Azerbaijani Proverbs

Sayings of Azerbaijani origin

Beauty is ten, nine of which is dressing.

Smart bird gets trapped in its beak.

The dog barks, the caravan passes.

I wish God had not made the left hand to need the right hand.

Unearned riches are forbidden.

Without sowing single wheat you would not harvest thousand ones.

A man would not lick what he spit.

Cheap meat never makes a good soup.

Even if your relative eats your meat, he will never discard your bones.

Do a good deed, and throw it into the sea. If the fish don't appreciate it, the Creator will.

White money should be collected for a black day.

To tell the dog to catch, and the rabbit to run.

The child is sweeter than honey.

Wrap yourself together in a carpet and roll together with your kinsmen.

One hint is enough for a clever man.

He can't see the beam in his own, but he's looking for an eyelash in someone else's.

Mouth will not be sweet when you say "sweet" .

A good horse never needs a whip.

Courage mounteth with occasion.

Flies are nothing, but they make you sick.

Tree would bend when it bears fruit.

Every tree casts shadow on its own bottom.

Never mind storms and snows for the sake of a friend.

He doesn't even urinate on a wound.

Wise enemy is better than a foolish friend.

The tip of the pen, power of the sword.

He gets along with fire and water.

The forest can't be without its jackals.

Drop by drop would make a lake.

Doing well in return for good is a deed of every man. Doing well for bad is the hallmark of an honorable man.

Don't buy a house, buy a neighbor.

Never check the teeth of a horse that has been given by a wealthy landowner.

The child who doesn't cry will not get milk.

Daughter, I'm telling you; daughter-in-law, listen.

One hand washes the other hand, which, in turn washes the face.

Look at my color, know my mood.

The one who is shy will never have a son.

A mad man drops a rock into water well, so that thousand wise men cannot take it out.

Tongue may muddle up and say the truth.

The dog is sleeping in the cart's shade but thinks it's his own.

Overtakes whom gets, and stones who doesn't.

Bless the builders, damn the slayers!

The person who learns music late in life will play in his grave.

Things happen only when the right time comes.

Teach others what you really know and not what you just read about.

The more you know, the less you should talk.

A man says his word to the face.

Those who get up and marry early, achieve success.

A faithful friend never becomes a stranger, never mind if he hasn't seen you for a hundred years.

Speak not of what you have read, but about what you have understood.

Grass grows on its roots.

Hope is better than eating.

Mollah is a human, if an oak will produce an almond.

Eating much deprives a person of even eating little.

Even if one is beautiful, if he does not have a good heart, he is still a bad person.

Courage is ten, nine is the ability to escape.

Laughter is the remedy for 1001 illnesses.

Politeness is not sold in the bazaar.

One's own simple bread is much better than someone else's pilaf.

Mullah is sick when poor dies.

A guest is a light in the house.

Money is dirt on the hands. It washes off very quickly.

Give a token, never mind if it's a rotten nut.

Even the ground has ears.

I am in need, but not of the entrails; I am in need of a tail.

Beauty without virtue is a curse.

Until the lions have their historians, tales of the hunt shall always glorify the hunter.

Shameful is not the one who doesn't know, but the one who doesn't ask.

Make sure your blanket covers your feet.

Until spring comes, nightingales do not sing.

Dog has to have its stomach full.

Intelligence is in the head, not in the age.

Take 100 measurements before you make one cut.

I tried to draw the eyebrow, but I ended up poking the eye

Nobody takes his wealth to the other world.

Pass the bridge that your kinsmen have passed.

Someone's end is someone's beginning.

One who relies on his neighbor will remain without a dinner.

Better a good neighbor than a bad relative.

Don't tie garlic on your head if you don't have a headache.

The Republic of Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani flag with the map of Azerbaijan


Azerbaijan is a transcontinental country in the Caucasus region, situated at the crossroads of Eastern Europe and Western Asia.It is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west and Iran to the south. The exclave of Nakhchivan is bounded by Armenia to the north and east, Iran to the south and west, while having a short border with Turkey in the northwest.

The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic proclaimed its independence in 1918 and became the first Muslim-majority democratic and secular republic. It was also the first Muslim-majority country after Egypt to have operas, theaters and modern universities. The country was incorporated into the Soviet Union in 1920 as the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic. Azerbaijan proclaimed its independence on 30 August 1991, before the official dissolution of the USSR. In September 1991, the disputed Armenian-majority Nagorno-Karabakh region re-affirmed its willingness to create a separate state as the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. The region, effectively independent since the beginning of the Nagorno Karabakh War in 1991, is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan until a final solution to its status is found through negotiations facilitated by the OSCE. (Source)

Baku is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. Baku is located 28 metres (92 ft) below sea level, which makes it the lowest lying national capital in the world and also the largest city in the world located below sea level. It is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, which projects into the Caspian Sea. The city consists of two principal parts: the downtown area and the old Inner City (21.5 ha). At the beginning of 2009, Baku's urban population was estimated at just over two million people. Officially, about 25 percent of all inhabitants of the country live in Baku's metropolitan area.

The official language is Azerbaijani, which is spoken by approximately 92% of the population as a mother tongue. It belongs to the Turkic language family. Russian and English play significant roles as second or third languages of education and communication. There are a dozen other languages spoken natively in the country.

Lyrics:
March of Azerbaijan, "Azərbaycan Marşı" is the national anthem of Azerbaijan.(YouTube Video)

Azerbaijan! Azerbaijan!
The glorious Homeland of a valorous descendant!
We are ready to die for you sententiously!
We are mighty to plague for you sententiously!
Live blissfully with your three – colored flag!
Thousands of martyrs had sacrificed for you,
Your chest had become the site of wars!
Soldiers had passed you justice!
Each one became a hero!
You, become a flower garden,
The sacrifice of our souls anytime for you!
Never –ending love for you
Has got a place in my heart!
To maintain your honor,
To elevate your flag,
To maintain your honor,
The young are intended sententiously!
The glorious Homeland, the glorious Homeland!
Azerbaijan! Azerbaijan!