Learning Azerbaijani: a practical guide
This is a written companion to the free Azerbaijani course on LanguagePath: what the language is like, how it sounds, the phrases you will use first, how the course is structured, and what to watch out for. Everything here comes from the same lessons you can practise interactively above.
What Azerbaijani is like
Azerbaijani is a Turkic language, so the word order is Subject – Object – Verb and all the grammar lives in suffixes that attach to the end of words. There is no gender (no 'he/she/it') and no articles (no 'a' or 'the'). It is written phonetically in the Latin alphabet: mən = 'I', sən = 'you'. For polite or formal 'you', use siz. Adding -dır to a noun means 'is': ad (name) → Mənim adım Alex-dır (my name is Alex).
Words you may already know
Pronunciation notes
Azerbaijani is written in the Latin alphabet and is nearly phonetic — every letter is said the same way, all the time. Learn the five special vowels and the throaty letters and you can read any word aloud.
- ə — like the "a" in "cat" (short, front, open), as in mən = MAN (I) · çörək = CHOR-ak (bread).
- ı — like the schwa in "about" — a quick "u" sound, as in qız = kuhz (girl).
- ö — like saying "e" but with rounded lips (French "eu"), as in çörək = CHOR-ak (bread) · göz = goz (eye).
- ü — like saying "ee" but with rounded lips (French "u"), as in üç = uch (three) · gün = gun (day).
- q — a deep "k" made at the back of the throat (Arabic "qaf"), as in qız = kuhz (girl) · qəhvə = GAH-va (coffee).
- x — a rough, throaty "kh", like Scottish "loch", as in xeyr = khayr (no) · xəstəxana = khas-ta-kha-NAH (hospital).
- ç — like "ch" in "church" (soft), as in çay = chai (tea) · çörək = CHOR-ak (bread).
- ş — like "sh" in "shoe", as in şəhər = sha-her (city) · şadam = SHAH-duhm (glad).
First phrases
The pocket phrases below are the ones learners reach for most often. Say each one out loud a few times before moving on.
| Azerbaijani | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Salam | sah-LAM | Hello |
| Sabahınız xeyir | sah-BAH-uh-nuhz khay-EER | Good morning |
| Axşamınız xeyir | akh-SHAH-muh-nuhz khay-EER | Good evening |
| Necəsən? | neh-JAH-sen | How are you? |
| Yaxşıyam, sağ olun | YAKH-shuh-yam, SAH oh-loon | I'm well, thanks |
| Mənim adım Alex-dır | MAN-eem ah-duhm Alex-duhr | My name is Alex |
| Sağ olun | SAH oh-loon | Thank you (formal) |
| Sağol | SAH-ohl | Thanks (informal) |
| Zəhmət olmasa | ZAH-mat ol-MA-sa | Please |
| Bağışlayın | bah-UHSH-lah-yuhn | Excuse me |
| Bəli | beh-LEE | Yes |
| Xeyr | khayr | No |
| Bir | beer | 1 |
| İki | ee-KEE | 2 |
| Üç | uch | 3 |
| Dörd | duhrd | 4 |
| Beş | besh | 5 |
| On | ohn | 10 |
| Çay | chai | tea |
| Su | soo | water |
| Çörək | CHOR-ak | bread |
| Ət | at | meat |
| Pendir | pen-DEER | cheese |
| Qəhvə | GAH-va | coffee |
| Çox dadlıdır! | choh DAHD-luh-duhr | It's delicious! |
| Haradadır? | hah-rah-dah-duhr | Where is it? |
| Sağa | SAH-uh | to the right |
| Sola | soh-LAH | to the left |
| Düz | duz | straight ahead |
| Metro haradadır? | met-ROH hah-rah-dah-duhr | Where is the metro? |
How the Azerbaijani course is structured
The course has 12 short lessons that build on each other. Each one introduces a few new pieces and then asks you to construct sentences you have never seen, before revealing the answer:
- Greetings — salam · sabahınız xeyir · axşamınız xeyir · necəsən?
- Being polite — sağ olun · zəhmət olmasa · bağışlayın · bəli / xeyr
- Numbers 1–10 — bir · iki · üç · dörd · beş · on
- I want" — mən istəyirəm — mən istəyirəm · istəyirəm · istəmirəm
- Food & drink — çay · su · çörək · ət · pendir · çayxana
- Getting around — haradadır? · sağa · sola · düz · stansiya
- Questions & "do you have…?" — necə · nə · harada · var · yoxdur
- Family & people — ailə · ana · ata · qardaş · bacı · dost
- Time, days & weather — bu gün · sabah · hava · isti · soyuq
- Your name — Mənim adım Alex-dır · Sizin adınız nədir?
