Immerse yourself in the atmosphere of Georgia: Keywords and phrases in Georgian

Georgia attracts more and more tourists, and in parallel with the growing popularity of the country, interest in the Georgian language is also increasing. If earlier tourists communicated with locals in English or Russian, and sometimes resorted to gestures to explain their intentions, now they are increasingly pronouncing Georgian words. For Georgians, this is not just a trifle, because their native language has a special meaning. The fundamental principles of the Georgian nation, as the outstanding Georgian writer Ilya Chavchavadze said, include language, homeland and faith.

Therefore, for Georgians, such attempts by tourists to speak Georgian are not only a manifestation of respect, but also a way to establish a more trusting relationship with local residents. Sputnik Georgia has compiled a small list of keywords and phrases in Georgian that will help you better interact with hospitable Georgians.

Before moving on to practical phrases, let's dive into theory a little. The Georgian language is ancient and has a continuous written and literary tradition. It originated in the IV century after the adoption of Christianity and was strongly influenced by Aramaic and Greek scripts. The Georgian language uses three different scripts that have been included in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List.

Let's move on to practice. One of the most important words to start a dialogue is a greeting. In Georgia, they say "gamarjoba" instead of the English "hello" or the Russian "hello". And to wish a good time of day, they use "gama mshvidobisa" for a peaceful night or "dila mshvidobisa" for a peaceful morning. At parting, you can say "mshvidobit" (in peace) or just "nahvamdis" (goodbye).

If you want to thank someone, just say "madloba" or "didi madloba" (thank you very much). If you are thanked, say "arapris" (not for anything). To express consent, use "ki" or "diah" (yes) and "ara" (no).

Now let's move on to more advanced phrases. Imagine that you are at the airport and need to get to the city. You can ask "ukatsravad, rogor mivide kalakamde?" (sorry, how to get to the city?). Don't worry, in most cases you won't need to walk, it's just a feature of the Georgian language.

To introduce yourself, say "me mkvia..." (my name is...). For the question "what is your name?" use "ra gcvia?" and answer the question "how are you?" with the phrase "rogor har?" (how are you?). If your business is good, say "kargad, shen/tkven?" (well, what about you?). If things are not so good, you can say "tsudad" (bad).

In Georgia, you always want to try something delicious, so the phrase "ra girs?" (how much does it cost?) it will become your indispensable assistant in the market or in the store. Even if the seller understands Russian or gestures well, hearing your phrase in Georgian will help create a friendly atmosphere and, perhaps, even get a discount.

And, of course, in Georgia it is important to be able to express your impressions of delicious food. If you liked it, say "ra gemrielia" (it was delicious). And finally, the word "sikvaruli" means "love" in Georgian. If you want to express your love for Georgia, say "me shen mikvarhar, Sakartvelo" (I love you, Georgia).