Greetings and politeness in Georgian
Hello, please, thank you, sorry: the ten openers everything else builds on. 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 11 Georgian phrases in this lesson
- แแแแแ แฏแแแgah-mar-JOH-bah
- Hello
- แแแแ แแจแแแแแแแกแDEE-lah mshvee-doh-BEE-sah
- Good morning
- แกแแฆแแแ แแจแแแแแแแกแsah-GHAH-moh mshvee-doh-BEE-sah
- Good evening
- แแแฎแแแแแแกnahkh-VAM-dees
- Goodbye
- แแแ แแแKAR-gad
- See you
- แแแฎแแแgth-KHOVT
- Please
- แแแแแแแmad-LOH-bah
- Thank you
- แแ แแคแ แแกah-RAH-frees
- You're welcome
- แแฌแฃแฎแแแ vtsukh-VAR
- Sorry
- แแแแแจแboh-DEE-shee
- Excuse me
- แกแแกแแแแแแแแ แแฅแแแแ แแแชแแแแsah-see-ah-MOV-noh-ah tk-VEH-nee gahts-NOH-bah
- Nice to meet you
The standard greeting used at any time of day with anyone. Georgians greet warmly and often with a handshake. Use it freely from the moment you walk into a shop or restaurant.
Used in the morning hours. The "mshv" cluster is tricky for English speakers: keep the "sh" and "v" together without adding a vowel between them.
Literally "evening of peace". Plain แแแแแ แฏแแแ (gah-mar-JOH-bah) works at any hour.
The standard farewell. The "kh" is a breathy sound like the Scottish "loch." Georgians often see guests off warmly and at length, so expect a genuine send-off.
Literally "well", the casual goodbye between friends. แแแฎแแแแแแก (nakh-VAM-dis) is the polite one.
One of the hardest words to pronounce: "gth" is a consonant cluster with no English equivalent. Try "gth" like a soft "g" followed immediately by "th." Worth practicing before you arrive.
The everyday thank-you, suitable for any situation. You will say this constantly: for food, directions, a held door. Georgians respond warmly to visitors who make the effort.
Literally means "it's nothing." Said in response to แแแแแแแ. The tone is always warm and genuine, reflecting Georgian hospitality culture.
Literally "I regret", the real apology. For a small bump, แแแแแจแ (boh-DEE-shee) is enough.
Used to get attention or to ask someone to let you pass.
The formal version. For casual introductions you can simply say "แกแแกแแแแแแแแ" (sah-see-ah-MOV-noh-ah) on its own. Georgians appreciate the effort regardless.