Polite Traveler: How to Say Thank You, Please & Excuse Me in Georgian

In 2026, getting to Georgia is easier than ever. More direct flights land in Tbilisi and Kutaisi, and translation apps fit in your pocket. Yet the first time you face a bakery counter with only Mkhedruli script on the sign, you may freeze. Many visitors worry that one wrong word will offend someone. Good news: Georgians are very forgiving of foreigners who try, and five or six short phrases will carry you through almost any day.

Why Georgian Politeness Lives in the Word Endings

Georgian is a Kartvelian language. It has no family link to Russian, English or any Indo-European language, and it has its own alphabet, Mkhedruli. That matters for manners. Never assume a Georgian speaks Russian or wants to. Start with a Georgian word, even a badly pronounced one.

Respect is shown mostly by adding -t to the end of a verb. This ending works like a polite “you” for elders, strangers, officials and groups. Drop it with friends, children and people your own age who have invited you to be casual. If you are unsure, keep the -t. Being too polite is never a problem in Georgia.

Saying Thank You: From Madloba to Didi Madloba

Thank you is the phrase you will use most. It also gets the warmest reaction.

• Madloba (mad-LO-ba) means “thanks.” It is safe everywhere and with everyone.
• Gmadlobt (g-mad-LOBT) is the formal, more respectful version. Use it with older people, hosts and staff.
• Gmadlob (g-mad-LOB) is the informal version for friends and young people.
• Didi madloba (DEE-dee mad-LO-ba) means “big thanks.”
• Dzalian gmadlobt (DZAH-lee-an g-mad-LOBT) means “thank you very much.”

Stress in Georgian is light, so do not push hard on any one syllable. Say each part evenly and smile.

To answer someone who thanks you, say arapris (ah-rah-PREES). It means “it’s nothing” and works as “you’re welcome.”

Saying Please: The Tricky One

Georgian has no single small word like the English “please” that you attach to every request. The nearest equivalent is gtkhovt (g-TKHOVT), which literally means “I ask you.” You will hear it when someone hands you something or invites you to go first. The informal form is gtkhov.

For your own requests, there is an easier option: tu sheidzleba (too shay-DZLE-ba), meaning “if it is possible.” Put it before or after what you want. Point at a pastry and say “tu sheidzleba” with a smile, and you sound polite and natural.

Two more tools help when ordering or travelling:

• Aq, gtkhovt (ak, g-TKHOVT): “Here, please.” Useful for taxi drop-offs.
• Gaacheret, gtkhovt (gah-ah-CHEH-ret, g-TKHOVT): “Stop, please.” Use it on a minibus when you want to get off.

Excuse Me and Sorry: Three Phrases, Three Jobs

Georgian uses different words depending on whether you are getting attention, squeezing past someone or apologising.

• Bodishi (bo-DEE-shi) covers both “sorry” and “excuse me.” If you bump someone on a crowded pavement or step on a foot, this is your word.
• Ukatsravad (oo-KAT-sra-vad) is the formal “excuse me,” used to get someone’s attention. Say it to a shop assistant, a waiter or a stranger when you need directions.
• Sheidzleba? (shay-DZLE-ba) means “May I?” Use it to ask to sit at a free seat, pass through a door, or take a photo of someone’s courtyard.

If you do not understand a reply, say ver gavige (ver ga-VEE-geh), “I did not understand.” Follow it with “bodishi,” and people will usually slow down or find a word of English.

Yes, No and Polite Replies

The basics are ki (kee) for “yes” and ara (AH-ra) for “no.” In formal situations, such as a government office or a bank, you may hear diakh (dee-AKH), a more formal “yes.” You do not need to use it yourself, but you will recognise it.

A short “ara” can sound sharp, so soften it. Say ara, madloba (“no, thanks”) when refusing a taxi offer or a sales pitch.

Refusing food or drink at a Georgian table needs more care. A host’s pride is tied to how well you eat, and they will offer you seconds, then thirds. A first “no” is often treated as polite modesty. To signal that you are truly full, say madloba, aghar minda (mad-LO-ba, ah-GHAR MIN-da), “thanks, I don’t want any more.” Place a hand on your chest while you say it. The “gh” is a soft sound made at the back of the throat, like a gentle gargle.

