Azerbaijani, also known as Azeri, is a member of the Turkic language family, spoken primarily in Azerbaijan and parts of Iran. Its origins trace back to the Oghuz branch of the Turkic languages, which evolved around the 11th century. The language has been shaped by a variety of historical influences, including Persian, Arabic, and Russian, due to the region's strategic location at the crossroads of Central Asia, the Caucasus, and the Middle East. Over time, Azerbaijani developed distinct dialects, with two main varieties: North Azerbaijani, spoken in Azerbaijan, and South Azerbaijani, spoken in Iran.

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In the 20th century, Azerbaijani underwent significant changes as the region experienced shifts in political power. After Azerbaijan became part of the Soviet Union in the early 20th century, Azerbaijani was written in the Latin script, then switched to the Cyrillic alphabet in the 1930s under Soviet policies, and finally reverted to the Latin script after the country gained independence in 1991. These changes reflected both political and cultural shifts. Today, Azerbaijani is the official language of Azerbaijan, and it is used in education, media, and government, while also being spoken by Azerbaijani communities in Iran, Russia, and neighboring countries.

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To read more about the Azerbaijani language, Click Here.

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To hear the 1st paragraph of the 1st book, Click Here.