The Secret of Their Names

QuestionAnswer
of them / their (gen pl. = acc/dat pl)
նրանց
nrants

of նրանք - nrank they

their names
նրանց անուններն
nrants anunnern
their names were
նրանց անուններն էին
nrants anunnern ein
Çem (proper name)
Չըմ
çəm

The word 'չըմ' is used in the Karabakh and the Artsakh dialect instead of 'չեմ' - çem - I am not /I don't

and
ու
u
Kem (proper name)
Գըմ
kəm

The word 'գըմ' comes from 'կամ' - kam* - I am - of the Old Armenian verb 'կալ' - kal* -(to be)

* In Old Armenian the letter կ is pronounced 'k' whereas in Western Armenian it is 'g'

Çem and Kem
Չըմ ու Գըմ
çəm u kəm

can describe in spoken Armenian someone who is hesitant, indecisive or slow to act . It conveys a sense of uncertainty or a lack of strong will. 'I am not and I am' the expression humourously captures the state of someone who cannot make a firm decision, always fluctuating between "No, I won't !" and "Yes I might!" , a vivid idiom for a wishy-washy person.

Their names were Çem and Kem.
Նրանց անուններն էին Չըմ ու Գըմ։
Nrants anunnern ein Çəm u Kəm.