Yes, no and the essentials in Georgian
The small words that carry half of every conversation, and the ones that rescue it. Play the ten Georgian words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 10 Georgian phrases in this lesson
- แแkee
- Yes
- แแ แAH-rah
- No
- แแแ แแKAR-gee
- Okay
- แแ แแแกแแแกar MES-mees
- I don't understand
- แแแแแแกแฃแ แแ แกแแฃแแ แแแ?een-glee-SOO-rahd sah-oo-BROHBT?
- Do you speak English?
- แแแแแแแ แแ, แแฃ แจแแแซแแแแgah-ee-meh-OH-ret, too sheh-EED-zleh-bah
- Can you repeat that?
- แแแแ, แแฃ แจแแแซแแแแNEH-lah, too sheh-EED-zleh-bah
- Slowly, please
- แแก แ แ แแ แแก?ehs rah AH-rees
- What is this?
- แแญแแ แแแแ...mcheer-DEH-bah
- I need...
- แจแแแแซแแแแ แแแแแฎแแแ แแ?sheh-geed-ZLEE-at dah-mekh-MAH-rot
- Can you help me?
Short and simple. Some Georgians also use แแแแฎ (dee-AHKH) in more formal contexts, but แแ works everywhere.
Clear and universally understood. A slight shake of the head reinforces it. In polite refusals, Georgians often soften with a smile.
Literally means "good" but functions as "okay" or "alright" in everyday speech. You will hear it constantly in conversation.
Say this and most Georgians will slow down, repeat themselves, or switch to gestures. Patience is a cultural value and they will not make you feel embarrassed.
English is widely spoken by younger Georgians in Tbilisi and tourist areas. In rural areas or with older generations, Russian may be more useful than English.
Polite form.
Many older Georgians also speak Russian.
Point at anything on a supra table and ask.
"แแญแแ แแแแ แแฅแแแ" (mcheer-DEH-bah eh-KEE-mee), I need a doctor.
Polite form.