- Health & emergency — kömək edin! · həkim · aptek · başa düşmürəm
- Tying it together — a capstone mini-scene
Inside the lessons
Here is how a few of the lessons explain the language, with worked examples and the word-by-word breakdown the course uses.
Greetings
Key pieces: salam · sabahınız xeyir · axşamınız xeyir · necəsən?
The word you'll use all day — salam — hello. Say it out loud, and you can greet almost anyone.
- salam (sah-LAM) — hello / hi
- sabahınız xeyir (sah-BAH-uh-nuhz khay-EER) — good morning
- axşamınız xeyir (akh-SHAH-muh-nuhz khay-EER) — good evening
- necəsən? (neh-JAH-sen) — how are you?
Sabahınız xeyir = good morning (until about noon). Axşamınız xeyir = good evening.
To say “Hello! How are you?” in Azerbaijani: Salam! Necəsən? (sah-LAM, neh-JAH-sen). Built from salam = hello; necəsən? = how are you?.
To say “Good morning!” in Azerbaijani: Sabahınız xeyir! (sah-BAH-uh-nuhz khay-EER). Built from sabahınız xeyir = good morning.
To answer 'how are you?', say Yaxşıyam — I'm well. Pair it with sağ olun (thanks).
To say “I'm well, thanks” in Azerbaijani: Yaxşıyam, sağ olun (YAKH-shuh-yam, SAH oh-loon). Built from yaxşıyam = I'm well; sağ olun = thank you.
Being polite
Key pieces: sağ olun · zəhmət olmasa · bağışlayın · bəli / xeyr
The two magic words: sağ olun (thank you) and zəhmət olmasa (please).
- sağ olun (SAH oh-loon) — thank you (formal)
- sağol (SAH-ohl) — thanks (informal)
- zəhmət olmasa (ZAH-mat ol-MA-sa) — please
- bağışlayın (bah-UHSH-lah-yuhn) — excuse me
- bəli (beh-LEE) — yes
- xeyr (khayr) — no
To say “Yes, please” in Azerbaijani: Bəli, zəhmət olmasa (beh-LEE, ZAH-mat ol-MA-sa). Built from bəli = yes; zəhmət olmasa = please.
Bağışlayın = excuse me — great for getting someone's attention or apologising.
To say “Excuse me, thank you” in Azerbaijani: Bağışlayın, sağ olun (bah-UHSH-lah-yuhn, SAH oh-loon). Built from bağışlayın = excuse me; sağ olun = thank you.
When someone hands you something, they'll say buyurun — here you go. It also means 'go ahead'.
To say “Here you go, please” in Azerbaijani: Buyurun, zəhmət olmasa (boo-yoo-ROON, ZAH-mat ol-MA-sa). Built from buyurun = here you go / go ahead; zəhmət olmasa = please.
Numbers 1–10
Key pieces: bir · iki · üç · dörd · beş · on
Numbers are the fastest win, and they're almost identical to Turkish. Listen and repeat: bir, iki, üç .
- bir (beer) — 1 Memory hook: = Turkish bir.
- iki (ee-KEE) — 2 Memory hook: = Turkish iki.
- üç (uch) — 3 Memory hook: = Turkish üç.
- dörd (duhrd) — 4 Memory hook: ≈ Turkish dört.
- beş (besh) — 5 Memory hook: = Turkish beş.
- on (ohn) — 10 Memory hook: = Turkish on.
To say “Two teas, please” in Azerbaijani: İki çay, zəhmət olmasa (ee-KEE chai, ZAH-mat ol-MA-sa). Built from iki = two; çay = tea; zəhmət olmasa = please.
To ask a price: Nə qədərdir? — how much is it? The money here is the manat.
To say “How much is it?” in Azerbaijani: Bu nə qədərdir? (boo neh-JAH-duhr). Built from bu = this; nə qədərdir? = how much is it?.
To say “It's five manat” in Azerbaijani: Beş manatdır (besh mah-NAHT-duhr). Built from beş = five; manatdır = it is manat.
I want" — mən istəyirəm
Key pieces: mən istəyirəm · istəyirəm · istəmirəm
To say you want something: mən istəyirəm — I want. The verb istəmək is 'to want'.
- mən istəyirəm (man is-teh-yee-ram) — I want Memory hook: ≈ Turkish istiyorum.
- mən istəmirəm (man is-teh-mee-ram) — I don't want
- nə istəyirsiniz? (na is-teh-yeer-see-neez) — what do you want?
