How do you say 'happy birthday' in Georgian?
The greeting, a toast and the song 'Mravalzhamier'.
Short answer
'Happy birthday' in Georgian is gilotsav dabadebis dghes (გილოცავ დაბადების დღეს), or politely and to several people gilotsavt (გილოცავთ). At the feast, a toast is raised to the birthday person with gaumarjos (გაუმარჯოს), 'long live'. The table song 'Mravalzhamier', 'many years', is often sung.
Why
- Dabadebis dghe literally means 'day of birth'.
- Gaumarjos is the key word of Georgian toasts.
- Mravalzhamier is sung in polyphony and is one of the best-known table songs.
Details
You can add bevr sikharuls gisurveb (ბევრ სიხარულს გისურვებ), 'I wish you much joy'. The short gilotsav works for any celebration.
Tip
If invited to a birthday, a greeting in Georgian and a bottle of wine make a good gift.
What may differ
Use the polite form with older people and strangers; the familiar form is fine with friends.
People also ask
- How do you say happy birthday in Georgian?
The transliteration is approximate; the Georgian spelling gives the pronunciation most accurately.
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