In Azerbaijan, if you want to ask someone how they’re doing, you can simply say: necəsən? But does this apply to everyone you meet? Are there other versions that exist that may be more appropriate in certain situations?
Yes, there are more ways you can say how are you in Azerbaijani, and this post will help you learn all of them. Let’s look at the main expressions and the small cultural touches that go with them.
How To Say “How Are You” In Azerbaijani
In Azerbaijani, the form of “how are you?” depends on who you’re talking to. It’s important to know the difference, so you can sound polite and show respect. Here are the main ways to say how are you in Azerbaijani:
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How Are You? – Necəsən?
Necəsən is the casual way to ask “how are you?”. It’s relaxed and friendly, and can be used when you’re talking to friends, or other people your age.
The way to pronounce it is: neh-jeh-san.
You may also say sən necəsən? In this case sən means “you”, which sounds even more personal, and is used among close friends or family.
How Are You? (Formal) – Necəsiz?
Necəsiz is the polite form you use with people you don’t know well or those who are older than you. It’s a way to show respect.
As a visitor, you can use necəsiz when talking to a hotel receptionist, a local vendor, your tour guide, or an older person you meet during your trip.
For example, if you walk into a small café, and say salam, necəsiz, the person behind the counter will instantly smile and appreciate your effort.
The way to pronounce it is: neh-jeh-sizz
There’s also siz necəsiniz, which is even more formal, or can also be used as the plural of the question. So you could use it when you address a group of people, but mostly when you’re trying to be extra respectful.
What’s Up – Nə Var?
Nə var means what’s up or what’s new. It’s super casual, and used between people who see each other often.
How’s It Going? – Nə Yox?
Nə yox is a friendly way to ask “how’s it going” or “what’s up”.
Locals often say nə var, nə yox together as one friendly phrase. The phrase literally means “what is there, what is not there”, but it’s the same as an English speaker saying: “hey, how’s it going?”. You’ll hear it only among people who know each other well.
The way to pronounce it is: nah var, nah yok.
How To Respond To How Are You In Azerbaijani
If you know how to ask someone how they are, that’s only half the conversation. You also need to know how to respond naturally if someone asks you that. Replies can also be casual, or formal, depending on the situation.
I’m Good, And You? – Yaxşıyam, Sən Necəsən?
This is the most casual reply that goes with necəsən. Simply say yaxşıyam, sən necəsən?
It means “I’m good, how are you?” and keeps the conversation friendly. Use this with friends or people your age.
Thanks, I’m Good – Sağ Ol, Yaxşıyam
The person will then probably reply with sağ ol, yaxşıyam, which means “Thanks, I’m good”.
I’m Fine, Thank You – Yaxşıyam, Təşəkkür Edirəm
If you’re in a more formal situation, you might want to say yaxşıyam, təşəkkür edirəm. It means “I’m good, thank you” and shows more respect.
Useful tip: Thank you in Azerbaijani can be either sağ ol, or təşəkkür edirəm depending on the situation. sağ ol is more casual, while təşəkkür edirəm is more formal and polite.
All Good – Yaxşıdır
This is a very casual reply that can usually be used when someone says nə var, nə yox?
It’s informal, and used between friends and people who know eachother. You can either say yaxşıdır (it’s good), hər şey yaxşıdır (everything is fine), or yaxşıyam (I’m good).
And You? – Bəs Sən?
After that it’s also natural to ask back bəs sən? which means “and you?”
So, if someone greets you with nə var, nə yox? (hey, what’s up?)you can say: yaxşıyam, bəs sən? (all good, and you?)
How Do You Say “How Are You” In The Azerbaijani Language?
The casual way to say how are you in Azerbaijani is necəsən, and the formal way is necəsiz.
Other Useful Azerbaijani Vocabulary
Here are some other useful Azerbaijani words you can try to remember for your visit to Azerbaijan.
| English | Azerbaijani |
|---|---|
| Yes | Bəli |
| No | Yox |
| Please | Zəhmət olmasa |
| Thank you | Sağ ol / Təşəkkür edirəm |
| You’re welcome | Buyur / Xoş gəldiniz |
| Good morning | Sabahınız xeyir |
| Good evening | Axşamınız xeyir |
| Goodbye | Sağ ol / hələlik |
| See you soon | Görüşərik |
| My name is… | Adım…dır |
Helpful Tips For Azerbaijani Learners
- Practice saying all the phrases in this post with people you meet on the street. Listen carefully to how they respond to get a better feel for pronunciation in everyday life.
- Azerbaijani is a Turkic language spoken also in other parts of the world. It’s also quite similar to Turkish, so some of these phrases would also be understood in Turkey, for example.
- Download the Ling app. There you can find simple Azerbaijani greetings and other useful phrases.
- It’s important to be careful with who you’re speaking to and use the correct form, either casual or formal.
- Learn the Azerbaijani alphabet to get a better feel for the pronunciation of hard letters.
- Don’t try to translate straight from English, as Azerbaijani sentences follow a different word order.
Frequently Asked Questions About How Are You In Azerbaijani
How Do You Say “Hi, How Are You?” In Azerbaijan?
To casually say “hi, how are you?” in Azerbaijani, you can say: Salam, necəsən?
How Do You Say What’s Up In Azerbaijani?
What’s up in Azerbaijani is nə var. It literally means “what is there?”. You might also hear nə yox, which literally means “what is not there?”.
Together nə var, nə yox is the same as saying “hey, how’s it going?” in English.
Is Salam Hello Or Goodbye In Azerbaijani?
Salam in Azerbaijani means “hello”. It can be used at any time of day. When you want to say goodbye, you usually say sağ ol or sağ olun. The same word is used for thank you as well.
Let’s Recap How Are You In Azerbaijani
So you see, there are many ways to say how are you in Azerbaijani, but it depends on who you’re speaking to. Here are the phrases that you learned in this post:
- How are you? – Necəsən?
- How are you? (formal) – Necəsiz?
- How’s it going? – Nə var, nə yox?
And of course, don’t forget to reply with one of the following when someone asks you how you’re doing:
- I’m good, and you? – Yaxşıyam, sən necəsən?
- Thanks, I’m good – Sağ ol, yaxşıyam
- I’m fine, thank you (formal) – Yaxşıyam, təşəkkür Edirəm
- All good, and you? – Yaxşıdır, bəs sən?
Combine these phrases with hello in Azerbaijani, like salam or salam əleyküm, and you’re good to go!
Master The Azerbaijani Language With Ling!
If you want to learn more useful Azerbaijani phrases like these, check out the Ling app. With it, you can learn on the go, practice with interactive exercises, and improve your vocabulary anytime, anywhere.
When you travel, you don’t just go there to see the sights and try the food. The most meaningful experiences come from talking with locals and making new friends in that place. And that’s what Ling was created for!
Download it today to learn Azerbaijani and create memories that you will remember for a long time.
