11-04-2025, 11:58

The Power of Words and the Depth of Language: What "Friend" Means Across Cultures

Our work is truly extraordinary. We encounter diverse peoples, their cultures, traditions, and worldviews. Russians, Georgians, Belarusians, Jews, Kazakhs, Italians… Each culture has its own perspective on friendship, and even the word “friend” carries profound meaning in their languages.
I decided to explore how this word sounds in different tongues and the values it embodies:
🔹 Russian – “друг” (drug): Literally “another self,” a soulmate who mirrors your spirit.
🔹 Georgian – “მეგობარი” (megobari): From “გობი” (gobi), meaning a deep plate. A megobari is someone you share a meal with—not everyone earns a seat at your table.
🔹 Hebrew – “חבר” (chaver): Rooted in “חַבָה” (chava), meaning love—a word infused with warmth.
🔹 Italian – “amico/amica”: Derived from “amore” (love), highlighting emotional bonds.
🔹 Belarusian – “сябр” (syabry): A term brimming with brotherhood and camaraderie.
🔹 Azerbaijani – “DOST”: A simple word, yet it’s an acronym that captures the essence of true friendship:
📌 D – Düzgün olmaq: Be honest and fair with your friend.
📌 O – Orta qalmaq: Stand as equals—never above or beneath.
📌 S – Səmimi olmaq: Be sincere, free of pretense.
📌 T – Tən yarı: Share everything equally—joys and sorrows.
Isn’t that genius? In Azerbaijani, friendship isn’t just a word—it’s a philosophy of connection.
Here’s what I’ll say: How can we not study languages? Language is the key to culture, worldview, and history. It reveals the beauty and depth of your own tongue. Once, I translated Azerbaijani folk songs into Russian, and people were stunned by their poetic richness, meaning, and melody. The more you explore other languages, the more you cherish your own.
So, friends, learn languages! Dive into their depths, uncover their meanings, and watch your world expand. 🌍✨