Yes, no and the essentials in Azerbaijani
The small words that carry half of every conversation, and the ones that rescue it. Play the ten Azerbaijani words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 10 Azerbaijani phrases in this lesson
- Bəlibeh-LEE
- Yes
- XeyrKHEY-r
- No
- Tamamta-MAM
- Okay
- Başa düşmürəmba-SHA doosh-MOO-rem
- I don't understand
- İngilis dilini bilirsiniz?een-gee-LEES dee-lee-NEE bee-LEER-see-neez
- Do you speak English?
- Təkrar edə bilərsiniz?tek-RAR eh-DEH bee-LER-see-neez
- Can you repeat that?
- Yavaş, zəhmət olmasaya-VASH zeh-MET ol-MA-sa
- Slowly, please
- Bu nədir?boo neh-DEER
- What is this?
- Mənə ... lazımdırmeh-NEH ... la-ZUM-dur
- I need...
- Mənə kömək edə bilərsiniz?meh-NEH ko-MEK eh-DEH bee-LER-see-neez
- Can you help me?
The standard yes. Slightly more formal than "hə." Use it in shops, hotels, and with strangers.
Clear and polite. Say it with a slight smile to soften it. A head shake reinforces the message.
Shared across Turkic languages and widely understood. Signals agreement or that you have understood.
Say this slowly and clearly if someone speaks too fast. Most people will repeat themselves or find another way to communicate.
English is widely spoken among younger Bakuvians and in tourist areas. In rural areas, Russian may be more useful.
Polite form, right for strangers.
Russian is also widely understood, which can help.
Literally "to me ... is necessary".
Polite form.