Greetings
Salam
sah-LAHM
Hello — universal and informal. 'Salam əleyküm' is the fuller, more respectful version used with older people.
Təşəkkür edirəm
teh-shek-KUR eh-dee-rem
Thank you (formal). 'Sağ ol' (sagh ol) is the everyday version and is what you will actually hear.
Daily life
Neçəyədir?
neh-che-yeh-DEER
How much is it? Essential in the Old City and at the Yaşıl Bazar, where the first price is an opening bid.
Bəli / Xeyr
beh-LEE / khayr
Yes / No. 'Yox' (yokh) is the casual no. Azerbaijani is close enough to Turkish that Turkish speakers get by immediately.
Work
Qeydiyyat
gay-dee-YAHT
Registration — specifically registration at place of stay, compulsory within 15 days of arrival. The single most important word in this guide.
ASAN xidmət
ah-SAHN khid-MET
The one-stop government service centres. Migration, registration and residence permits all go through them — 'asan' also means 'easy'.
Food
Çay
chai
Tea, served in a pear-shaped armudu glass with jam and sugar cubes. Refusing the first glass is a real social misstep.
Plov
plov
Saffron rice pilaf, the centrepiece of an Azerbaijani feast — dozens of regional variants, each argued over.
Social
Bağışlayın
ba-uh-shlah-YUN
Excuse me / sorry — for squeezing past on the metro or getting someone's attention.
Culture
Bakı Bulvarı
bah-KUH bool-vah-RUH
The Caspian seafront boulevard — the city's living room, and where the whole of Baku walks on a summer evening.
Emergency
Kömək edin!
keu-MEK eh-DEEN
Help! The unified emergency number is 112, operated by the Ministry of Emergency Situations; 101 fire, 102 police and 103 ambulance also work.
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