10 Georgian Phrases You'll Use Every Day in Tbilisi

Most Georgian phrasebooks start with “Hello, my name is…” which is fine — but it’s not how Georgians actually talk. Textbook phrases often sound stiff, overly formal, or just… weird.

We’ve lived in Tbilisi for years. These are the 10 phrases we actually use every single day — at the bakery, in taxis, with neighbors, at bars. Learn these, and you’ll sound less like a textbook and more like someone who belongs here.

1. გამარჯობა (gamarjoba) — Hello

Pronunciation: ga-mar-JO-ba

Yes, this one is in every phrasebook. But it’s here because it truly is the universal Georgian greeting. You’ll say it 20+ times a day — walking into shops, greeting your building’s security guard, meeting friends.

What people don’t tell you:

The word literally means “victory” — it’s a wish for victory/success
It works in all situations: formal, informal, stranger, friend, morning, evening
You can make it plural/respectful by adding “თ”: გამარჯობათ (gamarjobat)

Real-world use: Walk into any shop in Tbilisi: “გამარჯობა!” The shopkeeper responds: “გამარჯობა!” That’s it. You’ve established you’re polite and present.

2. მადლობა (madloba) — Thank You

Pronunciation: mad-LO-ba

Courtesy goes far in Georgia. Say this when someone hands you your change, your coffee, your bread, holds a door, gives directions — anything.

Level up:

დიდი მადლობა (didi madloba) — “Big thanks” / Thank you very much
მადლობთ (madlobt) — Slightly more formal version

Insider tip: Georgians also use “მერსი” (mersi, from French “merci”) casually among younger people. Perfectly acceptable.

3. არა / კი (ara / ki) — No / Yes

Pronunciation: a-RA / ki

You’ll use these constantly. Georgian “yes” and “no” are short and clear.

The head nod warning: Georgians nod and shake their heads the same way as Western Europeans/Americans (nod = yes, shake = no). But they also have a specific gesture — a slight upward head tilt with a tongue click — that means “no.” Don’t confuse it with a nod.

Useful combos:

კი, მადლობა (ki, madloba) — Yes, thanks
არა, მადლობა (ara, madloba) — No, thanks
კი, რა თქმა უნდა (ki, ra tkma unda) — Yes, of course

4. რა ღირს? (ra ghirs?) — How Much Does It Cost?

Pronunciation: ra GHIRS?

Essential for markets, taxis (without meters), street vendors, and any situation where the price isn’t displayed. Georgians respect haggling at the Dezerter Bazaar but not in shops.

The full interaction:

You: რა ღირს? (How much?)
Seller: ხუთი ლარი (khuti lari — 5 lari)
You: კარგი (kargi — okay) or just nod and pay

Numbers you’ll need most:

ერთი (erti) — 1
ორი (ori) — 2
სამი (sami) — 3
ხუთი (khuti) — 5
ათი (ati) — 10

Don’t worry about learning all numbers right away. For bigger amounts, Georgians will usually show you on their phone or calculator.

5. კარგი (kargi) — Good / Okay / Fine

Pronunciation: KAR-gi

This is arguably the most versatile word in Georgian. It means “good,” but Georgians use it the way English speakers use “okay,” “fine,” “sure,” “alright,” “sounds good,” and “deal.”

Situations where კარგი works:

Agreeing to a plan: “კარგი” (Sounds good)
Responding to “how are you?”: “კარგად” (kargad — well, fine)
Accepting a price: “კარგი” (Okay, deal)
Approving food: “ძალიან კარგია!” (dzalian kargia — it’s very good!)
Ending a phone call: “კარგი, ნახვამდის” (Kargi, nakhvamdis — Okay, bye)

The adverb form: Add -ად to get კარგად (kargad, meaning “well”). When someone asks “როგორ ხარ?” (how are you?), respond: “კარგად, შენ?” (Fine, you?)

6. ბოდიში (bodishi) — Excuse Me / Sorry

Pronunciation: bo-DI-shi

Covers both “excuse me” (getting someone’s attention, squeezing past someone) and “sorry” (mild apologies). Extremely useful in crowded marshrutkas (minibuses) and on busy streets.

When to use it:

Bumping into someone: “ბოდიში!”
Getting a waiter’s attention: “ბოდიში…”
Asking someone to move: “ბოდიში” + gesture
Minor mistake: “ბოდიში”

For bigger apologies: Use მაპატიეთ (mapatiet — forgive me), which is more formal and serious.

7. სად არის…? (sad aris…?) — Where Is…?

Pronunciation: sad A-ris…?

The essential navigation phrase. Fill in the blank with what you’re looking for.

Phrases that save your life in Tbilisi:

სად არის მეტრო? (sad aris metro?) — Where is the metro?
სად არის ტუალეტი? (sad aris tualeti?) — Where is the toilet?
სად არის აფთიაქი? (sad aris aptiaki?) — Where is the pharmacy?
სად არის…? + show address on phone — works perfectly

Pro tip: After asking, you’ll probably get directions in Georgian that you won’t fully understand. That’s okay. Watch the hand gestures — Georgians are expressive pointers. Or follow up with: აჩვენეთ, თუ შეიძლება? (achvenet, tu sheidzleba? — Can you show me?) while holding out your phone map.

