The word "hazar" is often spelled with a "z" instead of a "s," which can cause confusion when pronouncing it. The correct spelling should be with an "s" sound. In IPA phonetic transcription, "hazar" is spelled as /hæˈzaɹ/. The first sound is a consonant cluster of /h/ and /æ/. The second syllable starts with a voiced alveolar fricative /z/ followed by a vowel sound of /a/ and ends with an alveolar approximant sound /ɹ/.
Hazar is a noun that refers to a Turkic ethnic group primarily residing in the countries of Afghanistan, Iran, Uzbekistan, and Pakistan. The term also denotes their language, which belongs to the West Iranian branch of the Indo-European language family. The Hazar people have a rich cultural heritage characterized by their unique traditions, customs, and way of life.
The Hazar language, also known as Mazandarani or Khurasani, is spoken by the Hazar people and is prevalent in the Hazarajat region of Afghanistan. It is closely related to the Dari and Persian languages but has distinct features and dialects specific to the Hazar community.
The Hazar people have a significant history and are believed to be descendants of the Mongol Empire, having converted to Islam in the 16th century. They have faced various social, political, and economic challenges throughout their existence, including persecution, discrimination, and marginalization.
The term "Hazar" is also used in reference to the Hazar Sea, also known as the Caspian Sea. Located east of the Caucasus Mountains, it is the largest inland body of water on Earth and is bordered by countries such as Russia, Iran, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan.
Overall, "Hazar" is a word with multiple meanings regarding an ethnic group, a language, and a geographical feature.
The word "hazar" has multiple origins and can have different meanings depending on the context.
1. In Turkish and Azerbaijani:
The term "hazar" (sometimes spelled "azar") means "thousand" in Turkish and Azerbaijani languages. It comes from the Old Turkic word "kazar", which is derived from the Proto-Turkic word "kačar". This borrowing of the term into Turkish and Azerbaijani occurred during the Turkic expansion and subsequent Turkic dynasties.
2. In Hebrew:
In Hebrew, "hazar" (הֲזַר) means "foreigner" or "stranger". It derives from the Hebrew root ח-ז-ר (h-z-r), which generally conveys the sense of residing or living in a place temporarily.