Order anything by pointing in Azerbaijani
I would like, this one, how much, the bill: survive any counter or menu. 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 11 Azerbaijani phrases in this lesson
- Mən ... istərdimmen ... is-TER-deem
- I would like...
- Bunuboo-NOO
- This one
- Bu nə qədərdir?boo NEH geh-DEHR-deer
- How much is it?
- Hesabı, zəhmət olmasahe-SA-buh, zeh-MET ol-MA-sa
- The bill, please
- KartlaKART-la
- By card
- Nağd pullaNAHD pool-LA
- In cash
- SuSOO
- Water
- Qəhvəgah-VEH
- Coffee
- Çaychai
- Tea
- Pivəpee-VEH
- Beer
- ... olmadanol-ma-DAN
- Without...
The polite "I would like": "mən bir çay istərdim", I would like a tea.
Point and say it. "Bunu, zəhmət olmasa" is the polite version.
Ask before ordering if prices are not displayed. In markets, this opens the negotiation.
Catch the server's eye and say this or mime writing on your palm. Tipping around 10% is appreciated in Baku.
Most Baku restaurants and shops accept Visa and Mastercard. Ask "kartla olarmı?" to confirm before ordering.
Keep small bills for markets, taxis, and rural vendors. ATMs are plentiful in central Baku.
Bottled water is cheap and widely available. Tap water in Baku is generally safe but many locals prefer bottled.
Coffee is common in Baku cafes, but tea is the national drink, served in pear-shaped glasses with jam.
Served in pear-shaped glasses at the çayxana (chai-kha-NA), the teahouse.
Local beer is cheap. Azerbaijan is secular and alcohol is easy to find in cities.
"Şəkər olmadan" (sheh-KER ol-ma-DAN), without sugar. The suffix -siz does the same job: şəkərsiz.