Arriving in Tbilisi with a few Georgian phrases in your pocket is one of the simplest ways to travel better. Georgian is spoken by only about four million people, so almost no visitors attempt it — which means even a wobbly “gamarjoba” tends to earn a warm smile, a nod, and sometimes a free glass of wine. This guide gives you the words that matter most, written the way they actually sound, plus the cultural know-how to use them well.
Key facts at a glance
- Hello: gamarjoba (gah-mar-JOH-bah)
- Thank you: madloba (MAD-loh-bah)
- Yes / No: ki (kee) / ara (AH-rah)
- English is common among young people and in tourist areas; Russian is widely understood by older Georgians.
- Georgian has its own 33-letter alphabet — beautiful, curvy, and unrelated to Latin or Cyrillic script.
- Toasting is a ceremony, not a casual clink — led by a designated tamada (toastmaster).
Is English spoken in Georgia?
In Tbilisi and other tourist hubs, you can get by comfortably in English. Younger Georgians, hotel staff, tour guides, museum cashiers and most city-centre restaurant workers speak conversational English well. Once you leave the capital or venture into smaller towns, villages and older neighbourhoods, English thins out quickly.
Russian remains widely understood, especially among middle-aged and older residents, a legacy of the Soviet era. However, according to reporting from Novaya Gazeta Europe, many young Georgians prefer English to Russian for political reasons — some cafés even ask customers to switch. The politest approach is simple: greet first in Georgian, then ask whether the person prefers to continue in English or Russian. It shows respect for the country while giving your listener a choice. For more on getting around comfortably, see our Tbilisi travel guide.
A quick note on the Georgian alphabet
Georgian is written in its own unique script — the flowing, rounded Mkhedruli alphabet of 33 letters. It looks nothing like Latin or Cyrillic and is recognised by UNESCO as part of humanity’s intangible cultural heritage. The good news for travellers is that there are no capital letters and the script is largely phonetic. You do not need to read it to survive a trip, but recognising a few signs — like “გამარჯობა” for hello — adds a lot of charm. Menus and signs in central Tbilisi are frequently printed in English too.
Essential greetings and courtesies
Start here. These are the phrases you will use dozens of times a day, and they are the ones locals most appreciate hearing from a foreigner.
- Gamarjoba (gah-mar-JOH-bah) — Hello. Literally “victory to you.”
- Nakhvamdis (nakh-VAM-dis) — Goodbye.
- Dila mshvidobisa (DEE-lah mshvee-doh-BEE-sah) — Good morning.
- Madloba (MAD-loh-bah) — Thank you.
- Didi madloba (DEE-dee MAD-loh-bah) — Thank you very much.
- Arapris (ah-RAP-ris) — You’re welcome (“it’s nothing”).
- Tu sheidzleba (too shay-DZLEH-bah) — Please (placed at the end of a request).
- Ki (kee) — Yes. / Ara (AH-rah) — No.
- Bodishi (boh-DEE-shee) — Sorry / Excuse me.
- Ukatsravad (oo-KATS-rah-vad) — Excuse me (to get attention).
Numbers you’ll actually need
Handy for markets, taxis and counting out khinkali. Georgian numbers get complex above 20 (they use a base-20 system), but one to ten will carry you a long way.
- 1 — erti (ER-tee)
- 2 — ori (OH-ree)
- 3 — sami (SAH-mee)
- 4 — otkhi (OT-khee)
- 5 — khuti (KHOO-tee)
- 6 — ekvsi (EK-vsee)
- 7 — shvidi (SHVEE-dee)
- 8 — rva (r-VAH)
- 9 — tskhra (TSKH-rah)
- 10 — ati (AH-tee)
Ordering food and khinkali
Georgian food is a highlight of any trip, and knowing a few phrases makes ordering fun rather than stressful. When it comes to khinkali — the famous soup dumplings — you typically order them by the piece, so “at khinkali, tu sheidzleba” (ten dumplings, please) is a phrase worth memorising.
- Me minda… (meh MIN-dah) — I would like…
- Khinkali (kheen-KAH-lee) — dumplings.
