What do Georgians say when they clink glasses?
Gaumarjos, alaverdi and toasting etiquette.
Short answer
When clinking glasses, Georgians say gaumarjos (გაუმარჯოს), meaning 'long live' or 'victory', the key word of every toast. When the tamada passes the floor to another guest, they say alaverdi (ალავერდი), and that guest continues the toast. A call to drink to the bottom is bolomde (ბოლომდე).
Why
- Toasts at a feast follow an order: to peace, to parents, to the departed and more.
- For the departed, glasses aren't clinked and people drink in silence.
- Drinking wine without a toast isn't done at a traditional feast.
Details
If you don't want to drain your glass, a sip is fine. A short gaumarjos works in any company.
Tip
If you don't want to drain your glass, just take a sip; it's fine and offends no one.
What may differ
The order of toasts varies slightly by region and occasion.
People also ask
- What do Georgians say when they toast?
Information checked on October 3, 2026.
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