What does 'katso' mean in Georgian?
A casual way to address a man, and why to use it carefully.
Short answer
Katso (კაცო) is a casual way to address a man, from katsi (კაცი), 'man, person', roughly 'hey, man' or 'listen, mate'. Among acquaintances it sounds simple and familiar, but to a stranger it may seem a bit rude. In Russian the word became known through films and jokes.
Why
- The -o ending makes it a form of address, as bichi becomes bicho.
- Katso is often said with annoyance or surprise: 'come on, katso!'.
- The polite way to address a man is batono.
Details
Visitors shouldn't address strangers this way, especially older people. Among friends it's fine as a joke.
Tip
To address a man whose name you don't know, say batono rather than katso.
Common misconception
Katso is a polite form of address.
What actually happens
Katso sounds familiar and can come across as rude; batono is the polite form.
People also ask
- What does katso mean?
The transliteration is approximate; the Georgian spelling gives the pronunciation most accurately.
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