- mənə (ma-NA) — to me
To say “I want tea” in Azerbaijani: Mən çay istəyirəm (man chai is-teh-yee-ram). Built from mən = I; çay = tea; istəyirəm = I want.
To say “I want water” in Azerbaijani: Mən su istəyirəm (man soo is-teh-yee-ram). Built from mən = I; su = water; istəyirəm = I want.
To say you don't want something: istəmirəm . Handy when a seller offers you something.
To say “I don't want coffee” in Azerbaijani: Mən qəhvə istəmirəm (man GAH-va is-teh-mee-ram). Built from mən = I; qəhvə = coffee; istəmirəm = I don't want.
Food & drink
Key pieces: çay · su · çörək · ət · pendir · çayxana
The essentials: çay (tea), su (water), çörək (bread). Tea is everywhere in Azerbaijan.
- çay (chai) — tea Memory hook: = Turkish çay.
- su (soo) — water Memory hook: = Turkish su.
- çörək (CHOR-ak) — bread
- ət (at) — meat Memory hook: ≈ Turkish et.
- pendir (pen-DEER) — cheese Memory hook: ≈ Turkish peynir.
- qəhvə (GAH-va) — coffee
To say “Tea and bread, please” in Azerbaijani: Çay və çörək, zəhmət olmasa (chai va CHOR-ak, ZAH-mat ol-MA-sa). Built from çay = tea; və = and; çörək = bread; zəhmət olmasa = please.
A çayxana is a tea house — the heart of Azerbaijani social life. Order a cup with the word çay .
To say “I'd like the menu” in Azerbaijani: Menyu, zəhmət olmasa (MEN-yoo, ZAH-mat ol-MA-sa). Built from menyu = menu (loanword); zəhmət olmasa = please.
To praise the food: Çox dadlıdır! — it's delicious!
To say “It's very tasty!” in Azerbaijani: Çox dadlıdır! (choh DAHD-luh-duhr). Built from çox = very; dadlıdır = it is tasty.
Getting around
Key pieces: haradadır? · sağa · sola · düz · stansiya
The most useful question when you're lost: Haradadır? — where is it?
- Haradadır? (hah-rah-dah-duhr) — where is it?
- sağa (SAH-uh) — to the right
- sola (soh-LAH) — to the left
- düz (duz) — straight ahead
- stansiya (stahn-see-YAH) — station Memory hook: ≈ Russian/English station.
- metro (met-ROH) — metro / subway Memory hook: ≈ Russian metro.
To say “Where is the metro?” in Azerbaijani: Metro haradadır? (met-ROH hah-rah-dah-duhr). Built from metro = the metro; haradadır? = where is it?.
To say “Where is the station?” in Azerbaijani: Stansiya haradadır? (stahn-see-YAH hah-rah-dah-duhr). Built from stansiya = station; haradadır? = where is it?.
To give or follow directions: Sağa dönün = turn right; Sola dönün = turn left.
To say “Turn right, straight ahead” in Azerbaijani: Sağa dönün, düz (SAH-uh dah-NUN, duz). Built from sağa dönün = turn right; düz = straight ahead.
Questions & "do you have…?"
Key pieces: necə · nə · harada · var · yoxdur
Question words: necə (how), nə (what), harada (where), kim (who).
- necə (neh-JA) — how Memory hook: ≈ Turkish nece.
- nə (na) — what Memory hook: = Turkish ne.
- harada (hah-rah-DAH) — where Memory hook: ≈ Turkish nerede.
- kim (keem) — who Memory hook: = Turkish kim.
- var (var) — there is / have
- yoxdur (YOKH-door) — there isn't / don't have
To say “Do you have wifi?” in Azerbaijani: Wi-Fi var? (WEE-fee var). Built from wifi = the wifi; var? = is there / do you have?.
Var = there is / have. Yoxdur = there isn't / don't have. These two cover a huge amount.
To say “Is there water here?” in Azerbaijani: Burda su var? (BUR-dah soo var). Built from burda = here; su = water; var? = is there?.
To say “What is this?” in Azerbaijani: Bu nədir? (boo na-DEER). Built from bu = this; nədir? = what is it?.
Family & people
Key pieces: ailə · ana · ata · qardaş · bacı · dost
Family words: ailə (family), ana (mother), ata (father).
- ailə (ah-ee-LEH) — family Memory hook: ≈ Turkish aile.
- ana (ah-NAH) — mother Memory hook: ≈ Turkish ana.
- ata (ah-TAH) — father
- qardaş (kar-DAHSH) — brother Memory hook: ≈ Turkish kardeş.
- bacı (bah-JU) — sister Memory hook: = Turkish bacı.
