6.2 Politeness and Social Expressions

Politeness in Georgian: Core Ideas

In Georgian, polite words are very important in daily life. People use special phrases to show respect, warmth, and friendliness. In this chapter you will learn common polite expressions and how to use them naturally in everyday situations.

Georgian is rich in polite forms, but as a beginner you can start with a small set of phrases that will help you sound kind, respectful, and grateful.

Saying “Please”

There is no single exact word that translates “please” in all situations, but there are two very common ways to sound polite.

Using გთხოვ and გთხოვთ

Use გთხოვ with friends, family, people your own age.
Use გთხოვთ with strangers, older people, or in any formal situation.

Examples:

• წყალი, გთხოვ.
  tsk’ali, gtxov.
  “Water, please.”
• ჯერ ჩაის, გთხოვთ.
  jer chais, gtxovt.
  “Tea first, please.”
• ნელა ილაპარაკეთ, გთხოვთ.
  nela ilaparakeT, gtxovt.
  “Speak slowly, please.”

You can put გთხოვ / გთხოვთ at the end, or sometimes at the beginning:

• გთხოვთ, აქ დაჯექით.
  gtxovt, ak dajekiT.
  “Please, sit here.”

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Saying “Thank You”

There are several very frequent ways to say “thank you” in Georgian.

Basic “Thank you”

Examples:

• მადლობა.
  madloba.
  “Thanks.”
• დიდი მადლობა დახმარებისთვის.
  didi madloba daxmarebisTvis.
  “Thank you very much for the help.”
• ყავისთვის დიდი მადლობა.
  qavisTvis didi madloba.
  “Thank you very much for the coffee.”

Friendly and very polite “Thank you”

These address words are more about forms of address, but they make your “thank you” sound extra polite.

Examples:

• ბატონო გიორგი, დიდი მადლობა.
  batono giorgi, didi madloba.
  “Mr. Giorgi, thank you very much.”
• ქალბატონო ნინო, მადლობა.
  kalbatono nino, madloba.
  “Ms. Nino, thank you.”

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Responding to “Thank You”

To answer when someone says “მადლობა,” Georgian uses a few very common phrases.

Examples:

• A: დიდი მადლობა.
  didi madloba.
  B: არაფრის.
  arafris.
  “A: Thank you very much. B: You are welcome.”
• A: ყავისთვის მადლობა.
  qavisTvis madloba.
  B: არაფრის, გეთაყვა.
  arafris, getaQva.
  “A: Thanks for the coffee. B: You are welcome, think nothing of it.”
• A: დახმარებისთვის დიდი მადლობა.
  daxmarebisTvis didi madloba.
  B: არაფერია.
  araferia.
  “A: Thank you very much for the help. B: It is nothing.”

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Saying “Sorry” and “Excuse Me”

Georgian uses different words when you want to apologize or to get attention.

Apologizing (when you did something wrong or feel sorry)

Examples:

• ბოდიში, დავიგვიანე.
  bodishi, davigviane.
  “Sorry, I am late.”
• ძალიან ბოდიში, არ მესმოდა.
  dzalian bodishi, ar mesmoda.
  “I am very sorry, I did not understand.”
• ბოდიში, არ ვიცი.
  bodishi, ar vitsi.
  “Sorry, I do not know.”

“Excuse me” to get attention or pass by

You can also use ბოდიში to say “excuse me” when you want to pass someone or call a waiter.

Examples:

• ბოდიში, შეგიძლიათ მომეხმაროთ?
  bodishi, shegidzliat momexmaroT?
  “Excuse me, can you help me?”
• ბოდიში, ეს ადგილი თავისუფალია?
  bodishi, es adgili tavisupalia?
  “Excuse me, is this seat free?”
• ბოდიში, შემომიშვებთ?
  bodishi, shemomishvebT?
  “Excuse me, will you let me pass?”

Formal and Respectful Address

Georgian has special polite words to address people, especially older people or people you do not know.

