At the A1 level, 'onlar' is simply the word for 'they'. Students learn it as part of the basic personal pronoun set: mən (I), sən (you), o (he/she/it), biz (we), siz (you plural), onlar (they). At this stage, learners use it in very simple subject-verb-object sentences. For example, 'Onlar tələbədirlər' (They are students). The focus is on recognizing the word and knowing that it refers to more than one person or thing. Vowel harmony is introduced here, showing how 'onlar' ends in 'lar' because 'o' is a back vowel. It is the foundation for all further plural descriptions. Most A1 learners will use 'onlar' explicitly in every sentence, which is fine for a beginner, though they will eventually learn to drop it.
At the A2 level, students begin to decline 'onlar'. This means they move beyond just 'they' and start using 'their' (onların), 'them' (onları), and 'to them' (onlara). They learn that 'onlar' is a 'back-vowel' word, so all suffixes must match (ı, a, o, u). A2 learners start to notice that in Azerbaijani, you don't always need to say 'onlar' if the verb has the '-lar' ending. They also begin to use 'onlar' with simple postpositions like 'ilə' (with), forming 'onlarla'. The distinction between 'onlar' (those/they over there) and 'bunlar' (these right here) becomes clearer at this level. Sentences become slightly more complex: 'Onlar mənimlə parka gedirlər' (They are going to the park with me).
At the B1 level, the usage of 'onlar' becomes more natural and fluid. Learners start to omit the pronoun when it's redundant, using it only for emphasis or when changing the subject of a story. They also master the locative (onlarda - at/with them) and ablative (onlardan - from them) cases. B1 students can use 'onlar' in complex sentences with conjunctions like 'çünki' (because) or 'amma' (but). For example: 'Mən onlara dedim, amma onlar məni eşitmədilər' (I told them, but they didn't hear me). They also begin to understand the rule that inanimate objects as subjects ('onlar') usually take a singular verb, a nuance that separates intermediate learners from beginners.
At the B2 level, 'onlar' is used in more abstract and argumentative contexts. The learner can use the pronoun to refer to abstract groups, such as 'the authorities' or 'the scientists', without needing to name them constantly. They understand the stylistic choice of using 'onlar' for emphasis in rhetorical questions or emphatic statements. B2 learners also start to use 'onlar' in relative clauses and more advanced grammatical structures, such as 'Onların gəldiyini gördüm' (I saw that they came). The focus shifts from basic grammar to the nuances of style, tone, and the flow of information in a paragraph. They also become proficient in using 'onlar' with a wider range of postpositions like 'haqqında' (about) or 'görə' (according to).
At the C1 level, the speaker uses 'onlar' with complete native-like intuition. They can manipulate the pronoun for literary effect, using it to create distance or to group concepts in sophisticated ways. C1 learners are aware of the historical and dialectal variations of the word, even if they don't use them. They can handle complex possessive chains involving 'onların', such as 'Onların dostlarının evləri' (Their friends' houses). At this stage, the learner also understands the 'plural of respect' where 'onlar' might be used for a single highly respected person in very specific traditional contexts, although 'siz' remains more common. They can also identify when 'onlar' is used as a placeholder in complex syntactic structures.
At the C2 level, the mastery of 'onlar' is absolute. The user can appreciate the word's role in classical Azerbaijani poetry and modern academic prose. They understand the subtle differences in meaning when 'onlar' is replaced by more specific terms like 'məzkur şəxslər' (the aforementioned persons) in legal or high-formal contexts. A C2 level user can analyze the rhythm of a sentence and decide whether including or omitting 'onlar' better serves the prosody of the speech. They are also fully aware of how 'onlar' functions in various Azerbaijani dialects (like the Tabriz or Ganja dialects) where the pronunciation or verb agreement might slightly differ. The pronoun is no longer a 'vocabulary word' but a flexible tool for precise communication.

onlar في 30 ثانية

  • 'Onlar' means 'they' in Azerbaijani and is completely gender-neutral.
  • It is the plural form of 'o' (he/she/it) and follows back-vowel harmony.
  • In sentences, it can be dropped if the verb ending clearly indicates 'they'.
  • It declines into six cases: onlar, onların, onlara, onları, onlarda, onlardan.

