Essential Georgian Travel Phrases: Your Complete Survival Guide
Georgia has become one of the most exciting travel destinations in the world, attracting visitors with its stunning mountain landscapes, ancient monasteries, and world-class cuisine. While English is increasingly spoken in Tbilisi, stepping outside the capital means you will rely heavily on Georgian. Even in tourist areas, knowing key phrases shows respect and opens doors that stay closed to the average visitor. This guide gives you every phrase you need to navigate Georgia confidently.
Airport and Arrival Phrases
Your first Georgian interactions will likely happen at the airport or border crossing. These phrases help you get through arrivals smoothly and find your way to your accommodation.
- სად არის ტაქსის გაჩერება? (sad aris taksis gachereba?) - Where is the taxi stand?
- სად არის მეტრო? (sad aris metro?) - Where is the metro?
- მინდა წავიდე... (minda tsavide...) - I want to go to...
- რამდენი ღირს ტაქსი...მდე? (ramdeni ghirs taksi...mde?) - How much is a taxi to...?
- სად არის ვალუტის გადაცვლა? (sad aris valutis gadatsvla?) - Where is the currency exchange?
Hotel and Accommodation Phrases
Whether you are checking into a boutique guesthouse in Sighnaghi or a hotel in Batumi, these phrases cover everything from check-in to requesting amenities.
- ოთახი დაჯავშნილი მაქვს (otakhi dajashnili makvs) - I have a room reservation
- ოთახი გაქვთ? (otakhi gakvt?) - Do you have a room available?
- რა ღირს ერთი ღამე? (ra ghirs erti ghame?) - How much per night?
- Wi-Fi-ს პაროლი რა არის? (Wi-Fi-s paroli ra aris?) - What is the Wi-Fi password?
- საუზმე შედის? (sauzme shedis?) - Is breakfast included?
- სად არის საპირფარეშო? (sad aris sapirparesho?) - Where is the bathroom?
Restaurant and Food Phrases
Georgian food is a highlight of any trip. From khinkali dumplings to cheese-filled khachapuri, the cuisine is extraordinary. These phrases will help you order like a local and navigate menus with confidence.
- მენიუ, თუ შეიძლება (meniu, tu sheidzleba) - Menu, please
- რას მირჩევთ? (ras mirchevt?) - What do you recommend?
- ხინკალი მინდა (khinkali minda) - I would like khinkali
- ხაჭაპური მინდა (khachapuri minda) - I would like khachapuri
- წყალი, თუ შეიძლება (tsqali, tu sheidzleba) - Water, please
- ღვინო მინდა (ghvino minda) - I would like wine
- ძალიან გემრიელია! (dzalian gemrielia!) - Very delicious!
- ანგარიში, თუ შეიძლება (angarishi, tu sheidzleba) - The bill, please
- ვეგეტარიანელი ვარ (vegetarianeli var) - I am vegetarian
- ალერგია მაქვს (alergia makvs) - I have an allergy
Transportation and Getting Around
Getting around Georgia involves marshrutkas (minibuses), taxis, the Tbilisi metro, and sometimes hitchhiking in rural areas. These phrases help you navigate all of them.
- გააჩერეთ აქ, თუ შეიძლება (gaacheret ak, tu sheidzleba) - Stop here, please
- სად მიდის ეს ავტობუსი? (sad midis es avtobusi?) - Where does this bus go?
- მარშუტკა სად დგას? (marshutka sad dgas?) - Where does the marshrutka stop?
- რამდენია? (ramdenia?) - How much is it?
- მარცხნივ (martskhniv) - Left
- მარჯვნივ (marjvniv) - Right
- პირდაპირ (pirdapir) - Straight ahead
Shopping and Market Phrases
Georgian bazaars and markets are vibrant places full of fresh produce, spices, churchkhela, and souvenirs. Knowing a few shopping phrases can also help you get better prices.
- რამდენი ღირს ეს? (ramdeni ghirs es?) - How much is this?
- ძალიან ძვირია (dzalian dzveria) - That is too expensive
- შეიძლება ფასდაკლება? (sheidzleba pasdakleba?) - Can you give a discount?
- ამას ავიღებ (amas avigheb) - I will take this
- სხვა ფერი გაქვთ? (skhva peri gakvt?) - Do you have another color?
Emergency and Safety Phrases
Georgia is generally very safe, but knowing emergency phrases is always wise when traveling in a country where English may not be widely understood outside major cities.
- დამეხმარეთ! (damekhmaret!) - Help!
- სასწრაფო დახმარება! (sastsrapo dakhmareba!) - Emergency / ambulance!
- პოლიცია! (politsia!) - Police!
- ექიმი მჭირდება (eqimi mchirdeba) - I need a doctor
- აფთიაქი სად არის? (aptiaki sad aris?) - Where is the pharmacy?
- საავადმყოფო სად არის? (saavadmqopo sad aris?) - Where is the hospital?
- პასპორტი დამეკარგა (pasporti damekarga) - I lost my passport
Cultural Tips for Using Georgian Phrases
Georgian culture places enormous value on hospitality and personal connections. When you attempt to speak Georgian, even imperfectly, locals will often respond with genuine warmth and helpfulness. A few cultural tips: always greet people before asking for something, use the formal "gamarjobat" with elders, and learn the toast "gaumarjos" for inevitable supra invitations. If someone invites you to eat or drink, declining outright can be seen as rude; a polite way to moderate is to say "tsota" (a little). Finally, learn to say "gmadlobt" (thank you) constantly; it is the single most appreciated word a visitor can use.
Travel tip: Download our app and practice these phrases with audio before your trip. Having them in your muscle memory makes all the difference when you are standing in a busy Tbilisi bazaar.