Essential Georgian Phrases for Travelers: Your Survival Guide

Why Georgian Is Both Harder and Easier Than You Think

In 2026, Georgia is welcoming more independent travelers than ever before — new direct flight routes into Tbilisi from Warsaw, Dubai, and several Asian hubs have opened up the country to visitors who arrive without a tour group and without a phrase book. That’s where things get uncomfortable. Georgian is not on any translation app’s “premium” language list. Google Translate handles it, but awkwardly. And outside of Tbilisi’s Rustaveli corridor and the main tourist zones of Kazbegi and Batumi, English gets you surprisingly little. Locals are patient and warm, but the effort of attempting even five words in Georgian changes the entire interaction. This guide gives you those words — and enough context to use them without embarrassing yourself.

What Makes Georgian So Different From Other Languages

Georgian belongs to the Kartvelian language family — a completely independent group with no connection to Indo-European languages like Russian, German, or Farsi, and no relation to Semitic or Turkic languages either. It is one of the oldest living languages in the world, with written records going back to the 5th century. When you hear it spoken, nothing will sound familiar. When you see it written, nothing will look familiar. That is not a reason to give up — it is a reason to manage your expectations correctly from the start.

The biggest shock for most visitors is the consonant clusters. Georgian words can stack consonants in combinations that feel physically impossible to an English speaker. The word for “to peel” is გლეჯა — ghleja. The word for “you are tearing” is krtsnit. The famous word gvprtskvni means “you are peeling us” and contains no vowels at all. You will not need that word. But understanding that Georgian works by agglutination — meaning it glues prefixes, roots, and suffixes together to build complex meanings in a single word — explains why your phrase app sometimes produces something seven syllables long for a basic question.

The good news: pronunciation is almost perfectly phonetic once you learn the sounds. There are no silent letters. Every letter says exactly what it says, every time. The stress patterns are gentle — Georgian words are rarely heavily accented on one syllable the way Russian or French words are. And Georgians are genuinely delighted when a foreigner makes an attempt, even an imperfect one. A mispronounced gamarjoba gets a smile every time.

The 20 Most Essential Phrases

These are the phrases that will carry you through the majority of daily interactions. Each entry includes the Georgian script, the Latin-script pronunciation guide, and a note on when to use it.

Greetings and Basic Courtesy

• გამარჯობა — ga-mar-JO-ba — Hello (universal, use it constantly)
• გამარჯობათ — ga-mar-JO-bat — Hello (more formal or to a group)
• დილა მშვიდობისა — DI-la mshvi-DO-bi-sa — Good morning
• საღამო მშვიდობისა — sa-GHA-mo mshvi-DO-bi-sa — Good evening
• ნახვამდის — nakh-VAM-dis — Goodbye
• გმადლობთ — gma-DLOBT — Thank you (formal)
• მადლობა — ma-DLO-ba — Thanks (casual, everyday use)
• თხოვნა — tkhov-NA — Please (less common as a standalone than in English — Georgians use it sparingly)
• ბოდიში — bo-DI-shi — Sorry / Excuse me

Yes, No, and Understanding

• კი — ki — Yes
• არა — A-ra — No
• არ ვიცი — ar VI-tsi — I don’t know
• არ მესმის — ar mes-MIS — I don’t understand
• გთხოვთ, გაიმეორეთ — gtkhovt, ga-i-me-O-ret — Please repeat that
• ნელა, გთხოვთ — NE-la, gtkhovt — Slowly, please

Immediate Practical Phrases

• სად არის…? — sad A-ris…? — Where is…?
• რამდენი ღირს? — ram-DE-ni ghirs? — How much does it cost?
• მეხმარება! — me-khma-RE-ba! — Help!
• გთხოვთ, დამიძახეთ მძღოლი — gtkhovt, da-mi-dza-KHET mdzgho-LI — Please call a driver/taxi for me
• ვსაუბრობ მხოლოდ ცოტა ქართულად — vsa-ub-ROB mkho-LOD tso-TA kar-tu-LAD — I only speak a little Georgian

