Azerbaijani, or Azərbaycan dili, is the state language of Azerbaijan. The shorter name Azeri is used internationally, but many speakers prefer Azerbaijani when naming their language in English. Azerbaijani belongs to the Turkic language family and is closely related to Turkish. Speakers may understand parts of each other's speech, but the languages have different sounds, words, expressions, and histories. The modern official alphabet is based on Latin letters. Special letters include ə, ğ, ı, ö, ş, ç, and ü, and learning their sounds makes names and signs much easier to read. Azerbaijani commonly builds words by adding endings to a root. These endings can show number, possession, case, tense, person, and questions, so one written word may express an idea that requires several English words. Word order often places the verb near the end of a sentence. Vowel harmony also influences many endings, which means that an ending can change its vowel to fit the word. Forms of address help express respect and closeness. Siz is the respectful or plural form of “you,” while sən is singular and familiar, so starting with siz is often safer with an unfamiliar adult. Russian remains widely understood in some cities, professions, and generations, but ability varies. It should not be assumed that every Azerbaijani person speaks Russian or prefers to use it. Azerbaijan is also home to minority languages, including Lezgian, Talysh, Avar, Georgian, and others. Language use can change between home, school, work, region, and generation.
Language in Azerbaijan
The main language of Azerbaijan is Azerbaijani, locally called Azərbaycan dili. It is a Turkic language written officially with a Latin-based alphabet and is used in government, education, media, and daily life. Russian and several minority languages also form part of the country's multilingual reality.
Tip
A few Azerbaijani words can make everyday contact warmer, even when the rest of the conversation uses another language. Begin with salam, çox sağ olun, and the respectful siz form. Ask which language a person prefers rather than choosing Russian automatically.