Speak Like a Local: 20 Must-Know Georgian Words for Your Trip

You land in Tbilisi or Kutaisi in 2026 and the signs look like decorative curls. Translation apps help in cities, but they often fail offline in mountain villages, and many marshrutka drivers and market sellers speak little English. Twenty well-chosen words will not make you fluent. They will change how people treat you, usually within seconds.

Why Georgian Looks Harder Than It Is

Georgian is a Kartvelian language. It belongs to its own family and is not related to Russian, Turkish, or any Indo-European language. That is why nothing looks familiar, and also why nobody expects you to be good at it. It uses the Mkhedruli script, which has 33 letters and no capital letters. Each letter has one sound, so once you know the sounds, you can read any word.

Tbilisi’s metro and most tourist signs now include English, and Georgian Railway ticketing works in English. Outside the main routes, the Georgian script is still what you will see. The pronunciation guides below use Latin letters. Capital letters show the stressed syllable.

Greetings and Politeness: Words 1–7

Start every interaction with a greeting. Walking into a shop or guesthouse without one feels abrupt to Georgians.

1. Gamarjoba (gah-mar-JOH-bah): Hello. It literally means “victory to you,” and it works at any hour, with anyone.
2. Dilamshvidobisa (dee-lahm-shvee-DOH-bee-sah): Good morning. It is long, but people smile when a visitor attempts it.
3. Rogor khar? (ROH-gor khar): How are you? Reply with kargi (KAR-gee), meaning “good” or “fine.” Kargi also works as “OK” in almost any situation.
4. Gmadlobt (g-mahd-LOBT): Thank you, formal and plural. The short form madloba (mahd-LOH-bah) suits shopkeepers, drivers, and friends.
5. Gtkhovt (g-TKHOVT): Please. Georgians use it less than English speakers do, but it softens any request.
6. Ki (kee) and Diakh (dee-AKH): Yes. Ki is casual and common. Diakh is formal and suits older people and official settings.
7. Ara (AH-rah): No. Said firmly with a slight upward head tilt, it ends a taxi driver’s sales pitch politely.

Picture a village bakery early in the morning. The air smells of warm dough, and the baker is pulling bread from a round clay oven. A clear “gamarjoba” at the door usually gets you a nod, a smile, and sometimes a torn piece of bread to try.

Getting Unstuck: Words 8–11

These four cover confusion, apologies, and the question every visitor needs.

1. Bodishi (BOH-dee-shee): Sorry or excuse me. Use it on crowded metro platforms and narrow market aisles.
2. Ar mesmis (ar MES-mees): I don’t understand. Say it with a smile, and the other person will often reach for gestures, a phone, or a younger relative who speaks English.
3. Ingliseurad laparakobt? (in-glee-seh-oo-RAHD lah-pah-rah-KOBT): Do you speak English? Asking in Georgian first is a courtesy that people notice.
4. Nakhvamdis (nakh-vahm-DEES): Goodbye. Use it when leaving shops, taxis, and guesthouses.

Street Survival: Words 12–15

1. Ra ghirs? (rah gheerss): How much does it cost? This is useful at fruit stalls, souvenir tables, and unmetered taxis.
2. Tsqali (TSKAH-lee): Water. Georgia is known for its mineral springs, so you will hear this often.
3. Sad aris tualeti? (sahd AH-ris too-ah-LEH-tee): Where is the toilet? Once you have said the sentence, any pointing hand will get you there.
4. Ghvino (GHVEE-noh): Wine. Georgia has one of the world’s oldest winemaking traditions, and this word opens conversations with hosts and vendors.

Table Talk: Words 16–18

Georgian meals are social events, and a few words go a long way.

1. Gemrielia (geh-mree-eh-LEE-ah): Delicious. Add dzalian (DZAH-lee-ahn), meaning “very,” and the cook will remember you. Say it while steam still rises from a freshly broken loaf of bread.
2. Gaumarjos (gow-MAR-yos): Cheers, meaning “to your victory.” At a supra feast, the tamada (toastmaster) leads each toast, and you answer with this word. Wait until the toast is finished before you drink.
3. Genatsvale (geh-nah-TSVAH-leh): A warm term for “dear” or “friend.” You will hear hosts, grandmothers, and drivers use it. Use it sparingly yourself, ideally with people who have already shown you warmth.