- dost (dost) — friend Memory hook: = Turkish dost.
To say “This is my family” in Azerbaijani: Bu mənim ailəmdir (boo MAN-eem ah-ee-lehm-deer). Built from bu = this; mənim = my; ailəmdir = it is my family.
To say you have something, use mənim … var — literally 'my … exists'.
To say “I have a friend” in Azerbaijani: Mənim dostum var (MAN-eem dos-toom var). Built from mənim = my; dostum = my friend; var = is / have.
To say “I have a family” in Azerbaijani: Mənim ailəm var (MAN-eem ah-ee-lem var). Built from mənim = my; ailəm = my family; var = is / have.
Time, days & weather
Key pieces: bu gün · sabah · hava · isti · soyuq
Today is bu gün , tomorrow is sabah — a word that rhymes with English 'sabah' meaning morning.
- bu gün (boo gun) — today Memory hook: = Turkish bugün.
- sabah (sah-BAH) — tomorrow
- hava (hah-VAH) — weather / air
- hava necədir? (hah-VAH neh-JAH-deer) — what's the weather like?
- isti (is-TEE) — hot / warm
- soyuq (soh-YUK) — cold Memory hook: ≈ Turkish soğuk.
To say “See you tomorrow” in Azerbaijani: Sabah görüşərik (sah-BAH guh-ROO-shuh-rek). Built from sabah = tomorrow; görüşərik = we'll meet.
Ask about the weather: Hava necədir? — how is the weather?
To say “It's hot today” in Azerbaijani: Bu gün istidir (boo gun is-TEE-deer). Built from bu gün = today; istidir = it is hot.
To say “It's cold and rainy” in Azerbaijani: Soyuq və yağışlıdır (soh-YUK va yah-UHSH-luh-duhr). Built from soyuq = cold; və = and; yağışlıdır = it's rainy.
Your name
Key pieces: Mənim adım Alex-dır · Sizin adınız nədir?
Introduce yourself: Mənim adım Alex-dır — my name is Alex.
- Mənim adım Alex-dır (MAN-eem ah-duhm Alex-duhr) — my name is Alex
- Sizin adınız nədir? (see-ZEEN ah-duh-nuhz na-DEER) — what is your name?
- ad (ahd) — name Memory hook: = Turkish ad.
- sizin (SEE-zeen) — your (formal)
To say “My name is Alex” in Azerbaijani: Mənim adım Alex-dır (MAN-eem ah-duhm Alex-duhr). Built from mənim = my; adım = my name; Alex-dır = is Alex.
To ask someone's name politely: Sizin adınız nədir?
To say “What is your name?” in Azerbaijani: Sizin adınız nədir? (see-ZEEN ah-duh-nuhz na-DEER). Built from sizin = your (formal); adınız = your name; nədir? = what is it?.
To say you're pleased to meet someone: Çox şadam — very glad.
To say “Pleased to meet you” in Azerbaijani: Çox şadam (choh SHAH-duhm). Built from çox = very; şadam = I am glad.
Health & emergency
Key pieces: kömək edin! · həkim · aptek · başa düşmürəm
The most important words if you need help: Kömək edin! (help!), həkim (doctor), aptek (pharmacy).
- Kömək edin! (KO-mak EH-deen) — help!
- həkim (ha-KEEM) — doctor Memory hook: ≈ Turkish hekim.
- aptek (ap-TEK) — pharmacy Memory hook: ≈ Russian apteka.
- xəstəxana (khas-ta-kha-NAH) — hospital
- Başa düşmürəm (BAH-sha duhsh-MU-ram) — I don't understand
- polis (po-LEES) — police Memory hook: ≈ English police.
To say “Help!” in Azerbaijani: Kömək edin! (KO-mak EH-deen). Built from kömək = help; edin = do it (formal command).
To say “I don't understand” in Azerbaijani: Başa düşmürəm (BAH-sha duhsh-MU-ram). Built from başa düşmürəm = I don't understand.
To say you need something: Mənə … lazımdır — I need…
To say “I need a doctor” in Azerbaijani: Mənə həkim lazımdır (ma-NA ha-KEEM la-ZUHM-duhr). Built from mənə = to me; həkim = doctor; lazımdır = is needed.
To say “Call the police” in Azerbaijani: Polisi çağırın (po-LEE-see chah-uh-RUHN). Built from polisi = the police; çağırın = call.
Tying it together
Key pieces: a capstone mini-scene
Great — you've built a real toolbox. This capstone uses only words you've met. Build each line yourself before revealing it.