8. მინდა… (minda…) — I Want…

Pronunciation: MIN-da…

Georgian ordering is beautifully simple. “მინდა” + the thing you want. No need for complex grammar.

At a restaurant or bakery:

მინდა ერთი ყავა (minda erti qava) — I want one coffee
მინდა ორი ხაჭაპური (minda ori khachapuri) — I want two khachapuri
მინდა წყალი (minda ts’q’ali) — I want water
მინდა მენიუ (minda meniu) — I want the menu

Polite version: Add თუ შეიძლება (tu sheidzleba — if possible / please) to the end:

მინდა ყავა, თუ შეიძლება — I’d like a coffee, please

Taxi/navigation:

მინდა წავიდე… (minda ts’avide…) — I want to go to…
Or just say the destination: რუსთაველი, თუ შეიძლება (Rustaveli, please)

9. არ მესმის (ar mesmis) — I Don’t Understand

Pronunciation: ar MES-mis

The honest phrase you’ll need regularly. Georgians speak fast, and even with some vocabulary, you’ll hit walls. This phrase buys you grace.

The complete survival trio:

არ მესმის (ar mesmis) — I don’t understand
ქართულად არ ვიცი (kartulad ar vitsi) — I don’t know Georgian
ინგლისურად ლაპარაკობთ? (inglisrad lap’arak’obt?) — Do you speak English?

Real-world reality: Most young Georgians in Tbilisi speak some English. Older Georgians often speak Russian but less English. In both cases, saying “არ მესმის” with an apologetic smile gets you much further than switching straight to English.

The magic response: When a Georgian realizes you speak some Georgian but are struggling, they’ll often slow down, use simpler words, and add gestures. Your effort to speak Georgian earns that patience.

10. გაუმარჯოს! (gaumarjos!) — Cheers!

Pronunciation: gau-MAR-jos!

Georgia is a wine country with a 8,000-year winemaking tradition. Toasting is an art form. At a supra (traditional feast), there’s a tamada (toastmaster) who leads formal toasts. But in daily life — at a bar, dinner with friends, a casual glass — this is all you need.

What it literally means: “Let him/her/them be victorious!” — a wish for victory and prosperity.

Supra crash course: If you’re invited to a supra (and you will be), here’s what to know:

The tamada proposes toasts (to God, to Georgia, to family, to ancestors, to the guest, to women, to peace…)
You drink after each toast. Wine (ღვინო, ghvino) is traditional, but beer/spirits are accepted now
You can propose your own toast — to the host, to Georgia, to friendship. Say something genuine, then end with “გაუმარჯოს!”
You don’t have to drain your glass every time (despite what some Georgians claim). Sip if you need to

The phrase Georgians LOVE hearing from foreigners: After your host’s toast, raise your glass and say: გაუმარჯოს საქართველოს! (gaumarjos sakartvelos! — Cheers to Georgia!). This will make their entire week.

Bonus: Quick Reference Card

Situation	Georgian	Pronunciation	Meaning
Greeting	გამარჯობა	gamarjoba	Hello
Thanking	მადლობა	madloba	Thanks
Yes	კი	ki	Yes
No	არა	ara	No
Price	რა ღირს?	ra ghirs?	How much?
Agreement	კარგი	kargi	Okay/Good
Apology	ბოდიში	bodishi	Sorry/Excuse me
Location	სად არის?	sad aris?	Where is?
Ordering	მინდა…	minda…	I want…
Confusion	არ მესმის	ar mesmis	I don’t understand
Toasting	გაუმარჯოს!	gaumarjos!	Cheers!
Goodbye	ნახვამდის	nakhvamdis	Goodbye
Please	თუ შეიძლება	tu sheidzleba	Please/If possible

Going Beyond 10 Phrases

These 10 phrases will get you through daily life. But they’re just the starting point. If you want to actually hold conversations, here’s how to continue:

Learn the alphabet — Our alphabet guide or YouTube video teaches it in under an hour
Build vocabulary systematically — Our audio course uses a Pimsleur-style method to teach 500+ words through listen-and-repeat
Practice daily with flashcards — The flashcard app uses spaced repetition to make these phrases (and hundreds more) stick permanently
Listen to real Georgian — Our podcast series gives you comprehensible Georgian on interesting topics

The biggest secret to learning Georgian isn’t a method or an app — it’s using it. Order your coffee in Georgian. Greet your taxi driver. Say “მადლობა” at the bakery. Every interaction compounds.

Georgians will light up when you try. And that reaction alone makes the effort worth it.

Want all 50 essential phrases? Download our free 50 Georgian Phrases PDF — the phrases above plus 40 more for restaurants, taxis, shopping, emergencies, and making friends.