Armenian language

Armenian
Armenian
հայերեն
	"Armenian language" in the Armenian alphabet
Pronunciation	[hɑjɛˈɾɛn] ⓘ
Native to	Armenia; Georgia (including Abkhazia); Iran; Nagorno-Karabakh; Turkey;
Ethnicity	Armenians
Native speakers	5.3 million (2013–2021)
Language family	Indo-European Armenian;
Early forms	Proto-Indo-European Proto-Armenian Classical Armenian Middle Armenian ; ; ;
Standard forms	Eastern Armenian; Western Armenian;
Dialects	Yerevan; Homshetsi; Karabakh; Karin; Mush; Kharberd–Yerznka; Shabin–Karahisar; Kakavaberd; Zok; Akn; Malatia; Nor-Nakhichevan;
Writing system	Armenian alphabet; Armenian Braille;
Official status
Official language in	Armenia; Organisations:; Eurasian Economic Union;
Recognised minority; language in	Cyprus; Hungary; Iraq; Poland; Romania; Turkey; Ukraine;
Regulated by	Armenian National Academy of Sciences (Armenia); Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (Western Armenian, de facto);
Language codes
ISO 639-1	hy
ISO 639-2	arm (B) ; hye (T)
ISO 639-3	Variously:; hye – Eastern Armenian; hyw – Western Armenian; xcl – Classical Armenian; axm – Middle Armenian
Glottolog	arme1241
Linguasphere	57-AAA-a
	The current distribution of the Armenian language in the southern Caucasus
	Official language spoken by the majority Recognized minority language Significant number of speakers

Armenian (endonym: հայերեն, Hayeren, pronounced [hɑjɛˈɾɛn] ^ⓘ) is an Indo-European language and the sole member of the independent branch of the Armenian language family. It is the native language of the Armenian people and the official language of Armenia. Historically spoken in the Armenian highlands, today Armenian is also widely spoken throughout the Armenian diaspora. Armenian is written in its own writing system, the Armenian alphabet, introduced in 405 AD by Saint Mesrop Mashtots. The estimated number of Armenian speakers worldwide is between five and seven million.