Order anything by pointing in Georgian
I would like, this one, how much, the bill: survive any counter or menu. 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
- ...แแแแแMEEN-dah
- I would like...
- แแกehs
- This one
- แ แ แฆแแ แก?rah GHEERSS?
- How much is it?
- แแแแแ แแจแ, แแแฎแแแahn-gah-REE-shee, gth-KHOVT
- The bill, please
- แแแ แแแแbah-RAH-teet
- By card
- แแแฆแแแNAHGH-deet
- In cash
- แฌแงแแแtskYAH-lee
- Water
- แงแแแQAH-vah
- Coffee
- แฉแแCHA-ee
- Tea
- แแฃแแLOO-dee
- Beer
- ...-แแก แแแ แแจแGAH-reh-sheh
- Without...
Literally "I want", and perfectly polite with แแฃ แจแแแซแแแแ (too sheh-EED-zleh-bah), if possible, at the end.
Point and say it.
The แฆ is the deep throaty sound again. Use this before committing to a purchase at markets or unlabelled stalls. Prices in restaurants are usually on the menu.
In Georgian restaurants it is common for one person to pay for the whole table. Attempting to split the bill is fine in modern Tbilisi but may confuse staff in smaller towns.
Card payments are widely accepted in Tbilisi and larger cities. Ask "แแแ แแแแ?" before assuming. In markets and taxis, cash is often preferred or required.
Keep small lari notes handy for markets, minibuses (marshrutkas), and rural transactions. ATMs are plentiful in cities and accept Visa and Mastercard.
Georgia is famous for its mineral waters, especially Borjomi (แแแ แฏแแแ), a naturally sparkling and slightly sulphurous water beloved across the region. Still water is แฃแแแแ (oo-GAH-zoh).
The แง is a hard, clicked k from the back of the throat. Turkish-style coffee is common.
Georgia is far better known for wine, made in clay qvevri jars for eight thousand years.
"แจแแฅแ แแก แแแ แแจแ" (SHAHK-rees GAH-reh-sheh), without sugar.