Using ბატონო and ქალბატონო

Examples:

• ბატონო გიორგი.
  batono giorgi.
  “Mr. Giorgi.”
• ქალბატონო ნინო.
  kalbatono nino.
  “Ms. Nino.”

You can combine them with polite phrases:

• ბატონო გიორგი, გთხოვთ.
  batono giorgi, gtxovt.
  “Mr. Giorgi, please.”
• ქალბატონო ნინო, დიდი მადლობა.
  kalbatono nino, didi madloba.
  “Ms. Nino, thank you very much.”

Using the polite “you”

The distinction between informal and formal pronouns belongs to another chapter, but here is how polite forms work in short:

• Informal “you” is შენ (shen).
• Polite “you” is თქვენ (tkven).

In polite speech, verbs usually end in -თ (t), for example გთხოვთ and შეგიძლიათ. This also marks respect.

Examples with polite “you”:

• შეგიძლიათ კიდევ ერთხელ განმეოროთ, გთხოვთ?
  shegidzliat kidev ertxel ganmeorot, gtxovt?
  “Could you repeat once more, please?”
• კარგით, მადლობა თქვენ.
  kargit, madloba tkven.
  “Alright, thank you.”

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Accepting and Refusing Politely

Georgian has simple phrases to say “yes,” “no,” and to soften a refusal.

Accepting politely

Examples:

• კი, გმადლობთ.
  ki, gmadlobT.
  “Yes, thank you.”
• დიახ, შეიძლება.
  diax, sheidzleba.
  “Yes, it is possible.”
• რა თქმა უნდა, მობრძანდით.
  ra Tqma unda, mobrzandit.
  “Of course, come in, please.”

Refusing politely

Examples:

• ყავა გინდათ?
  qava gindat?
  “Do you want coffee?”
  – არა, მადლობა.
  ara, madloba.
  “No, thank you.”
• დაგეხმაროთ?
  dagexmaroT?
  “Shall I help you?”
  – არა, დიდი მადლობა, თვითონ გავაკეთებ.
  ara, didi madloba, Tviton gavaketeB.
  “No, thank you very much, I will do it myself.”
• გშიათ?
  gshiat?
  “Are you hungry?”
  – ცოტა, მაგრამ არა, მადლობა.
  cota, magram ara, madloba.
  “A little, but no, thank you.”

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Asking Politely for Help or Information

To ask for help, information, or a favor, combine request words with polite forms like “can you” or “could you.”

Useful polite request patterns

Examples with help:

• შეგიძლიათ დამეხმაროთ, გთხოვთ?
  shegidzliat damexmaroT, gtxovt?
  “Can you help me, please?”
• იქნებ ნელა ილაპარაკოთ?
  ikneb nela ilaparakoT?
  “Could you maybe speak slowly?”
• თუ შეიძლება, აქ დაწერეთ.
  Tu sheidzleba, ak dac’ereT.
  “If it is possible, write here please.”
• თუ შეიძლება, კიდევ ერთხელ?
  Tu sheidzleba, kidev ertxel?
  “If it is possible, once more?”

Examples with directions or information:

• ბოდიში, შეგიძლიათ მითხრათ, სად არის მეტრო?
  bodishi, shegidzliat miTxrat, sad aris metro?
  “Excuse me, can you tell me where the metro is?”
• თუ შეიძლება, ინგლისურად ილაპარაკეთ.
  Tu sheidzleba, inglisurad ilaparakeT.
  “Please speak in English, if possible.”
• იქნებ ერთი წუთი დამიცადოთ?
  ikneb ert’i wuti damicadot?
  “Could you wait one minute, please?”

Little Polite Words in Conversation

Small words make your Georgian softer and friendlier.

“Please,” “thanks,” and “okay” fillers

Examples:

• კარგი, გმადლობთ.
  kargi, gmadlobT.
  “Okay, thank you.”
• კაი, გმადლობთ ბევრი.
  kai, gmadlobT bevri.
  “Okay, thanks a lot.” (informal “kai” + formal “gmadlobT” is possible in friendly talk)
• მართლა? დიდი მადლობა.
  martla? didi madloba.
  “Really? Thank you very much.”
• კარგი, შევხვდეთ ხვალ.
  kargi, shevxvdeT xval.
  “Okay, let us meet tomorrow.”