Words with Weight: Words 19–20

1. Sakartvelo (sah-KART-veh-loh): Georgia. Georgians never call their country “Georgia” among themselves. The name means “land of the Kartvelians.” Using it shows you have done your homework.
2. Lamazia (lah-mah-ZEE-ah): It is beautiful. You will want it at a mountain pass, in an old church courtyard, or in a vineyard at dusk. Say it quietly, and locals often respond with real pride.

In a candlelit stone cellar, with the cool smell of clay and wine around you, the combination of “gaumarjos” and “lamazia” can lead to another round of glasses and another toast.

2026 Budget Reality: What These Words Save You

Using Georgian in everyday transactions makes you less likely to get the “tourist price” and more likely to get a straight answer. Here are typical 2026 costs where these words come up.

• Tbilisi metro or bus ride: about 1 GEL with a city transport card.
• App-based taxi within Tbilisi: about 8–15 GEL for most city rides. Street taxis without meters often quote two or three times more, so ask “ra ghirs?” before getting in.
• Marshrutka from Tbilisi to Kazbegi: about 20–30 GEL one way.
• Bottle of water: 1.5–3 GEL.
• Coffee: 6–10 GEL.
• Churchkhela from a street seller: about 4–10 GEL.

Daily spending tiers for a traveler in 2026:

• Budget: 100–160 GEL (hostel, marshrutkas, simple meals)
• Mid-range: 250–400 GEL (private room or small hotel, app taxis, restaurant meals)
• Comfortable: 500+ GEL (boutique hotels, private drivers, wine experiences)

Pronunciation Traps

Georgian has a set of sounds called ejectives, made by releasing a tiny burst of air from the throat. Letters like q in tsqali and k in kargi sound sharper than English. Do not worry about getting them perfect. A slightly firmer “k” or “ts” gets you close enough.

Two more traps: kh is a rough sound at the back of the throat, like the “ch” in Scottish “loch.” Georgian also stacks consonants together, as in “gmadlobt” or “tsqali,” so do not insert extra vowels. Say each syllable and keep moving.

Stress usually falls near the start or middle of words. If you are unsure, say it evenly. Georgians are patient listeners and will often repeat the word back so you can hear it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to speak Georgian to travel in Georgia?

No. English works in Tbilisi, Batumi, and Kutaisi, especially in hotels, cafes, and tourist sites. In villages, on marshrutkas, and at local markets, English is limited. Learning ten or twenty basic words makes daily life smoother and earns noticeably warmer reactions from locals.

Is Georgian similar to Russian?

No. Georgian is a Kartvelian language, a separate family with no link to Russian or other Indo-European languages. It also has its own script, Mkhedruli. Some older Georgians speak Russian as a second language, but younger people often prefer English, so do not assume Russian will help.

How do you say hello and thank you in Georgian?

Hello is “gamarjoba” (gah-mar-JOH-bah). Thank you is “gmadlobt” (g-mahd-LOBT) in formal speech or “madloba” (mahd-LOH-bah) in casual use. These two words alone cover most daily interactions and work with shopkeepers, hosts, drivers, and anyone you meet.

How do you say cheers in Georgian?

The word is “gaumarjos” (gow-MAR-yos), meaning “to your victory.” At a traditional supra feast, the tamada leads toasts and guests respond with it. Wait until the toast ends before drinking, and clink glasses with people nearby. Never drink before the toast is finished.

Can I use Google Translate for Georgian?

Yes, with limits. Google Translate handles Georgian text and camera translation of signs and menus reasonably well in 2026, but voice recognition can struggle with local speech. Download the Georgian language pack before you travel, because mobile signal can be unreliable in mountain regions and remote villages.

📷 Featured image by Portraits of Modern Dairy on Unsplash.