Numbers 1–10

• ერთი — ER-ti — 1
• ორი — O-ri — 2
• სამი — SA-mi — 3
• ოთხი — OT-khi — 4
• ხუთი — KHU-ti — 5
• ექვსი — EK-vsi — 6
• შვიდი — SHVI-di — 7
• რვა — rva — 8
• ცხრა — tskhRA — 9
• ათი — A-ti — 10

Navigating Food and Drink in Georgian

Eating in Georgia is one of the great pleasures of the country — the warm, yeasty pull of a freshly baked khachapuri arriving on a wooden board, the cheese still bubbling at the center, is something your nose tells you about before your eyes do. But menus outside Tbilisi are often Georgian-only, and knowing even a handful of food-specific phrases makes the difference between pointing at someone else’s table and actually ordering what you want.

• მენიუ, გთხოვთ — me-NIU, gtkhovt — The menu, please
• ეს რა არის? — es ra A-ris? — What is this?
• გემრიელია! — gem-ri-e-LI-a! — It’s delicious! (use this freely — it makes hosts deeply happy)
• ვეგეტარიანელი ვარ — ve-ge-ta-ri-A-ne-li var — I am a vegetarian
• ვიგანი ვარ — VI-ga-ni var — I am vegan
• ხორცის გარეშე, გთხოვთ — khor-TSIS ga-RE-she, gtkhovt — Without meat, please
• წყალი, გთხოვთ — tsqa-LI, gtkhovt — Water, please
• ღვინო — ghvi-NO — Wine
• ლუდი — LU-di — Beer
• ყავა — qa-VA — Coffee
• ანგარიში, გთხოვთ — an-ga-RI-shi, gtkhovt — The bill, please

One phrase worth practicing before you arrive: gaumarjos — ga-u-mar-JOS — is the Georgian toast, meaning something close to “to victory” or “may you conquer.” If someone raises a glass in your direction and says it, you say it back. At a supra feast, the tamada toastmaster will direct proceedings, but guests are always invited to participate. Knowing this word, and using it, signals respect.

Getting Around: Transport, Directions, and Asking for Help

Georgia’s transport network has expanded considerably by 2026 — the Tbilisi metro’s long-discussed extension toward Didi Dighomi is now operational, and Georgian Railway’s Tbilisi–Batumi service runs more frequently. But once you are outside a city, the marshrutka (shared minivan) is still king, and drivers often speak no English at all.

• სად მიდის ეს ავტობუსი? — sad mi-DIS es av-TO-bu-si? — Where does this bus go?
• გთხოვთ, გამაჩეროთ… — gtkhovt, ga-ma-che-ROT… — Please stop at… (add place name)
• მარჯვნივ — mar-JVNIV — Right
• მარცხნივ — mar-TSKNIV — Left
• პირდაპირ — pir-da-PIR — Straight ahead
• სად არის სადგური? — sad A-ris sad-GU-ri? — Where is the station?



• სად არის ავტობუსის გაჩერება? — sad A-ris av-TO-bu-sis ga-che-RE-ba? — Where is the bus stop?
• რამდენი ღირს ბილეთი? — ram-DE-ni ghirs bi-LE-ti? — How much is the ticket?

For taxis and ride apps: Bolt and Yandex Go remain the dominant platforms in Georgia in 2026, and both work without speaking a word of Georgian. But if you are in a small town without mobile data, hailing a local car and negotiating a price requires knowing ramdeni ghirs? and your numbers. Agree on the price before getting in.

Shopping, Bargaining, and Polite Refusal

Georgia’s bazaars and roadside stalls are some of the most atmospheric places in the Caucasus — the smell of dried herbs, churchkhela hanging in dark clusters, wheels of Sulguni cheese stacked in rows. Fixed-price shops are common in cities. In markets, especially in Tbilisi’s Dezerter Bazaar or rural village markets, some flexibility exists, though aggressive bargaining is not part of Georgian culture the way it is in some other countries.

