Learning a new language involves not only grasping its grammar and pronunciation but also expanding one’s vocabulary across a wide array of topics. If you’re planning to visit the Caspian Sea or any seaside location in Azerbaijan or simply want to enrich your Azerbaijani lexicon with terms related to the sea, here’s a helpful list of seaside and marine vocabulary along with their definitions and examples.

Dəniz – Sea
This is the Azerbaijani word for a large body of saltwater that is often connected to an ocean and partially or completely enclosed by land.
Uşaqlar dənizdə üzməyi çox sevir. (The children love swimming in the sea.)

Plaj – Beach
The term for the shore of a body of water, often covered by sand or pebbles.
Biz həftə sonu plajda voleybol oynadıq. (We played volleyball at the beach over the weekend.)

Dalğa – Wave
Refers to the periodic movement and fluctuation of the water’s surface.
Dəniz dalğalarının səsi məni sakitləşdirir. (The sound of the sea waves calms me down.)

Kənar – Shore
The word used to describe the land along the edge of a sea, lake, or other large body of water.
Bütün günü dənizin kənarında gəzdim. (I walked along the shore all day.)

Gəmi – Ship
A larger vessel designed for ocean travel.
Gəmi limana yaxınlaşır. (The ship is approaching the harbor.)

Qayıq – Boat
A smaller, often simpler watercraft that is typically used for travel and leisure activities on the water.
Biz göldə qayıq sürməyə getdik. (We went boating on the lake.)

Dəniz canlıları – Marine life
Encompasses all the animals, plants, and other organisms that live in the saltwater of the sea or ocean.
Dəniz akvariumunda müxtəlif növ dəniz canlıları var. (There are various kinds of marine life in the sea aquarium.)

Korall – Coral
A hard, colorful substance formed by the skeletons of small sea creatures, often found in warm, shallow marine waters.
Korall rəngləri ilə məni heyran edir. (The colors of the coral amaze me.)

Mercan – Reef
A ridge of jagged rock, coral, or sand just above or below the surface of the sea.
Dalış zamanı mercan rifini gördük. (We saw the reef while diving.)

Mərcan adası – Atoll
A ring-shaped reef, island, or chain of islands formed of coral.
Mərcan adasını hava şarından görmək mümkündür. (It is possible to see the atoll from a hot air balloon.)

Adalar – Islands
Plural for ‘island,’ referring to any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water.
Biz həftə sonu adalara getməyi planlaşdırırıq. (We are planning to go to the islands this weekend.)

Yunus – Dolphin
A highly intelligent marine mammal known for its playful behavior and its human-like smile.
Yunuslar dənizdə oynayır. (The dolphins are playing in the sea.)

Balıq – Fish
A limbless cold-blooded vertebrate animal with gills and fins, living wholly in water.
Balıqlar suyun altında sürü halında üzür. (The fish swim in shoals underwater.)

Mərcan balığı – Clownfish
A small, brightly colored fish that typically lives in the warm waters among sea anemones.
Mərcan balığı korallar arasında gizlənir. (The clownfish is hiding among the corals.)

Azerbaijani language has a rich array of seaside and marine vocabulary that reflects the country’s geography and culture. By familiarizing yourself with these terms, you can deepen your connection with the Azerbaijani language and its speakers, whether you’re ordering seafood at a restaurant, discussing marine conservation, or sharing stories of your coastal adventures.