Georgian Language Courses

Who this is for

For travellers who want a few words and the alphabet, and for residents for whom the language is an everyday need.

And for students, foreign employees, families with children and those preparing for the citizenship exam.

Our role

We find a teacher or school to suit your level, language and goal, and arrange the first lesson.

The teacher or school sets the price of lessons and courses, and you pay them directly. We take no commission from them, and our help is agreed separately.

Why it is worth it

A few Georgian words win a Georgian host's heart faster than any gift.

For residents, the language makes bureaucracy, neighbourly life and work easier.

And learning Georgian is a good workout for the brain, unlike any other language.

The first lesson

The first lesson is often devoted to the alphabet, and by the end you are reading names and simple words.

The teacher introduces letters in groups, by similarity of shape.

At home, reading street signs and menus is the best exercise.

One letter, one sound

In Georgian a word is read exactly as it is written, and every letter has one sound.

Compared with English or French, this makes reading much simpler.

You hardly need a pronunciation dictionary for Georgian.

Capital letters

In ordinary Georgian text there is no difference between capital and small letters.

Headings and logos sometimes use Mtavruli, a tall form of the letters.

Names and the start of a sentence are not marked with special letters in Georgian.

Letters that look alike

Georgian letters are round and wavy, and a beginner mixes up some of them.

Teachers practise such pairs separately, with simple memory tricks.

After a few days of practice your eye tells the shapes apart automatically.

Ejective consonants

Georgian has ejective consonants, such as k', p', t', ts', ch' and q', pronounced with air held in the throat.

Telling them apart matters for meaning: kari (wind) and k'ari (door) are different words.

The q' sound is the hardest for foreigners, and the teacher works on it with special exercises.

Kh and gh

Kh and gh are throat sounds that do not exist in many languages.

Gh is often compared to the French r, and kh to the sound in the German word Bach.

Both are learned quickly if you practise them in words, not in isolation.

Consonant clusters

Georgian words often begin with several consonants, as in mts'vrtneli (coach) or brt'q'eli (flat).

A famous example is gvprtskvni, with eight consonants in a row.

Georgians often jokingly test foreigners with this word.

No grammatical gender

Georgian grammar has no gender: the same word, is, is used for a man, a woman or a thing.

Neither nouns nor adjectives have masculine and feminine forms.

This delights many foreigners, especially after learning French or Russian.

The verb

The Georgian verb is the hardest part of the language: it shows at once who is acting and for whom.

Preverbs such as mi-, mo-, a- and cha- change the direction of movement.

A good teacher teaches the verb not through tables but through everyday sentences.

Counting in twenties

Georgians count in twenties: thirty is twenty and ten, forty is two twenties, sixty three twenties.

Ninety-nine is four twenties and nineteen.

The system seems strange at first, but you get used to it fast when hearing prices at the market.

Greetings

Gamarjoba is the greeting, and literally means victory.

The reply is gagimarjos, meaning may you be victorious too.

Gaumarjos, said at a toast, comes from the same root.

Thank you, yes and no

Madloba is the most useful word, and didi madloba its stronger form.

Diakh is a polite yes, ki a more everyday one, and ho is conversational.

Ara is no, and Georgians often reinforce it with a slight movement of the hand.

Formal address

Elders, strangers and officials are addressed with the formal you, tkven.

With friends, children and people your own age you use the informal shen.

A foreigner is always forgiven a mistake, but starting formally is always safe.

Deda and mama

In Georgian mama means father and deda means mother, the reverse of many languages.

This often causes funny misunderstandings, especially when talking with children.

Teachers point out such false friends in the very first week.

In a taxi and at the market

Giving an address, asking the price and saying thank you is quite enough in a taxi.

At the market, how much, a kilo and a half are the most useful words.

Many courses are built on just such role plays.

Reading the menu

After a few lessons you read khachapuri, khinkali and mtsvadi on the menu yourself.

Words on a Georgian menu often describe what is in a dish or how it is cooked.

It is the tastiest motivation for learning.

Signs and notices

Street names, metro stations and shop signs are the best practice.

In Tbilisi many signs are bilingual, which lets you check your reading.

In villages and the regions signs are often only in Georgian, and here the alphabet really pays off.

Learning through song

Georgian songs, especially slow ones, help you remember words and rhythm.

Some teachers end a lesson with a short song or poem.

Understanding song lyrics also comes in handy at a Georgian supra.

Related languages

Georgian has related languages: Megrelian, Svan and Laz.

Megrelian and Svan are spoken in Samegrelo and Svaneti, and Georgians there are often bilingual.

Knowing Georgian will not let you understand them, but you will recognise some similar words.

Other languages in the country

The older generation widely understands Russian, the younger English.

In Kvemo Kartli and Samtskhe-Javakheti Azerbaijani and Armenian are spoken too.

A few words of Georgian open doors everywhere.

University language centres

Some universities run Georgian courses for foreigners, by semester or in summer.

Such a course is structured, with levels and exams.

It suits students and those who like systematic learning.