The Azerbaijani word onlar serves as the third-person plural pronoun, equivalent to the English word they. At its core, it is the plural form of the singular pronoun o (he, she, it). In the Azerbaijani language, which is part of the Turkic family, pronouns do not carry gender. Therefore, onlar is used universally for groups of men, groups of women, mixed groups, or even groups of inanimate objects and animals. Understanding this word is fundamental for any beginner because it opens the door to describing actions performed by others, identifying groups, and establishing relationships between subjects and objects in a sentence.

Grammatical Category
Personal Pronoun (Third Person Plural)
Gender Neutrality
Azerbaijani lacks grammatical gender, so 'onlar' covers 'they' (masculine), 'they' (feminine), and 'they' (neuter).

Onlar burada yaşayırlar.

Translation: They live here.

In daily conversation, onlar is frequently utilized to refer to people who are not present or to a group currently being observed. Interestingly, Azerbaijani speakers often drop the pronoun if the verb ending already indicates the plural third person (the suffix -lar or -lər). However, including onlar adds emphasis or clarity, especially when introducing a new subject into the discourse. For instance, if you are pointing at a group of students in a park, you would explicitly say 'Onlar tələbədirlər' to ensure the listener knows exactly who you are talking about.

Onlar çox maraqlı kitablardır.

Translation: They (those) are very interesting books.
Inanimate Usage
Unlike English, where 'they' is strictly for humans/animals and 'those' for objects in certain contexts, 'onlar' bridges both functions seamlessly.

Culturally, using onlar is quite direct. In more formal settings, you might hear alternatives like 'həmin şəxslər' (those persons) or 'o kəslər' (those individuals), but in 95% of social interactions, onlar is the standard. It is also the base for various case endings, which we will explore in the next section, allowing it to function as 'them', 'their', or 'from them'.

Mən onları tanıyıram.

Translation: I know them (Accusative case).

Using onlar correctly involves understanding the Azerbaijani case system. Unlike English, where 'they' only changes to 'them' or 'their', Azerbaijani pronouns change their endings based on their role in the sentence. This is known as declension. Let's break down the six primary cases for onlar.

Nominative (Subject)
Onlar - Used as the subject. Example: 'Onlar gəlirlər' (They are coming).
Genitive (Possessive)
Onların - Used to show possession. Example: 'Onların evi' (Their house).
Dative (Direction/Indirect Object)
Onlara - Meaning 'to them'. Example: 'Onlara de' (Tell [to] them).

The remaining three cases are equally important. The Accusative form is onları (them as a direct object), the Locative is onlarda (at them/with them), and the Ablative is onlardan (from them). Each of these forms follows the standard rules of Azerbaijani vowel harmony. Since onlar ends with a back vowel 'a', all suffixes added to it will also contain back vowels (ı, a, dan, da).

Kitabı onlardan aldım.

Translation: I took the book from them.

One of the most critical aspects of using onlar in a sentence is subject-verb agreement. In formal Azerbaijani, if onlar is the subject, the verb should ideally end in -lar or -lər. For example: 'Onlar gedirlər'. However, in casual speech, you will often hear 'Onlar gedir'. Both are understood, but the plural ending on the verb is considered more 'correct' in writing. If the subject is not human (e.g., 'The cars are coming'), even if you use onlar to refer to them, the verb almost always stays singular: 'Onlar gəlir' (They/Those [the cars] are coming).

Onlar məni çox yaxşı başa düşürlər.

Translation: They understand me very well.

Finally, consider the use of onlar with postpositions. In Azerbaijani, many prepositions in English are actually postpositions (they come after the word). When using onlar with postpositions like üçün (for) or ilə (with), the pronoun usually takes the genitive form: 'onların üçün' (though onlar üçün is also common) or 'onlarla' (a contraction of onlar ilə). Mastering these combinations is key to sounding like a native speaker.

