Gamarjoba, Genatsvale: Meaning, Translation and How to Reply

In short

Gamarjoba (გამარჯობა) means "hello" in Georgian. You can use it at any time of day.

Genatsvale (გენაცვალე) is an affectionate form of address, closest to "dear" or "darling". It is most often said to someone your own age or younger.

Gamarjoba, genatsvale! (გამარჯობა, გენაცვალე!) means "Hello, dear!".

How to reply. The reply is "gagimarjos" (გაგიმარჯოს). You can also just say "gamarjoba" back, which is polite too.

Politely. To an older person, a stranger or several people at once, say "gamarjobat" (გამარჯობათ). The ending "-t" makes the word polite.

Checked on 18 October 2026 against Georgia's official tourism portal, an explanatory dictionary of the Georgian language and a Peace Corps textbook (links below in the text).

What does gamarjoba mean

Gamarjoba is the everyday greeting, covering both "hello" and "hi". Georgia's official tourism portal, Georgia Travel, lists it first among useful phrases and says it is used at any time of day. An explanatory dictionary of Georgian (in Georgian) explains it simply: the word people say to each other when they meet.

The word is written as one: გამარჯობა. In Latin letters you will see "gamarjoba", "gamardjoba" or "gamardzhoba": they are all the same word, spelled by ear.

Gaumarjos in toasts

At a Georgian table, people say "gaumarjos!" (გაუმარჯოს) at the end of a toast, for example "Sakartvelos gaumarjos!", "To Georgia!". It is a toasting word, so you do not use it to reply to gamarjoba.

What does genatsvale mean

The explanatory dictionary describes genatsvale as an affectionate form of address, mainly to someone your own age or younger. Examples from the same dictionary:

• მოდი, გენაცვალე, ჩემთან! "Come here, dear!"
• არ გაცივდე, გენაცვალე! "Don't catch a cold, dear!"

In English, "dear", "darling" or "my love" fit best. The word does not change: it is used for both men and women. You will also see it spelled "genacvale" in Latin letters; the usual spelling is "genatsvale".

How to reply to gamarjoba

The reply "gagimarjos" (გაგიმარჯოს) returns the wish to the other person. You can also reply with the same word, "gamarjoba". Both replies are in the language textbook that the US Peace Corps produced for its volunteers in Georgia (Peace Corps/Georgia, lesson 3).

An example of a greeting from the Peace Corps textbook:

• Mamuka: "Gamarjoba, Chris!"
• Giorgi: "Gamarjoba" (or "Gagimarjos").
• Mamuka: "Rogora khar?" ("How are you?")

If you are not sure which reply to choose, repeat the same greeting. It will not be a mistake.

How to greet someone politely

As the same textbook explains, Georgian has three levels of address: for friends and children, for strangers and older people, and for bosses and important people. The ending "-t" makes a word both polite and plural.

• Gamarjobat (გამარჯობათ): to an older person, a stranger or several people at once. In the textbook, a volunteer greets her host mother this way, and a teacher greets the class.
• Batono (ბატონო): "sir". Kalbatono (ქალბატონო): "madam". They go before the name: "Gamarjobat, batono Davit!". These forms of address are also on the Georgia Travel portal.

"Gamarjoba, genatsvale" sounds homely. To a stranger, a shop assistant or hotel staff, "gamarjobat" is the safer choice. If someone greets you that warmly, reply "gagimarjos" and smile.

How to write it in Georgian and in Latin letters

You can copy every word straight from the table. It shows the usual Georgian spelling of these words.

Latin letters only give an approximate sound: Georgian has sounds that English does not. The Georgian spelling shows the pronunciation most accurately, and best of all is to hear the word from a native speaker. To read signs and menus, the article on the Georgian alphabet will help. If Georgians write to you in Latin letters, see the article on translating Georgian messages written in Latin letters.

Georgian Mkhedruli letters: this is the script used to write გამარჯობა.

Katso, bicho, gaumarjos: similar words

• Katso (კაცო): a casual way to address a man, from "katsi" (კაცი), "man". It is not the opposite of genatsvale, just a different form of address, a bit like "hey, mate".
• Bicho (ბიჭო): a way to address a young man, from "bichi" (ბიჭი), "boy, lad". "Gamarjoba, bicho" means "hi, lad".
• Gaumarjos (გაუმარჯოს): "to…", a toasting word, not a reply to a greeting.

What to say after hello

After gamarjoba, you will most often need to say thank you and goodbye:

• Thank you: "madloba" (მადლობა) or the polite "gmadlobt" (გმადლობთ). More about the word in the article "Madloba: meaning and translation of the Georgian thank you".
• Good morning: "dila mshvidobisa" (დილა მშვიდობისა). Good evening: "saghamo mshvidobisa" (საღამო მშვიდობისა).
• Goodbye: "nakhvamdis" (ნახვამდის).

A short set of everyday words is in the answer "How to say simple words in Georgian", and phrases for shops, taxis and cafes are in the phrasebook for beginners. If the conversation goes beyond hello, a translator with voice and camera will help. If you decide to learn the language properly, see free Georgian courses and schools and language schools in Tbilisi in the directory.

At a Georgian table, toasts with "gaumarjos!" await you, along with the dishes described in the guide to Georgian cuisine.

Madloba video: 12 Georgian phrases for your trip.

Frequently asked questions

How do you translate "gamarjoba, genatsvale"?

"Hello, dear!". Gamarjoba means "hello", and genatsvale is an affectionate "dear, darling".

What does gamarjoba mean?

It is the Georgian "hello" and "hi" in one word. People use it in the morning, afternoon and evening.

Who is a genatsvale?

It is not a person or a title but an affectionate form of address: "dear", "darling", "my love". People say it to those close to them, to people their own age and to younger people.

How do I reply to gamarjoba?

"Gagimarjos" (გაგიმარჯოს), or the same word, "gamarjoba". To an older person or several people, the polite form is "gagimarjot".

What do I reply to "gamarjoba, genatsvale"?

"Gagimarjos!" or "gamarjoba!" is enough. You can add "genatsvale" in your reply if you know the person well.

How do I say hello politely?

"Gamarjobat" (გამარჯობათ). This is how you greet older people, strangers and several people at once.

Can I say "gamarjoba, genatsvale" to a woman?

Yes. Genatsvale does not change with gender: it is used for both men and women. But it is a warm, homely form of address: to a woman you do not know, it is better to say "gamarjobat" or "gamarjobat, kalbatono".

Can I say it to a stranger?

For a first greeting, "gamarjobat" on its own is better. Genatsvale fits when the conversation is already friendly or when someone has used it with you.

How do you write gamarjoba in Georgian?

გამარჯობა. The whole phrase: გამარჯობა, გენაცვალე! In Latin letters: gamarjoba, genatsvale.

Is it gamarjoba, gamardjoba or gamardzhoba?

They are the same word. The usual spelling in Latin letters is "gamarjoba"; the other spellings appear when the word is written down by ear.

What do gagimarjos and gaumarjos mean?

Gagimarjos is the reply to gamarjoba. Gaumarjos is said at the end of a toast and means "to…".

What does "gamarjoba, bicho" mean?

"Hi, lad". It is how you greet a young man or a friend.

How do you say thank you in Georgian?

"Madloba" (მადლობა), or the polite "gmadlobt" (გმადლობთ). The reply to thank you is "arafers" (არაფერს), "you're welcome".