աւաղ

The etymology is uncertain. Ačaṙean rules out a borrowing from semantically identical and phonetically similar Persian آوخ‎ (âvax, “alas”), since this would yield *աւախ (*awax) instead, and considers it more plausible that the word was borrowed into Persian in the period of Armenian where ղ (ł) was pronounced like a guttural fricative.

Note that Middle Armenian աւաղ (awał) reveals an additional meaning "lean, emaciated".

աւաղ • (awał)

1. alas! (an exclamation of sorrow, regret, or grief)

• Middle Armenian: աւաղ (awał, “alas; lean, emaciated”), ավախ (avax)
• → Armenian: ավաղ (avał) (learned)

• Awetikʿean, G.; Siwrmēlean, X.; Awgerean, M. (1836–1837), “աւաղ”, in Nor baṙgirkʿ haykazean lezui [New Dictionary of the Armenian Language] (in Old Armenian), Venice: S. Lazarus Armenian Academy
• Ačaṙean, Hračʿeay (1971), “աւաղ”, in Hayerēn armatakan baṙaran [Armenian Etymological Dictionary] (in Armenian), volume I, 2nd edition, a reprint of the original 1926–1935 seven-volume edition, Yerevan: University Press, pages 352–353
• Ačaṙyan, Hračʿya (1948), “HaykakankʿZ [Armeniaca VI]”, in HSSṘ GA Tełekagir hasarakakan gitutʿyunneri [Bulletin of the Academy of Sciences of the Armenian SSR: Social Sciences]‎ (in Armenian), issue 5, page 38 of 33–40
• Ačaṙyan, Hračʿya (1965) Liakatar kʿerakanutʿyun hayocʿ lezvi hamematutʿyamb 562 lezuneri [Complete Grammar of the Armenian Language Compared to 562 Languages] (in Armenian), volume V, Yerevan: Academy Press, page 403
• Norayr N. Biwzandacʿi (2000), “աւաղ”, in Martiros Minassian, editor, Baṙagirkʿ storin hayerēni i matenagrutʿeancʿ ŽA–ŽĒ darucʿ [Dictionary of Middle Armenian Based on the Literature of 11–17th Centuries], edited from the author's unfinished manuscript written 1884–1915, Geneva: Martiros Minassian, page 89