The word onlar is ubiquitous in Azerbaijan. You will hear it from the busy streets of Baku to the quiet villages of the Caucasus mountains. Its primary domain is in social storytelling. Azerbaijanis are very communal and social; they often talk about what 'they' (the neighbors, the family, the government, the friends) are doing. If you are sitting in a 'çayxana' (tea house), you will constantly hear phrases like 'Onlar nə dedilər?' (What did they say?) as people exchange news and gossip.

Eşitdin? Onlar yeni ev alıblar.

Translation: Did you hear? They bought a new house.

In the media, onlar is the standard way news anchors refer to groups, such as 'the protestors', 'the ministers', or 'the athletes'. In literary contexts, such as the works of Nizami Ganjavi (in modern translations) or Mirza Fatali Akhundov, onlar is used to describe the masses or groups of characters. It provides a necessary distance between the speaker and the subjects being described. Because Azerbaijani culture values hierarchy and social roles, onlar can sometimes feel slightly distant or objective.

Another common place to hear onlar is in education. Teachers use it to refer to students: 'Onlar tapşırığı yerinə yetirdilər' (They completed the assignment). In business, it refers to competitors or clients: 'Onlar bizim təklifimizi qəbul etdilər' (They accepted our offer). It is a neutral, versatile word that fits into any social stratum. Interestingly, when talking about one's parents or elders out of extreme respect, some might occasionally use onlar even if referring to a single person (plural of respect), though the second person plural siz is more common for this purpose.

Onlar gələndə biz hazır olmalıyıq.

Translation: When they come, we must be ready.
Public Announcements
In metro stations or airports, you might hear 'onlar' in reference to passengers or specific groups being guided.

For English speakers learning Azerbaijani, the most common mistake with onlar is overusing it. Because Azerbaijani is a pro-drop language (like Spanish or Italian), the subject pronoun is often omitted if the verb ending makes the subject clear. Beginners tend to say 'Onlar gedirlər' every single time, whereas a native speaker would simply say 'Gedirlər' unless they need to emphasize who is going.

Mistake: Onlar mənim dostlarımdır. Onlar Bakıda yaşayırlar. Onlar çox mehribandırlar.

Why: Repetitive. After the first 'Onlar', the rest should be omitted.

The second major mistake involves the confusion between onlar (they) and bunlar (these). While onlar refers to people or things further away or previously mentioned, bunlar refers to things right here. English speakers sometimes use onlar when they should be using bunlar to point at something in their immediate vicinity.

Case Ending Errors
Mixing up 'onları' (them - direct object) and 'onlara' (to them - indirect object) is frequent. For example, saying 'Onları ver' instead of 'Onlara ver' (Give to them).

Another nuance is the pluralization of the verb when the subject is inanimate. As mentioned before, if onlar refers to 'the books' or 'the cars', the verb should be singular. Learners often pluralize the verb regardless of whether the 'they' refers to people or objects. 'Onlar (kitablar) masanın üstündədirlər' is technically understandable but sounds unnatural compared to 'Onlar masanın üstündədir'.

Mistake: Maşınlar gəlirlər. (The cars are coming.)

Correction: Maşınlar gəlir. (Verb remains singular for inanimate plurals).

While onlar is the most common way to say 'they', there are several alternatives depending on the context, formality, and proximity. Understanding these nuances will make your Azerbaijani sound much more sophisticated and natural.

Bunlar
Meaning: These. Usage: Used when the group is physically close to the speaker. If you are holding three pens, you say 'Bunlar mənimdir' (These are mine), not 'Onlar'.
Həmin şəxslər
Meaning: Those persons. Usage: Very formal. Used in legal documents, news reports, or formal speeches to specify a previously mentioned group of people.
Camaat
Meaning: The people / The community. Usage: Often used as a collective 'they'. 'Camaat nə deyər?' (What will people/they say?) is a famous cultural phrase about social pressure.

In some dialects or older literature, you might encounter anlar, which is the archaic form of onlar. However, in modern Republic of Azerbaijan speech, this is almost never used. Another alternative is hər kəs (everyone), which can sometimes replace 'they' when referring to a general group's behavior. For example, instead of 'they all like it', one might say 'hər kəs onu xoşlayır'.

İnsanlar bunu bilməlidir.

Translation: People (they) should know this.