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Polite Social Reactions

Even simple greetings are in another chapter, but here are some polite reactions you can give after greetings.

When someone says “How are you?”

A typical question is როგორ ხარ? (informal) or როგორ ხართ? (formal). Polite answers:

Mini dialogues:

• A: როგორ ხართ?
  rogor xarT?
  “How are you?”
  B: კარგად, მადლობა, თქვენ?
  kargad, madloba, Tqven?
  “I am fine, thank you, and you?”
• A: როგორ ხარ?
  rogor xar?
  “How are you?”
  B: ნორმალურად, მადლობა.
  normalurad, madloba.
  “So so, thanks.”

When someone apologizes to you

If someone says ბოდიში, here are polite answers.

Examples:

• A: ბოდიში, დავაგვიანე.
  bodishi, davagviane.
  “Sorry, I am late.”
  B: არ არის პრობლემა.
  ar aris problema.
  “It is not a problem.”
• A: ძალიან ბოდიში.
  dzalian bodishi.
  B: არაფერი, კარგი.
  araferi, kargi.
  “It is nothing, okay.”
• A: ბოდიში, არ შემიძლია.
  bodishi, ar shemidzia.
  B: კარგი, არაუშავს.
  kargi, araushavs.
  “Okay, it is alright.”

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Ending Small Interactions Politely

When you finish a short conversation, service interaction, or phone call, a few polite phrases are very useful.

Examples:

• A: დიდი მადლობა.
  didi madloba.
  B: არაფრის, ნახვამდის.
  arafris, naxvamdis.
  “A: Thank you very much. B: You are welcome, goodbye.”
• A: მადლობა დახმარებისთვის.
  madloba daxmarebisTvis.
  B: არაფრის, კარგად იყავით.
  arafris, kargad iQaviT.
  “A: Thanks for the help. B: You are welcome, stay well.”
• A: ნახვამდის, ქალბატონო ნინო.
  naxvamdis, kalbatono nino.
  B: ნახვამდის.
  naxvamdis.

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Sample Mini Dialogues with Polite Expressions

In a café

Dialogue 1:

• A: ბოდიშით, შეგიძლიათ აქ დაჯდეთ?
  bodishiT, shegidzliat ak dajdet?
  “Excuse me, could you sit here?”
• B: დიახ, რა თქმა უნდა.
  diax, ra Tqma unda.
  “Yes, of course.”
• A: დიდი მადლობა.
  didi madloba.
  “Thank you very much.”
• B: არაფრის.
  arafris.
  “You are welcome.”

Dialogue 2 (ordering):

• A: ბოდიში.
  bodishi.
  “Excuse me.”
• B: გისმენთ.
  gismenT.
  “I am listening.”
• A: ერთი ჩაი, გთხოვთ.
  ert’i chai, gtxovT.
  “One tea, please.”
• B: კარგით.
  kargiT.
  “Alright.”
• A: მადლობა.
  madloba.
  “Thanks.”

On the street

Dialogue 3:

• A: ბოდიში, შეიძლება გკითხოთ?
  bodishi, sheidzleba giTqvaT?
  “Excuse me, may I ask you something?”
• B: დიახ, გისმენთ.
  diax, gismenT.
  “Yes, I am listening.”
• A: მეტრო სად არის, თუ შეიძლება?
  metro sad aris, Tu sheidzleba?
  “Where is the metro, please?”
• B: იქით, პირდაპირ, მერე მარცხნა.
  ikiT, pirdapir, mere marcxna.
  “That way, straight, then left.”
• A: დიდი მადლობა.
  didi madloba.
  “Thank you very much.”
• B: არაფრის.
  arafris.
  “You are welcome.”

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Vocabulary List for This Chapter

These expressions will let you be polite, soft, and friendly in Georgian, even with a very small vocabulary.