What do you call a person from Azerbaijan?

People from Azerbaijan go by the label of Azerbaijani. Among the population of the South Caucasus nation—the Republic of Azerbaijan—we find two meanings for the term Azerbaijani: it conveys the country's national identity and establishes the ethnic roots of its citizens who reside in or carry its citizenship.

"Azerbaijani" vs. "Azeri" – Are They the same?

While “Azerbaijani” is the formal and official term, the word “Azeri” is often used informally or colloquially to describe the ethnic group known as Azerbaijani Turks. Both terms are widely accepted in English usage, though "Azerbaijani" is preferred in diplomatic, academic, and official contexts.

Azerbaijani: The official term for citizens of Azerbaijan, regardless of their ethnic origin.
Azeri: Commonly used in media and conversation to describe ethnic Azerbaijanis, especially in a cultural or linguistic context.

Ethnic composition and identity

Ethnic Azerbaijanis are primarily of Turkic (Oghuz) origin and commonly referred to as Azerbaijani Turks. They form the overwhelming majority of the population in the Republic of Azerbaijan and share close linguistic and cultural ties with other Oghuz-speaking peoples such as Turks and Turkmens. As a member of the Oghuz Turkic family the Azerbaijani language shares a close linguistic bond with Turkish and Turkmen.

However, Azerbaijan is a multiethnic country, and the term "Azerbaijani" is inclusive, officially encompassing all ethnic groups who are citizens of the country. These groups include:

Lezgins
Talysh
Russians
Kurds
Armenians (in small numbers)
Jews (Mountain Jews and Ashkenazi communities)
Tat people
Others

Thus, anyone who holds Azerbaijani nationality—regardless of their ethnicity—is officially referred to as an Azerbaijani.

Language and cultural identity

The majority of Azerbaijanis communicate through Azeri also known as Azerbaijani a language that adopted the Latin writing system after shedding Arabic and Cyrillic in past centuries. Azerbaijani functions as the national language but residents understand Russian more commonly in cities and schools across the country teach English as a second language.

Throughout history Azerbaijani identity has developed from Turkic heritage blended with Islamic traditions (primarily Shia Islam) and Caucasian cultural elements. Azerbaijan’s diverse governance under Persian, Russian, and Ottoman empires has established intricate multiple layers of national pride in the country.

Diaspora and regional context

Ethnic Azerbaijanis are not only found within the Republic of Azerbaijan. Large Azerbaijani populations also live in:

Iran – Particularly in the northwest, where over 15–20 million Iranian Azerbaijanis (also known as South Azerbaijanis) reside. They are culturally and linguistically related to those in the Republic of Azerbaijan, but they are Iranian citizens with distinct national experiences, shaped by the political and social structures of Iran.
Russia
Georgia
Turkey
United States and Europe – Smaller diaspora communities

Despite geographic differences, members of the Azerbaijani diaspora often identify strongly with their cultural roots, language, and traditions.

In conclusion, the correct term to refer to someone from Azerbaijan is Azerbaijani. This term encompasses citizenship, ethnicity, and linguistic identity. While the word “Azeri” is also commonly used, especially to describe the ethnic majority, “Azerbaijani” is the preferred and inclusive designation for all individuals connected to the Republic of Azerbaijan.

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