azerbaiyanos

Azerbaijanis, occasionally rendered as azerbaiyanos in some languages, are an ethnic group native to the South Caucasus. They form the majority in the Republic of Azerbaijan and are also found in the Iranian region of Azerbaijan. Diaspora communities exist in Russia, Turkey, Western Europe, and the Americas. The name Azerbaijanis derives from the historic land of Azerbaijan, a name used for various political and geographic entities over time.

Language: The Azerbaijani language is a Turkic language of the Oghuz branch. It has two standard varieties: North Azerbaijani spoken in Azerbaijan, and South Azerbaijani spoken in Iran. The writing system has changed over time: Latin script in Azerbaijan since 1991, Cyrillic during the Soviet era, and Perso-Arabic script is used in Iran.

Religion and culture: Most Azerbaijanis are Muslims, with a Shia majority in Azerbaijan and smaller Sunni communities; there are also Christians and Jews among the minority. Azerbaijani culture is noted for mugham classical music, literature (Nizami Ganjavi, Fuzuli, Khatai), carpet weaving, and a cuisine that features plov (pilaf), dolma, kebabs, and tea.

History: The Azerbaijani ethnogenesis formed in the South Caucasus from Turkic-speaking tribes and local populations. In the 20th century, Azerbaijan proclaimed independence briefly in 1918, then became part of the Soviet Union as the Azerbaijan SSR, and regained independence in 1991. The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has shaped modern politics and interethnic relations in the region.

Population and distribution: In Azerbaijan, Azerbaijanis constitute the overwhelming majority of the population. In Iran's Azerbaijan region, sizeable Azerbaijani communities form one of the country's largest ethnic groups in the northwest. Diaspora communities are present in Russia, Turkey, Europe, and the Americas.