Finally, the word özləri (themselves) is often used for emphasis alongside onlar. If you want to say 'They did it themselves', you would say 'Onlar özləri etdilər'. This adds a layer of agency that onlar alone does not provide. Comparing these words helps learners choose the right level of specificity for their conversation.

حقيقة ممتعة

In some Turkic languages like Turkish, 'onlar' is identical, but in others like Kazakh, it might be 'olar'. The root is one of the oldest in the language family.

دليل النطق

UK onˈlɑr
US onˈlɑr
The stress is always on the last syllable: on-LAR.
يتقافى مع
nar (pomegranate) qar (snow) var (there is) yar (beloved) tar (musical instrument) dar (narrow) şar (balloon) bar (fruit/yield)
أخطاء شائعة
  • Pronouncing 'o' as 'oh' (diphthong). It should be a pure vowel.
  • Failing to tap the 'r' at the end.
  • Stress on the first syllable.

أمثلة حسب المستوى

1

Onlar tələbədirlər.

They are students.

Subject 'Onlar' + Noun 'tələbə' + Plural suffix '-lər' + Copula '-dir'.

2

Onlar haradadır?

Where are they?

Question word 'harada' + Copula 'dır'.

3

Onlar çörək yeyirlər.

They are eating bread.

Present continuous verb 'yeyirlər' matches the plural subject.

4

Onlar mənim dostlarımdır.

They are my friends.

'Mənim' (my) + 'dostlar' (friends) + 'ım' (my possessive) + 'dır' (are).

5

Onlar gəlirlər.

They are coming.

Simple present continuous plural.

6

Onlar çox böyükdür.

They (objects) are very big.

When referring to inanimate objects, the verb often stays singular ('-dür' instead of '-dürlər').

7

Onlar burada yaşayırlar.

They live here.

Locative 'burada' (here).

8

Onlar şaddırlar.

They are happy.

Adjective 'şad' + plural suffix.

1

Onların maşını var.

They have a car.

Genitive 'Onların' + 'var' (there is) creates the 'to have' construction.

2

Mən onları tanıyıram.

I know them.

Accusative 'onları' as a direct object.

3

Biz onlara kitab verdik.

We gave a book to them.

Dative 'onlara' as the indirect object.

4

Onlar dünən gəldilər.

They came yesterday.

Past tense '-di' + plural '-lər'.

5

Onlarda çoxlu pul var.

They have a lot of money (with them).

Locative 'onlarda' + 'var' implies possession/location.

6

Onlardan soruşun.

Ask (from) them.

Ablative 'onlardan' + imperative verb.

7

Onlarla getmək istəyirəm.

I want to go with them.

'Onlarla' is a contraction of 'onlar' + 'ilə' (with).

8

Onların evi çox gözəldir.

Their house is very beautiful.

Possessive construction 'Onların evi'.

1

Onlar gələndə biz yemək yeyirdik.

When they came, we were eating.

'Gələndə' is a temporal adverbial clause (When they came).

2

Mən onlara hər şeyi danışdım.

I told them everything.

'Hər şeyi' (everything) + Dative 'onlara'.

3

Onların niyə gəlmədiyini bilmirəm.

I don't know why they didn't come.

Genitive 'Onların' + verbal noun '-diyini' (that they did not come).

4

Onlar haqqında çox eşitmişəm.

I have heard a lot about them.

Postposition 'haqqında' (about) used with the pronoun.

5

Onlar üçün hədiyyə aldım.

I bought a gift for them.

Postposition 'üçün' (for).

6

Onlar olmasaydı, biz nə edərdik?

If they weren't there, what would we do?

Conditional mood '-saydı'.

7

Onlardan biri mənim qardaşımdır.

One of them is my brother.

Ablative 'onlardan' + 'biri' (one of).

8

Onlar artıq Bakıda deyillər.

They are no longer in Baku.

Negative copula 'deyillər'.

1

Onlar öz hüquqlarını müdafiə edirlər.

They are defending their rights.

Reflexive 'öz' + 'hüquq' (right) + plural/possessive/accusative endings.

2

Onların bu məsələyə münasibəti fərqlidir.

Their attitude toward this issue is different.