To say “Hello! How are you?” in Azerbaijani: Salam! Necəsən? (sah-LAM, neh-JAH-sen). Built from salam = hello; necəsən? = how are you?.
To say “My name is Alex” in Azerbaijani: Mənim adım Alex-dır (MAN-eem ah-duhm Alex-duhr). Built from mənim adım = my name; Alex-dır = is Alex.
To say “A tea, please” in Azerbaijani: Bir çay, zəhmət olmasa (beer chai, ZAH-mat ol-MA-sa). Built from bir = one; çay = tea; zəhmət olmasa = please.
To say “How much is it?” in Azerbaijani: Bu nə qədərdir? (boo neh-JAH-duhr). Built from bu = this; nə qədərdir? = how much is it?.
Common mistakes and things to watch out for
- sağ olun (SAH oh-loon): formal.
- sağol (SAH-ohl): informal.
- sizin (SEE-zeen): formal.
Culture and etiquette
Tea is the heart of the day
Tea (çay) is everywhere in Azerbaijan and is served at almost any hour — in the morning, after meals, and when guests arrive. The çayxana (tea house) is a social hub where people meet, talk and play backgammon. It is usually served in a small pear-shaped glass (armudu).
Hospitality comes first
Guests are a blessing. If you visit an Azerbaijani home you'll be offered tea and food within minutes, and the family will insist you eat more. Refusing can seem rude — a little 'sağ olun' and one more bite goes a long way.
Novruz, the spring new year
Novruz is the most important celebration — the coming of spring around the March equinox. Families clean their homes, prepare sweet wheat (səməni), jump over bonfires and lay a symbolic table. It is a joyful, ancient Persian-roots festival that shows off Azerbaijani warmth.
A language almost like Turkish
Azerbaijani and Turkish are closely related Turkic languages. Huge numbers of common words match — çay, su, ev, əl, bir, qardaş, ailə. A Turkish speaker can often be understood in Baku and vice versa, so if you know one, the other comes fast.
Bargaining is part of the bazaar
At the bazaar, prices are often negotiable. It is normal to ask 'Bu nə qədərdir?' and then politely counter with a lower price — 'Çox bahadır!' (too expensive!). A smile and 'zəhmət olmasa' go far, and the seller often enjoys the friendly haggling.
Mugham, carpets and music
Azerbaijan is famous for mugham — an improvised classical music tradition — and for its hand-woven carpets, a UNESCO-recognised craft. Music and carpets are a big part of the cultural identity and make great conversation topics.
Example dialogues
At a çayxana (tea house)
You: Salam! Bir çay, zəhmət olmasa. (sah-LAM, beer chai, ZAH-mat ol-MA-sa) — Hello! A tea, please.
Server: Buyurun. Başqa nə? (boo-yoo-ROON, BAH-shuh na) — Here you are. Anything else?
You: Bir çörək, sağ olun. (beer CHOR-ak, SAH oh-loon) — A bread, thanks.
You: Bu nə qədərdir? (boo neh-JAH-duhr) — How much is it?
Server: İki manatdır. (ee-KEE mah-NAHT-duhr) — It is two manat.
You: Sağ olun! (SAH oh-loon) — Thank you!
Getting around
You: Bağışlayın, metro haradadır? (bah-UHSH-lah-yuhn, met-ROH hah-rah-dah-duhr) — Excuse me, where is the metro?
Local: Orada, düz irəli. (oh-RAH-dah, duz ee-RA-lee) — There, straight ahead.
You: Sağ olun. Bir bilet, zəhmət olmasa. (SAH oh-loon, beer bee-LET, ZAH-mat ol-MA-sa) — Thanks. One ticket, please.
Driver: İki manat. (ee-KEE mah-NAHT) — Two manat.
You: Sağ olun! (SAH oh-loon) — Thank you!
At a restaurant
Waiter: Buyurun! Nə istəyirsiniz? (boo-yoo-ROON, na is-teh-yeer-see-neez) — Welcome! What would you like?
You: Menyu, zəhmət olmasa. (MEN-yoo, ZAH-mat ol-MA-sa) — The menu, please.
You: Mən çay və ət istəyirəm. (man chai va at is-teh-yee-ram) — I would like tea and meat.
Waiter: Çox yaxşı. (choh YAKH-shuh) — Very good.
You: Bu nə qədərdir? (boo neh-JAH-duhr) — How much is it?
Waiter: On manatdır. (ohn mah-NAHT-duhr) — It is ten manat.
Written by the LanguagePath editorial team from our own course material. Pronunciation guides are approximate English respellings; tap any phrase in the app above to hear it. Native-speaker review of every course is ongoing — tell us if you spot an error.