Then add a compliment: dzalian gemrielia (DZAH-lee-an gem-ree-eh-LEE-a), “it is very tasty.” This is the sentence that makes hosts happiest. At a supra, the toast gaumarjos (gow-MAR-jos), “cheers” or “victory to you,” is also a polite response when the tamada raises a glass.

Putting It Into Practice: Three Everyday Scenes

At a bakery

The smell of bread from a tone oven, yeasty and slightly smoky, hits you before you reach the door. Point at what you want, add “tu sheidzleba,” and finish with “madloba.” The baker will often nod or say “arapris,” and the whole exchange takes ten seconds.

On a minibus or city bus

Marshrutkas are busy, loud and quick. As your stop approaches, call out “gaacheret, gtkhovt” in a clear voice. When you squeeze past other passengers, a quiet “bodishi” is expected. Older passengers may offer you a seat, so thank them with “gmadlobt.”

At someone’s home or a supra

Say “gmadlobt” to your host as you enter, praise the food with “gemrielia,” and thank them again when you leave. You may also hear nakhvamdis (nakh-vam-DEES), “goodbye.” The hospitality tradition runs deep, so heartfelt thanks matter more than perfect grammar.

Pronouncing the Hard Sounds Without Stress

Georgian has sounds English lacks, but you do not need to master them to be understood.

• kh sounds like the “ch” in Scottish “loch.” You need it for gtkhovt and aghar.
• dz is like the “ds” in “kids,” as in dzalian.
• Consonant clusters like “gm” or “gtkh” sound strange at first. Add a tiny “uh” between them if you need to, such as “guh-madlobt.” People will still understand you.
• Vowels are pure and short: a, e, i, o, u. Say them the way they are written, without English-style glides.

The sounds that Georgian linguists call ejectives, sharp “popped” consonants, are the hardest for English speakers. Skip them if needed. Even locals admit they sound different across regions.

2026 Budget Reality: What Learning and Courtesy Cost

Politeness itself is free, but if you want to learn a bit more before or during your trip, here is what it costs in 2026. These are approximate figures.

• Budget (0–40 GEL): Free phrase apps, YouTube pronunciation videos and a printed list of phrases. A small Georgian phrasebook costs about 25–40 GEL. A metro or bus ride in Tbilisi costs about 1 GEL, so you can practise “madloba” for next to nothing.
• Mid-range (40–120 GEL): A paid language app subscription, or one online lesson with a Georgian tutor at roughly 30–60 GEL per hour. A coffee and pastry at a local cafe costs about 8–15 GEL, which makes a good practice setting.



• Comfortable (120–400 GEL): A short course of group or private lessons in Tbilisi, usually 25–60 GEL per session. Many schools also teach reading Mkhedruli script, which makes street signs and menus far easier.

Translation apps handle Georgian better than they once did, but they still mangle polite forms. A phrase you say yourself usually lands better than a phone speaking for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you say thank you in Georgian?

The most common way is “madloba” (mad-LO-ba). For more respect, say “gmadlobt” (g-mad-LOBT) with elders, hosts and strangers. “Didi madloba” means “big thanks,” and “dzalian gmadlobt” means “thank you very much.” Any of these will be warmly received.

Is there a word for please in Georgian?

Not exactly one small word for every request. Use “gtkhovt” (g-TKHOVT), meaning “I ask you,” or “tu sheidzleba” (too shay-DZLE-ba), meaning “if it is possible.” Adding either to a request, with a smile, sounds polite and natural to Georgian ears.

What is the difference between bodishi and ukatsravad?

“Bodishi” means both “sorry” and “excuse me” when you bump into someone or pass by. “Ukatsravad” is a more formal “excuse me” for getting attention, such as calling a waiter or asking a stranger for directions. When in doubt, “bodishi” works in most casual situations.

Do I need to learn Georgian to travel in Georgia in 2026?

No. English works in most Tbilisi and Batumi hotels, cafes and tourist sites. In villages and mountain regions, Georgian or Russian dominates. Knowing a handful of polite phrases is useful everywhere, and it earns warmer service and friendlier conversations even where English is spoken.

Should I use Russian if I do not speak Georgian?

It is better not to. Georgian and Russian are unrelated languages, and many Georgians, especially younger people, prefer English to Russian for historical reasons. Start with a Georgian greeting or “madloba,” then ask “English?” or use a translation app. Most people appreciate the effort.

📷 Featured image by Lala Azizli on Unsplash.