salam
[sɑˈɫɑm]
Hello in Azerbaijani is salam. Wiktionary also lists hər vaxtınız xeyir olsun and hər vaxtınız xeyir.
Meaning: greeting (intj)
Ways to say it
| Azerbaijani | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| salam | [sɑˈɫɑm] (narrow) | |
| hər vaxtınız xeyir olsun | [hær vaχtɯˈnɯz χe(j)ir oɫˈsun] (narrow) [hær væχtiˈ(ni)z χe(j)ir oˈsːun] (Tabriz, narrow) |
|
| hər vaxtınız xeyir | ||
| günaydın | ||
| xoş gördük | [ˈxoʃ ɟœɾdyç] (narrow) [ˈxoʃ ɟ͡ʝœɾdyç] (narrow) |
|
| əssəlamü əleyküm | ||
| səlam | South Azerbaijani |
There are also more specific greetings: günaydın is used specifically for "good morning", while xoş gördük is a greeting used to express pleasure at seeing someone, often used when a guest arrives.
What does it mean word for word?
The word salam literally means "peace".
Which one should you use?
While salam can be used at any time of day, günaydın is used specifically for "good morning".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Hər vaxtınız xeyir olsun is a more formal and polite way to say hello, often used when addressing elders or groups in a respectful manner. This can also be shortened to hər vaxtınız xeyir.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The spelling səlam is the variant used in South Azerbaijani dialects.
When do people say it?
When using the greeting salam, a common response is Və aleykim salam, which means "And upon you peace".
Did you know?
- In Azerbaijani culture, greeting elders is not just about the words used. It is common to slightly bow or touch the elder's hand and bring it to one's forehead as a sign of deep respect after saying salam.
- While salam means 'peace', the word xeyir in the formal greeting hər vaxtınız xeyir comes from the Arabic word for 'good'. In modern Turkish, this same root became hayır, which paradoxically means 'no'.
- The phrase əssəlamü əleyküm is a direct borrowing from Arabic and is often used in more traditional or religious contexts. It represents a higher level of formality than the shortened salam.
Examples in context
- "Salam." "Və aleykim salam.""Hello." "And upon you peace."This example shows a common greeting and its response using salam.Tatoeba #13330726 by Nicat, translation #12343453 by Miktsoanit
- Hər kəsə salam. Adım Tomdur.Hello everyone. I am Tom.This sentence shows how to use salam to greet a group of people.Tatoeba #13368237 by Nicat, translation #13368139 by Adelpa
- "Salam." "Yaxşıyam. Sən necəsən?""Hello." "Good, how are you?"This example demonstrates a greeting and a follow-up question using salam.Tatoeba #13330723 by Nicat, translation #12343457 by Miktsoanit
- 14 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Kamran and Leyla meet at a local cafe.
- KamranSalam, Leyla.Hello, Leyla.
- LeylaSalam, Kamran. Necəsən?Hello, Kamran. How are you?
- KamranYaxşıyam, çox sağ ol.I am fine, thank you very much.
- LeylaMən də yaxşıyam.I am also fine.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hello” translations and entries salam, hər vaxtınız xeyir olsun, xoş gördük, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hər, hər vaxtınız xeyir olsun, salam, xeyir, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
