Signification
To praise oneself excessively.
Contexte culturel
In Armenian culture, it is common for parents to 'գլուխ գովալ' about their children, but children are expected to remain humble. In the capital, 'գլուխ գովալ' is often used ironically among friends to mock someone who is acting 'cool' or 'elite'. In Western Armenian communities, the phrase is equally common and carries the same weight of discouraging arrogance. In villages, bragging about one's harvest or livestock is a common form of 'գլուխ գովալ' during festivals.
Use with 'իրեն'
Adding 'իրեն' (himself/herself) makes it sound more natural: 'Նա իրեն գլուխն է գովում'.
Don't overdo it
Calling someone a 'գլուխգովան' can be quite offensive if they aren't a close friend.
Signification
To praise oneself excessively.
Use with 'իրեն'
Adding 'իրեն' (himself/herself) makes it sound more natural: 'Նա իրեն գլուխն է գովում'.
Don't overdo it
Calling someone a 'գլուխգովան' can be quite offensive if they aren't a close friend.
The 'Humble' Response
If someone praises you, it's common to say 'Չարժե' (It's nothing) to avoid looking like you are 'գլուխ գովում'.
Teste-toi
Fill in the missing word to complete the idiom.
Աննան միշտ իր _______ է գովում։
The idiom is 'գլուխ գովալ', so 'գլուխը' (the head) is the correct word.
Which sentence means 'Don't brag'?
Ընտրեք ճիշտ նախադասությունը.
'Մի՛ գլուխ գովա' is the negative imperative of the idiom.
Match the situation to the correct use of the idiom.
A friend says they are the smartest person in the world.
Bragging about intelligence is a classic case of 'գլուխ գովալ'.
Complete the dialogue.
- Ես երեկ 50 կիլոմետր վազեցի։ - Էլի սկսեցի՞ր _______ _______:
The response suggests the speaker is skeptical of the boast.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Modesty vs. Bragging
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesԱննան միշտ իր _______ է գովում։
The idiom is 'գլուխ գովալ', so 'գլուխը' (the head) is the correct word.
Ընտրեք ճիշտ նախադասությունը.
'Մի՛ գլուխ գովա' is the negative imperative of the idiom.
A friend says they are the smartest person in the world.
Bragging about intelligence is a classic case of 'գլուխ գովալ'.
- Ես երեկ 50 կիլոմետր վազեցի։ - Էլի սկսեցի՞ր _______ _______:
The response suggests the speaker is skeptical of the boast.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
12 questionsYes, it almost always carries a negative or teasing connotation. It implies the praise is excessive or annoying.
Usually only in the negative: 'Ես չեմ ուզում գլուխ գովալ, բայց...' (I don't want to brag, but...).
The noun is 'գլուխգովան' (glukhgovan).
Yes, it is widely used in both Eastern and Western Armenian.
You can say 'Հերի՛ք է գլուխ գովաս' or 'Մի՛ գլուխ գովա'!
No, it's too informal and negative. Use 'ներկայացնել ձեռքբերումները' (present achievements) instead.
Very similar, but 'showing off' can also be visual (ցուցադրվել), while 'գլուխ գովալ' is specifically about verbal praising.
Yes, 'մեծ-մեծ խոսել' is a very common informal alternative.
The thing you brag about is usually in the instrumental case (-ով).
Yes, it is one of the most common idioms in the Armenian language.
You can say 'Մի՛ գովա երեխայիդ գլուխը' (Don't brag about your child).
Being 'համեստ' (humble) or 'ինքնաքննադատ' (self-critical).
Expressions liées
Պարծենալ
synonymTo boast
Մեծ-մեծ խոսել
similarTo talk big
Ինքնագովեստ
builds onSelf-praise (noun)
Համեստ մնալ
contrastTo stay humble
Գլուխ հանել
similarTo figure out