Private schools

Private language schools offer small groups and flexible schedules.

There are often evening or weekend groups for working people.

We choose a school by its teaching method, its teachers and students' reviews.

A private teacher

A private teacher works on your topics, your job and your pace.

Lessons can be at your home, in a café or online.

A good teacher has a method, not just a native language.

Intensive course

An intensive course means several hours of lessons a day, for two to eight weeks.

It is the fastest way to reach simple conversation.

An intensive course is tiring, so we always plan rest days.

Immersion with a family

Living with a Georgian family teaches the language most naturally: at breakfast, at the market and at the table.

We often combine immersion with a morning lesson and daytime conversation.

We choose a family that welcomes a guest with respect and patience.

Language exchange

In a language exchange you teach a Georgian partner your language, and they teach you Georgian.

It is a good way to make friends and practise, but it does not replace a teacher.

Exchange groups often meet in cafés and on social media.

Levels

Courses are divided by European levels, from beginner to fluency.

The beginner level covers the alphabet, greetings and simple sentences.

Reaching a working level usually takes one or two years of regular study.

Textbooks and apps

Georgian textbooks exist in English, Russian and other languages.

Apps are good for revising the alphabet and vocabulary, but cannot teach you to speak.

Teachers often give you their own materials and audio.

The keyboard

A Georgian keyboard layout is easy to add on a phone or computer.

Letters are often placed by their sound similarity to Latin letters.

Writing messages in Georgian is excellent everyday practice.

Calligraphy

Writing Georgian letters by hand is a pleasure of its own, and some learn it in a calligraphy lesson.

You can see examples of the old Asomtavruli and Nuskhuri scripts in churches and museums.

A calligraphic inscription of your name makes a good souvenir.

Children and the language

Children often learn Georgian faster than adults, especially through play.

For children we choose short lessons built on games.

Cartoons and children's songs in Georgian make learning easier still.

School for a child

Families living here often have to choose between a Georgian-language and an international school.

In a Georgian-language school a child needs extra language lessons, especially in the first year.

We write about schools in detail in the relocation section.

Language for work

When working in a Georgian company or with the state system, the language is an everyday need.

In that case we tailor the course to business vocabulary, emails and meetings.

Some companies arrange a group course at the office for their staff.

Language and citizenship

Acquiring citizenship by naturalisation usually requires an exam in the Georgian language, history and the basics of law.

We check the exam format and requirements against official sources, as they can change.

For this exam we recommend a dedicated preparation course.

Official documents

Knowing the language does not replace an official translation of a document.

For state agencies a notarised translation is often required.

We explain these matters in the immigration and business sections.

How long it takes

Most people learn the alphabet in one or two weeks.

Simple everyday conversation becomes possible within a few months of regular study.

Results depend on frequency: three lessons a week give far more than one.

An express lesson for travellers

In one or two lessons a traveller learns up to thirty useful words and phrases.

We often place such a lesson at the start of a trip so you can use it all along.

You take away a phrase card, in Georgian and in transcription.

Online

Online lessons are a good way to learn the alphabet before arrival and keep up after you leave.

Many teachers combine online and face-to-face lessons.

We take the time-zone difference into account when drawing up the schedule.

Group size

Four to ten students is ideal for a language group.

In a bigger group each student gets less speaking time.

We also set up a small joint group for a family or couple.

Choosing a teacher

We check a teacher's experience with foreigners, their method and students' reviews.

A trial lesson shows best whether you like their style.

If the chemistry is not there, we suggest another teacher.

The language of explanation

For beginners a teacher often explains in English or Russian.

Some teachers also teach through Turkish, Arabic, Hebrew or other languages, though they are few.

At an advanced level the lesson runs entirely in Georgian.

Motivation

The greatest motivation is the first real conversation, at the market or with a neighbour.

Small goals, such as ordering food in Georgian, keep learning alive.

Georgian friends celebrate every success out loud.

For people living here

Foreigners living here often choose two or three lessons a week over several months.

Language clubs and conversation evenings connect learning with social life.

Knowing the language makes you feel at home in a new country.

Certificates

At the end of a course schools often issue a level certificate.

Such a certificate is not always an official document.

If you need official confirmation, we look for a suitable accredited programme or exam.

Common mistakes

Learning through transcription instead of the alphabet, which slows you down in the end.

Memorising verb tables without practising speaking.

Frequently skipping lessons, which means starting over each time.

Timelines

We often arrange a private lesson within a few days.

Group and university courses run on their own start dates.

Registration for summer courses opens in spring.

Packages and cancellation

Many teachers offer lesson packages, which encourages regular study.

A lesson must usually be cancelled the day before.

We confirm these terms with the teacher in advance.

What we need from you

Your goal: travel, living here, work or an exam.

Which languages you speak and what level of Georgian you have.

How much time you have each week and where you prefer to learn: in person or online.

Price

The price depends on the format, the teacher's experience, frequency and group size.

The teacher or school sets the price, and we add nothing to it.

Our fee for helping is separate and agreed in advance.