Funny Azerbaijani Expressions
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23 October 2025
Azerbaijan sits at the crossroads of East and West, and for centuries its language absorbed influences from Persian, Turkish, Arabic, and Russian.
This cultural blend created not only a rich vocabulary but also a colorful collection of idioms — many of which make no sense when translated word for word, but perfectly capture local wisdom and humor.
Expressions Worth Remembering
🟢 Gözüm su içmir (gözüm su ichmir) — “My eye doesn’t drink water”
Meaning: I don’t trust it / I have a bad feeling about this.
Example: Gözüm su içmir bu işdən — “Something about this doesn’t feel right.”
🟢 Kül başına! (kühl bashına) — “Ashes on your head!”
A funny yet expressive way to scold someone who made a silly mistake.
Used playfully, similar to saying “Oh, you fool!” with affection.
🟢 Nə var, nə yox? (ne var, ne yok?) — “What is there, what is not?”
A common everyday greeting — the Azerbaijani version of “How are you?” or “What’s up?”
Response: Yaxşıyam, sən? (yahshiyam, sen?) — “I’m good, and you?”
🟢 Atı alan Üsküdarı keçdi (atı alan üsküdarı keçdi) — “The one who took the horse has already crossed Üsküdar”
A Turkish-origin phrase meaning It’s too late now or The moment has passed.
🟢 Dəvəquşu kimi başını quma soxmaq (devəqushu kimi bashını kuma sokhmak) — “To hide your head in the sand like an ostrich”
Used when someone ignores a problem or pretends it doesn’t exist.
🟢 Ayağını yorğanına görə uzat (ayagını yorganına göre uzat) — “Stretch your legs according to your blanket”
Equivalent to “Live within your means” — don’t take on more than you can handle.
🟢 Səni yerin dibinə soxum! (seni yerin dibinə sokhum!) — “May you sink into the ground!”
Sounds dramatic, but often used jokingly — especially toward children or friends who misbehave.
🟢 Bir daşla iki quş vurmaq (bir dashla iki kush vurmak) — “To hit two birds with one stone”
A perfect equivalent to the English idiom — doing two things at once efficiently.
🟢 Yel aparır, sel gətirir (yel aparır, sel getirir) — “The wind takes away, the flood brings back”
Refers to life’s unpredictability or how quickly news spreads around.
🟢 Söz gümüşdür, sükut qızıldır (söz gyümüşdür, sükut gızıldır) — “Speech is silver, silence is gold”
A timeless proverb reminding that sometimes silence is wiser than words.
A Glimpse Into the Azerbaijani Mindset
Azerbaijanis are known for their sense of humor, warmth, and irony. Even serious messages are often wrapped in wit — through idioms, proverbs, or jokes.
That’s what makes the language feel so human and expressive. These sayings reflect a nation that loves to laugh, even when life gets serious. Even if you don’t speak Azerbaijani, learning a few of these phrases will win you instant smiles.
Say “Nə var, nə yox?” or “Kül başına!” to a local — and you’ll see how easily it breaks the ice.
In Azerbaijan, language isn’t just communication — it’s connection.
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