Directions

1. Azadlıq meydanına necə getmək olar?

   A-zad-lıq mey-da-nı-na ne-cə get-mək o-lar?

   How can I get to Freedom Square?

   Usage

   Asking directions to Freedom Square (Azadlıq meydanı) in central Baku

   Grammar Note

   "Olar" from "olmaq" (to be/become), used for impersonal possibility. Dative suffix "-a/-ə" marks direction as in Turkish.

2. Sola dönün

   Turn left

   Usage

   Instructing someone to turn left

   Grammar Note

   "Sol" (left), "sağ" (right). The direction of the turn takes the dative "-a/-ə": "sola dönün" (turn to the left). The ablative "-dan" (from) is not used here.

3. Düz gedin

   Düz ge-din

   Go straight ahead

   Usage

   Telling someone to proceed straight ahead

   Grammar Note

   Polite imperative adds "-in/-ın" to the verb stem. "Gedin" mirrors Turkish "gidin". The plural form doubles as polite singular.

4. Buradan nə qədər uzaqdır?

   Bu-ra-dan nə qə-dər u-zaq-dır?

   How far is it from here?

   Usage

   Asking how far a destination is from the current location

   Grammar Note

   "Nə qədər" = Turkish "ne kadar" (how much/far). Ablative "-dan/-dən" marks the starting point "from".

5. Metro stansiyası haradadır?

   Met-ro stan-si-ya-sı ha-ra-da-dır?

   Where is the metro station?

   Usage

   Asking for the location of a Baku Metro station

   Grammar Note

   Baku Metro opened in 1967 during the Soviet era. "Harada" (where) is the locative form of "hara" (where).

6. Xəritəni göstərə bilərsinizmi?

   Xə-ri-tə-ni gös-tə-rə bi-lər-si-niz-mi?

   Could you show me the map?

   Usage

   Politely asking someone to show you a map

   Grammar Note

   "Bilmək" (can/to be able) attaches after the verb stem to form potential. "-siniz" = polite plural, "-mi" = question marker.

7. Köhnə şəhər hara tərəfdir?

   Köh-nə şə-hər ha-ra tə-rəf-dir?

   Which direction is the old city?

   Usage

   Asking for the direction toward Baku's UNESCO-listed Old City (İçərişəhər)

   Grammar Note

   İçərişəhər (Inner City) is UNESCO World Heritage. "Tərəf" from Arabic "taraf" (side, direction).

8. Yaxında avtobus dayanacağı varmı?

   Is there a bus stop nearby?

   Usage

   Looking for a nearby public transit stop

   Grammar Note

   "Dayanacaq" is a noun formed from "dayanmaq" (to stop), meaning "stop"; it also means car park, so a bus stop is "avtobus dayanacağı". "Var mı" = "Is there...?" existential question.

9. Yolumu azmışam, kömək edin

   I'm lost, please help me

   Usage

   Asking for help when you are lost

   Grammar Note

   "Yolumu azmışam" = yol (road) + -um (my) + -u (accusative) + the perfect of azmaq (to stray): "I have lost my way". "İtmək" means "to disappear / be lost (of things)" and is not used for a person getting lost. "Kömək etmək" is a compound verb.

10. Hava limanına avtobusla neçə dəqiqə çəkir?

    Ha-va li-ma-nı-na av-to-bus-la ne-çə də-qi-qə çə-kir?

    How many minutes does it take to the airport by bus?

    Usage

    Asking how long the bus journey to the airport takes

    Grammar Note

    "Hava limanı" (airport) = "air" + "harbor". "Dəqiqə" (minute) from Arabic "daqīqa". Baku International Airport is ~30 min by bus.

11. Sağ

    Right

    Usage

    Point right in a taxi or when following directions; the same word also means alive/healthy ("Sağ ol" = thanks), so gesture as you show it. "Turn right" is "sağa dönün"

12. Sol

    Left

    Usage

    Point left; "turn left" is "sola dönün"

13. Düz

    Straight ahead

    Usage

    Show this for "keep going straight"; the same word also means correct or flat, so point forward as you show it. "Düz gedin" = go straight

14. Geri qayıdın

    Go back

    Usage

    Ask the driver to turn back after overshooting; "Geri" alone works too

15. Burada saxlayın

    Stop here

    Usage

    Show this to get out of a taxi or minibus; stopping a vehicle is "saxlamaq" in Azerbaijani — say "saxlayın", not Turkish "durun"

16. Şimal

    North

    Usage

    For reading maps and compass directions; Azerbaijani uses the Arabic-derived "şimal", not Turkish "kuzey"

17. Cənub

    South

    Usage

    For maps and compass directions; "cənub", not Turkish "güney"

18. Şərq

    East

    Usage

    For maps and compass directions; "şərq", not Turkish "doğu"

19. Qərb

    West

    Usage

    For maps and compass directions; "qərb", not Turkish "batı"

20. Otel

    Hotel

    Usage

    Show this as your destination; signs are often spelled "HOTEL"

21. Hava limanı

    Airport

    Usage

    Show this as your destination; Baku's is "Heydər Əliyev Hava Limanı". Azerbaijani writes it as two words, unlike Turkish "havalimanı"

22. Avtobus dayanacağı

    Bus stop

    Usage

    Ask where the bus stop is; a stop is "dayanacaq", not Turkish "durak". The same word also means car park, so watch context

23. Metro

    Metro / subway

    Usage

    The Baku Metro; entrances carry a red "M". You need a "BakıKart" to ride

24. Səfirlik

    Embassy

    Usage

    Show this as a destination if you lose your passport; Azerbaijani says "səfirlik", not Turkish "büyükelçilik". A consulate is "konsulluq"

25. Bankomat

    ATM

    Usage

    A cash machine — in Azerbaijan the Russian-derived "bankomat" (банкомат) is standard and appears on the machines themselves; "ATM" is understood but not the default as in Turkey

26. Valyuta mübadiləsi

    Currency exchange

    Usage

    For finding an exchange booth; signs read "VALYUTA MÜBADİLƏSİ" or Russian "ОБМЕН ВАЛЮТЫ". Turkish "döviz bürosu" is not used here

27. Camaşırxana

    Laundry / laundromat

    Usage

    For finding somewhere to wash clothes; coin-operated self-service is rare, and most places wash for you (dry cleaning is "kimyəvi təmizləmə")

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