The Talyshi language (Tolyshi zyvon; Tolyshi) is one of the languages belonging to the North-Western group of the Iranian languages, and is spread in the region of the same name on the South-Western shore of the Caspian Sea, by both sides of the Iranian-Azerbaijani border. The number of the Talysh population in both countries constitutes 2-2,5 million people according to the unofficial figures.

The Talyshi language is customary subdivided into three major dialects, which have significant distinctions between each other: Northern (which is mostly spoken in the Azerbaijani Talysh), Central and Southern (both used in the Iranian Talysh). This dictionary is based on the vocabulary of the Northern dialect. The Talyshi language is strongly influenced by the Azeri- Turkic (in the north of Talysh and in central mountain regions), as well as Farsi and Gilaki (in the southern part). The absence of education and broadcasting in the Talyshi language has a negative impact on the level of language proficiency. The Talyshi language is primarily the language of basic social interactions, and it is gradually losing its dominant role pressured by the official languages.

The Talyshi language is characterized by the use of both nominative and ergative constructions. Among the peculiarities of consonantism in the Talyshi language one can point out the transition of unvoiced obstruent sounds, following the hollow sounds, into voiced sounds, which creates a double pronunciation, or in some cases displaces the hollow sound.

The Talyshi language preserves some phonetic features characteristic of the Median language.

Moreover, the Talyshi language, together with the so-called Tati dialects, is the extant dialect of the Azari language – the language of the ancient Aturpatakan.