• რამდენი ღირს ეს? — ram-DE-ni ghirs es? — How much is this?
• ძვირია — dzvi-RI-a — It’s expensive
• შეგიძლიათ ფასი შეამციროთ? — she-gi-dzli-AT pa-SI she-am-tsi-ROT? — Can you lower the price?
• ვიყიდი — vi-qi-DI — I’ll buy it
• არ ვიყიდი — ar vi-qi-DI — I won’t buy it
• მადლობა, არ მჭირდება — ma-DLO-ba, ar mchir-DE-ba — Thank you, I don’t need it (polite refusal)
• ქვითარი, გთხოვთ — kvhi-TA-ri, gtkhovt — Receipt, please
• ბარათით გადავიხდი — ba-ra-TIT ga-da-vi-khdi — I’ll pay by card
• ნაღდი ფულით გადავიხდი — naghdi fu-LIT ga-da-vi-khdi — I’ll pay in cash

Emergency and Health Phrases

Georgia is a generally safe country, but illnesses, injuries, and accidents happen. Pharmacies — აფთიაქი (ap-ti-A-qi) — are well-stocked in cities and most towns, and pharmacists often have basic English. Hospitals in Tbilisi and Batumi have international-standard emergency care. In rural areas, these phrases can matter.

• მეხმარება! — me-khma-RE-ba! — Help!
• სასწრაფო დახმარება! — sas-tsra-PO dakh-ma-RE-ba! — Ambulance! / Emergency!
• პოლიცია! — po-li-TSI-a! — Police!
• მინდა ექიმი — min-DA ek-I-mi — I need a doctor
• მტკივა… — mtki-VA… — …hurts (point to body part)
• ალერგია მაქვს — a-ler-GI-a maqvs — I have an allergy
• სად არის აფთიაქი? — sad A-ris ap-ti-A-qi? — Where is the pharmacy?
• სად არის საავადმყოფო? — sad A-ris sa-a-vad-mqo-PHO? — Where is the hospital?

The emergency number in Georgia is 112 for all services — police, fire, and ambulance. Operators have English-language support 24 hours a day.

Reading the Script: Mkhedruli Basics You Can Actually Use

Georgian uses the Mkhedruli script — one of only fourteen alphabets in active use today that is entirely unique to a single language. It has 33 letters, all lowercase (there are no capital letters in the traditional sense), and it reads left to right. It was standardized in its current form in the 10th century.

You do not need to learn to write Georgian. But recognizing a handful of characters lets you navigate street signs, market labels, and bus destinations far more confidently. Here are the high-value characters to know:

• ა — looks like a backward 6 — sounds like “a”
• ბ — looks like a reversed 6 on a stem — sounds like “b”
• გ — curved hook — sounds like “g”
• თ — looks like a top-heavy cross — sounds like “t” (aspirated)
• ი — simple vertical stroke with curves — sounds like “i” (as in “bee”)
• მ — wave-like shape — sounds like “m”
• ს — looks like a swirled “s” — sounds like “s”
• ო — closed oval — sounds like “o”

With just these eight, you can begin to decode common words. სამი — s-a-m-i — three. მეტრო — m-e-t-r-o — metro. Many loan words in Georgian are written phonetically in Mkhedruli, so recognizing the letters unlocks more than you expect. Spend twenty minutes with a script chart before your flight and you will arrive feeling significantly less lost.

2026 Budget Reality: Prices and How to Talk About Money

Georgia remains excellent value in 2026, though prices in Tbilisi’s central districts have risen noticeably since 2024 — partly due to increased demand and partly as a result of global inflation affecting imported goods. Knowing how prices are discussed, and what rough ranges to expect, is genuinely practical preparation.

The Georgian lari (GEL) is the currency. As of early 2026, one euro buys approximately 2.9–3.1 GEL, and one US dollar approximately 2.7–2.8 GEL (rates fluctuate — check before travel). When locals quote prices verbally, they often drop the word lari and just say the number. “Oci lari” — o-TSI la-RI — is 20 lari. “Asi lari” — a-SI la-RI — is 100 lari.

