Basic Georgian words and phrases: a mini phrasebook
Twenty words you will use on day one.
Short answer
The most useful Georgian words are gamarjoba, hello; madloba, thank you; ki or diakh, yes; ara, no; tu sheidzleba, please; bodishi, sorry; ra ghirs, how much; and nakhvamdis, goodbye. In a cafe you will need tsqali, water, puri, bread, and gaumarjos, cheers.
Why
- Diakh is the polite 'yes', and ki is casual.
- Tu sheidzleba literally means 'if possible' and is used for 'please' in requests.
- Gaumarjos, 'to victory', is the main Georgian toast.
Details
A few more useful words: angarishi, the bill; gemrielia, tasty; sad aris?, where is it?; ar mesmis, I don't understand. Many dish names, such as elarji or jonjoli, are not translated; they are simply names of dishes.
Tip
Save the phrasebook on your phone and show the word if it's hard to pronounce.
What may differ
Fewer people speak Russian or English in the mountains and villages, so basic phrases are especially useful there.
People also ask
- What are basic Georgian words for tourists?
The transliteration is approximate; the Georgian spelling gives the pronunciation most accurately.
Russian-Georgian phrasebookRelated questions
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What does the phrase 'too late to drink Borjomi' mean?
'Too late to drink Borjomi' is a Russian colloquial saying meaning it's too late to fix things and action should have been taken earlier.
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Which is correct: Sighnaghi or Signagi?
In Russian the established spelling is Signakhi, though Signagi also appears; both try to render the Georgian letter ღ in სიღნაღი.
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What does 'aba' mean in Georgian?
Aba (აბა) is a conversational word meaning 'well', 'so', 'come on' or 'let's see', depending on intonation.
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What does 'ra' mean in Georgian?
Ra (რა) means 'what' or 'which' in Georgian and appears in many common questions.