The Language

The official language is Azerbaijani, which is part of the Turkic language family. The vast majority of inhabitants speak Russian as a second language, and some regard it as the language of culture, just like fluency in French signifies a certain air of refinement in Europe. Younger Azerbaijanis are learning English.

Azerbaijan's primary, is a Turkic language that is closely related to and partially mutually intelligible with Modern Turkish. Azerbaijani, along with Turkish, Turkmen, and Gagauz, is a member of the Oghuz branch of the Turkic language family's southwestern group. Despite the fact that Azerbaijani is spoken in the Republic of Azerbaijan, South Russia (Dagestan), and Northern Iran, the dialects differ. Furthermore, while Azerbaijani is recognized as an official medium of instruction in Dagestan and the Republic of Azerbaijan, it is not recognized as an official language in Northern Iran, where the number of Azerbaijanis outnumbers that of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijani language spoken in Iranian Azerbaijan differs significantly from that spoken in North Azerbaijan, and the Iranian government has discouraged and even prohibited its usage for several decades.