Abstract noun 'münasibət' (attitude) in a possessive structure.

3

Onlar gəlməsə, iclası təxirə salacağıq.

If they don't come, we will postpone the meeting.

Negative conditional 'gəlməsə'.

4

Onların hərəkətləri bizi təəccübləndirdi.

Their actions surprised us.

Past tense transitive verb 'təəccübləndirdi'.

5

Onlar tərəfindən verilən qərarlar vacibdir.

The decisions made by them are important.

Passive construction using 'tərəfindən' (by).

6

Onlar nə qədər çalışsalar da, alınmadı.

No matter how hard they tried, it didn't work.

Concessive structure '-salar da' (even if they...).

7

Onların sayəsində biz qalib gəldik.

Thanks to them, we won.

'Sayəsində' (thanks to/by means of).

8

Onlar həm oxuyur, həm də işləyirlər.

They both study and work.

'Həm... həm də' (both... and) construction.

1

Onların bu addımı cəmiyyətdə birmənalı qarşılanmadı.

This step of theirs was not received unequivocally in society.

Complex possessive 'Onların bu addımı' + passive voice.

2

Onlar özlərini hər kəsdən üstün tuturlar.

They consider themselves superior to everyone.

Idiomatic expression 'üstün tutmaq'.

3

Onlar gəlib çıxana qədər biz artıq hər şeyi bitirmişdik.

By the time they arrived, we had already finished everything.

Temporal clause '-ana qədər' (until/by the time).

4

Onların gəlişi ilə hər şey dəyişdi.

With their arrival, everything changed.

Noun 'gəliş' (arrival) + possessive + postposition.

5

Onlar nəinki bizə, hətta özlərinə də inanmırlar.

They believe neither us nor even themselves.

'Nəinki... hətta... də' (not only... but even).

6

Onların hər birinin özünəməxsus istedadı var.

Each of them has their own unique talent.

'Hər birinin' (of each of them).

7

Onlar bu çətinliklərin öhdəsindən gələ bildilər.

They were able to overcome these difficulties.

Compound verb 'öhdəsindən gəlmək' (to overcome).

8

Onların gələcək planları hələ məlum deyil.

Their future plans are not yet known.

Formal adjective 'məlum' (known).

1

Onlar tarixin yaddaşında əbədi qalacaqlar.

They will remain eternally in the memory of history.

Poetic/High formal register.

2

Onların əməlləri sözlərindən daha uca səslənir.

Their deeds sound louder than their words.

Comparative 'daha uca' (louder/higher).

3

Onlar öz dövrlərinin qabaqcıl insanları idilər.

They were the progressive people of their era.

Past copula 'idilər'.

4

Onların sayəsində elm aləmi yeni bir mərhələyə qədəm qoydu.

Thanks to them, the world of science entered a new stage.

Idiomatic 'qədəm qoymaq' (to step into/enter).

5

Onlar haqqın və ədalətin tərəfində durdular.

They stood on the side of truth and justice.

Abstract genitive objects.

6

Onların yaradıcılığı nəsillər boyu öyrəniləcək.

Their creativity will be studied for generations.

Future passive '-iləcək'.

7

Onlar bütün maneələrə rəğmən öz məqsədlərinə çatdılar.

They reached their goals despite all obstacles.

Postposition 'rəğmən' (despite) with dative.

8

Onların varlığı bizə güc verir.

Their existence/presence gives us strength.

Gerund 'varlıq' as a subject.

تلازمات شائعة

onlar üçün
onların hamısı
onlardan biri
onlarla birlikdə
onlar haqqında
onların sayəsində
onlar gələndə
onlara görə
onlardan sonra
onları görmək

العبارات الشائعة

Onlar kimdir?

— Who are they? Use this to ask for the identity of a group.

Onlar kimdir, tanımıram.

Onlar haradadır?

— Where are they? Use this to find the location of a group.

Onlar haradadır, niyə gecikirlər?

Onların hamısı

— All of them. Used to refer to every member of a group.

Onların hamısı gəlib.

Onlardan heç biri

— None of them. Used for negative group statements.

Onlardan heç biri bilmir.

