Armenian Script

Մեր Հայրենիք

Մեր Հայրենիք, ազատ, անկախ
Որ ապրէլ է դարէ դար
Իւր որդիքը արդ կանչում է
Ազատ, անկախ Հայաստան:

Ահա՝ եղբայր, քեզ մի դրօշ,
Որ իմ ձեռքով գործեցի
Գիշերները ես քուն չեղայ,
Արտասուքով լուացի:

Նայիր նրան երեք գոյնով,
Նուիրական մէր նշան,
Թող փողփողի թշնամու դէմ,
Թող միշտ պանծայ Հայաստան:

Ամենայն տեղ մահը մի է
Մարդ մի անգամ պիտ՚ մեռնի,
Բայց երանի՚ որ իւր ազգի
Ազատութեան կը զոհուի:

Transliteration of Armenian Lyrics

Mer Hayrenik, azat ankakh,
Vor aprel eh dareh dar
Yur vortikeh ard kanchoom eh
Azat, ankakh hayastan.
(repeat previous two lines)

Aha yeghbair kez mi drosh,
Vor im dzerkov gortzetsi
Gishernereh yes koon chegha,
Artasoonkov lvatsi.
(repeat previous two lines)

Nayir nran yerek gooynov,
Nvirakan mer nshan,
Togh poghpoghi tshnamoo dem,
Togh misht pantza Hayastan.
(repeat previous two lines)

Amenayn tegh maheh mi eh
Mard mee ankam pit merni,
Baytz yerani vor yur azgi
Azatootyan keh zohvi.
(repeat previous two lines)

(repeat first verse)

English Translation

Our fatherland, free and independent,
That lived from century to century
His children are calling
Free independent Armenia.
(repeat previous two lines)

Here brother, for you a flag,
That I made with my hands
Nights I didn't sleep,
With tears I washed it.
(repeat previous two lines)

Look at it, 3 colours
It's our gifted symbol.
Let it shine against the enemy.
Let Armenia always be glorious.
(repeat previous two lines)

Everywhere death is the same
Everyone dies only once
But lucky is the one
Who is sacrificed for his nation.
(repeat previous two lines)

(repeat first verse)

External Links

• National anthem page at the Armenian President's site: includes an MP3 file
• MP3 sound file
• Armenian part of David's National Anthem Reference Page: includes midi, lyrics, a music sheet