- Khachapuri (kha-cha-POO-ree) — cheese bread.
- Ghvino (GHVEE-noh) — wine.
- Tskali (TSKAH-lee) — water.
- Dzalian gemrieli (dzah-lee-AN gem-ree-EH-lee) — very delicious.
- Angarishi, tu sheidzleba (an-gah-REE-shee, too shay-DZLEH-bah) — the bill, please.
For a deeper dive into what to order and how, see our guide on how to order Georgian food.
Taxis, directions and getting around
Most visitors use ride-hailing apps like Bolt or Yandex Go, which remove the need to negotiate fares or explain your destination. Still, a few directional words help when you hail a car on the street or ask a passer-by for help.
- Ra ghirs? (rah GHEERS) — How much is it? / What does it cost?
- Sad aris…? (sahd AH-ris) — Where is…?
- Pirdapir (peer-DAH-peer) — Straight ahead.
- Marjvniv (MARJ-vniv) — To the right.
- Martskhniv (MARTS-khniv) — To the left.
- Gaacharet (gah-ah-CHAH-ret) — Stop here.
Emergencies and staying safe
Georgia is a famously welcoming and low-crime country, but it’s wise to know a handful of emergency words. The national emergency number is 112, and operators often speak English.
- Damekhmaret! (dah-mekh-MAH-ret) — Help me!
- Politsia (poh-LEE-tsee-ah) — Police.
- Ekimi (eh-KEE-mee) — Doctor.
- Saavadmqopo (sah-ah-vad-MKOH-poh) — Hospital.
- Me davikarge (meh dah-vee-KAR-geh) — I am lost.
For practical advice on scams, neighbourhoods and general peace of mind, read is Tbilisi safe? before you go.
Toasting culture: the supra and the tamada
If you’re invited to a supra — the traditional Georgian feast — you’re in for one of the country’s greatest cultural experiences. Toasting here is a structured ritual, not a quick “cheers.” A designated tamada (toastmaster) leads the table, delivering eloquent toasts to peace, ancestors, friendship, women, children and homeland, and everyone drinks together after each one.
The word to raise your glass with is gaumarjos (gah-oo-MAR-jos), meaning “to victory!” As Eat This Tours explains, you’ll also hear variations like “shens gamarjvebas” (to your victory) and “janmrtelobas” (to health). One tip: pace yourself, wait for the tamada, and never gulp your wine between official toasts — that’s considered poor form.
Translation apps that help
Technology fills the gaps nicely. Google Translate supports Georgian, including camera translation for menus and signs and offline downloads for when you lose signal. For learning the phrases in this guide, apps and resources such as EasyGeorgian and Ling offer audio so you can hear the ejective consonants — the clipped k, p, t and ts sounds — that are the trickiest part of Georgian pronunciation. Download an offline language pack before you land, and you’ll rarely be stuck.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to learn Georgian to visit Tbilisi?
Not at all — English will carry you through the capital and the major tourist areas, and an app fills any gaps. Still, memorising a handful of local words takes minutes and noticeably changes how warmly people treat you.
What does “gamarjoba” actually mean?
It’s how Georgians say hello, though the literal sense is a wish of victory — an echo of greetings once exchanged with warriors coming home from battle. The same martial root surfaces when glasses are raised with gaumarjos at the table.
Is Russian or English more useful in Georgia?
Both have their place. English dominates with the under-40 crowd and anyone in the tourism trade, while Russian tends to work better with the older generation. The safest habit is opening with a Georgian greeting and letting your listener pick what comes next.
How hard is Georgian pronunciation?
For a visitor’s purposes, not very — the short phrase list in this guide is learnable in an afternoon. The real stumbling blocks are the popping ejective sounds and dense consonant strings, but locals are delighted by any attempt, however imperfect.
Armed with these phrases, you’ll navigate markets, marshrutkas and supras with far more confidence — and far more goodwill from the people you meet.
Last checked: July 2026.
Featured image: ÅñtóñSûsî (Ð) (CC BY 3.0 de) via Wikimedia Commons.
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