Azerbaijani, South

A language of Iran

Azeri, Türki

Autonym

آذربایجان دیلی‎ (Azərbaycan dili), آذربایجانجا‎ (Azərbaycanca)

User Population

11,300,000 in Iran (2019). Ethnic population: 16,700,000 (2019). Total users in all countries: 14,629,370.

Location

Widespread, especially north and central.

Language Maps

3 (Wider communication).

Classification

Turkic, Southern, Azerbaijani

Dialects

Aynallu (Inallu, Inanlu), Karapapakh, Tabriz, Afshari (Afsar, Afshar), Shahsavani (Shahseven), Moqaddam, Baharlu (Kamesh), Nafar, Qaragozlu, Pishagchi, Bayat, Qajar. A member of macrolanguage Azerbaijani [aze].

Language Use

Vigorous. Used by all. Also use English [eng]. Also use Iranian Persian [pes]. Used as L2 by Alviri-Vidari [avd], Armenian [hye], Iranian Persian [pes], Karingani [kgn], Kho’ini [xkc], Muslim Tat [ttt].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L2: High, in Persian [pes]. Fully developed. Bible: 2013.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Azerbaijani, South

Writing

Arabic script, Naskh variant [Arab], used in Iraq and Iran. Arabic script, Nastaliq variant [Aran], used in Iran.

Other Comments

Muslim.

Also spoken in:

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Azerbaijan

Language NameAzerbaijani, South

User Population

294,000 in Azerbaijan (Leclerc 2017b).

Location

Scattered in the south.

Alternate Names

Azeri

Language Status

5* (Dispersed).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Azerbaijan

Canada

Language NameAzerbaijani, South

User Population

3,260 in Canada (2016 census). Census does not distinguish between South Azerbaijani [azb] and North Azerbaijani [azj].

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Canada

Iraq

Language NameAzerbaijani, South

User Population

2,400,000 in Iraq (2020).

Location

Kirkuk and Arbil governorates: Arbil and Kirkuk and area between them (As Sulaymaniyah), Sar Qal’ah area near Diyala border; Ninawa governorate: Mosul area.

Alternate Names

Azeri, Turk, Turkmen

Dialects

Kirkuk.

Language Status

5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (2005, Constitution, Article 4(1)), constitutional term: Turkmen. Unevenly recognized except in Kurdistan Region.

Language Use

Home.

Language Development

Many read Arabic or Kurdish. Low literacy rate in South Azerbaijani.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Muslim.

View other languages of Iraq

Sweden

Language NameAzerbaijani, South

User Population

2,120 in Sweden (2020 census), based on nationality.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Sweden

Syria

Language NameAzerbaijani, South

User Population

31,900 in Syria (2019).

Location

Hamah and Hims governorates: isolated central enclaves in both.

Alternate Names

Azeri, Turkmen, Turkomen

Language Status

5* (Dispersed).

Language Use

Also use Arabic [ara].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Not written in Syria. Muslim.

View other languages of Syria

Turkey

Language NameAzerbaijani, South

User Population

596,000 in Turkey (2019).

Location

Igdir and Kars provinces.

Alternate Names

Azəricə, Azeri

Dialects

Kars.

Language Status

5* (Dispersed).

Language Use

Also use Turkish [tur], as literary language.

Other Comments

Muslim.

View other languages of Turkey

United States

Language NameAzerbaijani, South

User Population

2,090 in United States (2015 census). Census does not distinguish between South Azerbaijani [azb] and North Azerbaijani [azj].

Location

California, New York, Tennessee, and Virginia.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Language Use

Many also use English [eng].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of United States

Azerbaijani, South

Primary tabs

A language of Iran

Also spoken in:

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