Funny Azerbaijani Expressions

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.

🟢 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.

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.