Onlar sağ-salamatdırlar.

— They are safe and sound. A common phrase used to reassure others.

Narahat olma, onlar sağ-salamatdırlar.

Onlar razıdırlar.

— They agree / They are satisfied. Common in negotiations.

Onlar bizim şərtlərlə razıdırlar.

Onlar məşğuldurlar.

— They are busy. Often used as an excuse.

İndi danışa bilməzlər, onlar məşğuldurlar.

Onlar dostdurlar.

— They are friends. Explains relationship.

Onlar uşaqlıqdan dostdurlar.

Onlar qonşudurlar.

— They are neighbors. Explains proximity.

Biz onlarla qonşuyuq.

Onlar gəldi-getdi.

— They came and went. Used for brief visits.

Onlar gəldi-getdi, heç nə anlamadıq.

تعبيرات اصطلاحية

"Onlar bir almanın iki yarısıdırlar."

— They are like two halves of an apple. Used for people who are very similar or inseparable.

Bu iki qardaş bir almanın iki yarısıdırlar.

informal
"Onlar ulduzları barmaqla sayırlar."

— They are counting stars with their fingers. Used for people who are daydreaming or doing something futile.

İşi buraxıb, ulduzları barmaqla sayırlar.

informal
"Onlar yola gəlmirlər."

— They don't come to the road. Means they are stubborn or won't compromise.

Nə qədər danışdıqsa da, onlar yola gəlmirlər.

neutral
"Onlar oda-suya düşüblər."

— They fell into fire and water. Means they have gone through great difficulties.

Bu layihə üçün onlar oda-suya düşüblər.

neutral
"Onlar bir qabdan su içirlər."

— They drink water from one bowl. Means they are very close friends or allies.

Onlar artıq on ildir ki, bir qabdan su içirlər.

informal
"Onlar aranı qatırlar."

— They are mixing the middle. Means they are causing trouble or confusion.

Həmişə onlar aranı qatırlar.

informal
"Onların ulduzu barışmır."

— Their stars don't reconcile. Means they don't get along with each other.

Niyəsə onların ulduzu barışmır.

neutral
"Onlar ağız-ağıza veriblər."

— They have put mouth to mouth. Means they are conspiring or talking in secret.

Görürsən, onlar yenə ağız-ağıza veriblər.

informal
"Onlar qan uddururlar."

— They make (someone) swallow blood. Means they are making life very difficult for others.

Bu müdirlər işçilərə qan uddururlar.

slang
"Onlar göylə gedirlər."

— They are walking in the sky. Means they are very arrogant or conceited.

Vəzifəyə keçəndən bəri onlar göylə gedirlər.

informal

عائلة الكلمة

الأسماء

onluq (a ten/group of ten)

مرتبط

o (he/she/it)
bunlar (these)
onlarca (tens of/dozens of)
onlarınkı (theirs)
onlarsız (without them)

احفظها

وسيلة تذكّر

Think of 'ONLY AR' (Onlar). 'Only' they can play the 'AR' (Azerbaijani Rhythm).

ربط بصري

Imagine a group of people standing far away, and you are pointing at them while saying 'ON-LAR'.

Word Web

o (singular) onlar (plural) onların (possessive) onlara (dative) onları (accusative) onlarda (locative) onlardan (ablative) onlarsız (without)

تحدٍّ

Try to describe a group of three friends using 'onlar' in five different cases within one minute.

أصل الكلمة

Derived from the Old Turkic root 'an' (that) + 'lar' (plural suffix). In modern Azerbaijani, the 'a' shifted to 'o'.

المعنى الأصلي: Those ones / They.

Turkic

السياق الثقافي

In Azerbaijan, 'onlar' is often used in the context of 'camaat' (the community). There is a strong cultural emphasis on what 'they' (society) think, leading to the phrase 'Camaat nə deyər?' (What will they/people say?). This reflects the collectivist nature of Azerbaijani society where the actions of a group ('onlar') often carry more weight than individual choices. Additionally, in traditional storytelling, 'onlar' is used to refer to mythical groups like 'pərilər' (fairies) or 'divlər' (giants), common in Azerbaijani folklore.

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