Getting around in Georgian
Left, right, the station, one ticket, where is the toilet. 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
- แกแแ แแ แแก แขแฃแแแแขแ?sahd AH-rees too-ah-LEH-tee?
- Where is the toilet?
- แ แแแแ แแแแแแ ...-แแแ?ROH-gor mee-VEE-deh ...-mdeh
- How do I get to...?
- แแแ แชแฎแแแmar-TSKHNEEV
- To the left
- แแแ แฏแแแแmar-JVNEEV
- To the right
- แแแ แแแแแ peer-dah-PEER
- Straight ahead
- แแฅahk
- Here
- แกแแ แแแแแแแ แกแแแแฃแ แsar-kee-neeg-ZOH sad-GOO-ree
- Train station
- แแแขแแแฃแกแahv-toh-BOO-see
- Bus
- แแแ แแแแ แขแah-eh-roh-POR-tee
- Airport
- แแ แแ แแแแแแ, แแแฎแแแEHR-tee bee-LEH-tee, gth-KHOVT
- One ticket, please
Public toilets exist at metro stations and some parks but are limited elsewhere. Cafes and restaurants are generally happy to let customers use facilities if you ask politely.
Said by itself or after "turn" (แแแฎแแแแ, moh-khvee-EHT). Georgian directions can come quickly so confirm by pointing in the direction indicated.
Very similar in sound to "left" (แแแ แชแฎแแแ) so listen carefully for the middle syllable. When unsure, point and raise an eyebrow: Georgians will correct you warmly.
Often the easiest direction to follow. Combined with "where is" and a destination, you can navigate most Georgian cities on foot using these three direction words.
Tbilisi has an excellent train network connecting to Batumi and Kutaisi. Trains are affordable and scenic. The station is also called "แแแขแแ แแแแแก แกแแแแฃแ แ" (mah-tah-REB-lees).
Between towns, marshrutka minibuses are more common.
Tbilisi public transport uses a rechargeable Metromoney card rather than individual tickets. For trains and marshrutkas you pay the driver or at the window directly.