👉 Okay, let’s tackle this wonderfully prickly little sound – the bafflingly delightful utterance affectionately termed, and frankly rather messily hyphenated, as…
'Arrey.’”
Now, there isn't a universally agreed upon anthropological nailing-down of exactly what "Arrey!" means. Frankly, trying to define it is like trying to catch a ferret in a revolving door – lots of flailing, probably some indignant squeaks, and ultimately, you just get more confused. Historically, and geographically... the most solid thing we really have is that it’s primarily anoush speech, originating largely from the Caucasus, particularly around Armenia, Azerbaijan, Nakhitsé (the territory of Nakhchivan), as well as parts of Georgia. Here's what we think we know: 1) It isn't a word you just politely say. There is no polite in it! 2. There are many different versions and the sounds change depending on where they come from, 3. The tone and context really dictate the intent. You can mean everything between utter annoyance, a sharp demand to get your attention, or an exasperated expression of "what, you’re still here?!” Essentially, it’s a guttural, throaty sound that sits somewhere between a shout, a growl, and a very emphatic question. There is no real equivalent in English - it just exists as its own weird, wonderful little category of verbal territory