Budget Tier (per person, per day)

• Street food and bakery meals: 8–20 GEL per meal
• Local marshrutka rides: 1–3 GEL in cities, 5–20 GEL for longer rural routes
• Guesthouse accommodation outside Tbilisi: 40–80 GEL per night
• Entry fees to most churches and archaeological sites: free or 3–5 GEL

Mid-Range Tier (per person, per day)

• Sit-down restaurant meal with wine: 35–70 GEL per person
• Bolt or Yandex taxi across central Tbilisi: 8–15 GEL
• Mid-range guesthouse in Tbilisi: 120–200 GEL per night
• Georgian Railway Tbilisi–Batumi standard class: 25–35 GEL one way

Comfortable Tier (per person, per day)

• Boutique hotel in Tbilisi Old Town or Sighnaghi: 300–600 GEL per night
• Private driver for a day trip (e.g., Kazbegi or Kakheti): 200–350 GEL
• Wine tasting at an established Kakheti winery: 40–100 GEL per person

Key money phrases: ramdeni ghirs? (how much?), oci lari (20 lari), asi lari (100 lari). If a price sounds high, ძვირია (dzvi-RI-a, “it’s expensive”) said with a polite shrug often opens a quiet negotiation without confrontation.

Cultural Signals: When Words Are Only Half the Message

Language in Georgia is embedded in social rituals that have their own logic. Understanding a few of these will prevent misreadings that no phrase book addresses.

The head nod for “no.” This trips up almost every first-time visitor. In Georgia, a single upward nod — chin tilting up — means no. It is the opposite of what most Western Europeans and North Americans expect. A lateral shake of the head means yes in some contexts among older speakers in rural areas, though this varies. When in doubt, listen for ki (yes) and ara (no) verbally.

Hospitality is not optional. The Georgian phrase სტუმარი ღვთისაგანაა — stu-MA-ri ghvti-SA-ga-naa — means “a guest is from God.” If someone invites you to eat or drink, refusing repeatedly can read as offense. A gentle madloba with a hand to the chest is the most graceful way to accept partial hospitality when you are full or abstaining.

Touching glasses. At a Georgian table, glasses must touch when toasting — not just raised in the air. And eye contact during the clink is considered important. Looking away while touching glasses is considered mildly rude. The toast itself — gaumarjos — is said by everyone simultaneously. The first toast at a supra is always to peace.

Church behavior and language. Inside Georgian Orthodox churches, speaking loudly in any language is inappropriate. If you encounter a service — and even small village churches often have active congregations — standing quietly at the back and watching is welcome. Women should cover their heads; scarves are usually available at entrances. Saying bodishi (excuse me) softly if you accidentally interrupt someone’s prayer is sufficient.

The warmth of a candlelit village church on a cold autumn evening in the mountains — the low drone of polyphonic chanting, the flicker of beeswax candles — is one of those Georgia experiences that lands differently once you understand what you are stepping into. Language gives you that understanding.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Georgian difficult to learn basic phrases from?

The consonant clusters look frightening but Georgian pronunciation is phonetic — every letter sounds exactly as written, consistently. Basic greetings like gamarjoba (hello) and madloba (thank you) are learnable in minutes. Ten to fifteen phrases will carry you through the majority of daily interactions as a traveler. Start with greetings and numbers.

Do most Georgians in tourist areas speak English?

In Tbilisi’s center, Kazbegi, Sighnaghi, and Batumi’s seafront, English is widely spoken among people under 40. In rural areas, smaller towns, and among older generations, Russian is more common than English as a second language. Georgian phrases earn you significant goodwill regardless of where you are — even a mispronounced attempt is appreciated.

Is Russian useful in Georgia?

Russian is understood by many Georgians, particularly those over 45, as a legacy of the Soviet era. However, using Russian can be politically sensitive given Georgia’s history and the ongoing tensions related to the Russian-occupied territories of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. English is generally a more neutral choice. Georgian is always the most welcome option.

What does “gamarjoba” actually mean?

Gamarjoba literally means something close to “be victorious” — it comes from the root marjvena, meaning right hand or victory. It is used as a universal hello at any time of day, to anyone, in any context. The plural or more formal form is gamarjobat. Using it when you enter a shop or guesthouse immediately signals respect.

Can translation apps replace learning phrases for a Georgia trip?

Translation apps — especially Google Translate with the offline Georgian pack downloaded — are genuinely useful for reading menus and signs. For spoken conversation, they are slower and less reliable than knowing six or eight phrases by heart. The apps also cannot replicate the social effect of a traveler making a real attempt to speak Georgian. That human moment matters and no app replicates it.

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📷 Featured image by John Benitez on Unsplash.