Basic Vocabulary
Georgian (ქართული, Kartuli) belongs to the South Caucasian language family — and is not related to any other major language family. It has its own alphabet (Mchedruli) with 33 letters, no uppercase and lowercase distinction, and a grammar that even makes linguists sweat. But don't worry: a few basic terms are enough to bring joy everywhere.
Greetings & Politeness
| German | Georgian | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | გამარჯობა | Gamarjoba |
| Hello (informal) | გაუმარჯოს | Gaumarjos (also as a toast!) |
| Goodbye | ნახვამდის | Nakhvamdis |
| Thank you | მადლობა | Madloba |
| Thank you very much | დიდი მადლობა | Didi madloba |
| Please / You're welcome | არაფრის | Arapris |
| Yes | დიახ / კი | Diakh / Ki |
| No | არა | Ara |
| Sorry | უკაცრავად | Ukazravad |
| How are you? | როგორ ხარ? | Rogor khar? |
| Good, thank you | კარგად, მადლობა | Kargad, madloba |
| Cheers! / To your health! | გაუმარჯოს! | Gaumarjos! |
Useful Phrases
| German | Georgian | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| How much does this cost? | რა ღირს? | Ra ghirs? |
| Where is...? | სად არის...? | Sad aris...? |
| I don't understand | ვერ გავიგე | Ver gavige |
| Do you speak English? | ინგლისურად ლაპარაკობ? | Inglissurad laparakob? |
| Delicious! | გემრიელია! | Gemrielia! |
| Beautiful! | ლამაზია! | Lamazia! |
| Water | წყალი | Zqali |
| Wine | ღვინო | Ghvino |
| Bread | პური | Puri |
| The bill, please | ანგარიში, თუ შეიძლება | Angarishi, tu sheidzleba |
| No problem | არაფერია | Araperia |
| Georgia | საქართველო | Sakartwelo |
Numbers
| Number | Georgian | Number | Georgian |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Erti | 6 | Ekvsi |
| 2 | Ori | 7 | Schwidi |
| 3 | Sami | 8 | Rwa |
| 4 | Otkhi | 9 | Zkhra |
| 5 | Khuti | 10 | Ati |
Communicating in Russian
The older generation (40+) speaks fluent Russian — it was the lingua franca of the Soviet era. If you speak Russian, you can get by everywhere (except in very touristy places where English dominates). Younger Georgians increasingly speak English, especially in Tbilisi, Batumi, and tourist areas.
💡 Tipp
The three magic words: "Gamarjoba" (Hello) for greetings, "Madloba" (Thank you) after everything, and "Gaumarjos!" (Cheers!) with wine. With these, you can open any door and heart in Georgia. Georgians love it when foreigners try their language — even if the pronunciation is "creative."
