12.2 Asking for Clarification

Clarifying When You Do Not Understand

Asking for clarification is essential in real conversations. In Georgian, there are several simple patterns and set phrases that you can learn and reuse again and again. In this chapter you will see how to ask someone to repeat, to speak more slowly, to explain a word, and to check whether you understood correctly.

We will stay with very common, polite language that beginners can use with anyone.

Saying You Did Not Understand

First, you need basic sentences to say that you did not understand.

Common simple patterns:

In real speech, Georgians also use very short forms like:

• ver gavige "I did not get it"
• ver gaviji "I did not understand"

These short sentences are very common and sound natural.

Example mini‑dialogues:

1. 
   A: ramdenia fasi?
   რამდენია ფასი?
   "How much is the price?"

B: ... (speaks quickly)

You: ver gavige.
ვერ გავიგე.
"I did not get it."

2. 
   A: sad tskhovrob?
   სად ცხოვრობ?
   "Where do you live?"

You: ver gaviji, tavidan tkvi.
ვერ გავიგი, თავიდან თქვით.
"I did not understand, say it again."

Asking Someone to Repeat

After you say that you did not understand, you usually want the other person to repeat.

Very useful patterns:

Notes:

• gaimeore is "repeat it" to a friend or someone your age.
• gaimeorot is polite or plural.
• tu sheidzleba literally "if it is possible", and it works like "please."

Example:

You: ver gavige, erTxel kidev, tu sheidzleba.
ვერ გავიგე, კიდევ ერთხელ, თუ შეიძლება.
"I did not get it, one more time, please."

Another example:

You: shegidzlia gaimeoro, tu sheidzleba?
შეგიძლია გაიმეორო, თუ შეიძლება?
"Can you repeat, please?"

Asking Someone to Speak More Slowly

Sometimes you understand the words, but the person speaks too fast. Then you need "more slowly, please."

Key phrases:

Note: Forms like ilaparaket / ilaparakot are polite. You can safely use them with everyone.

Example dialog:

You: ver gavige, tsota nela, tu sheidzleba.
ვერ გავიგე, ცოტა ნელა, თუ შეიძლება.
"I did not get it, a bit more slowly, please."

Other way:

You: shegidzlia tsota nela ilaparakot?
შეგიძლიათ ცოტა ნელა ილაპარაკოთ?
"Can you speak a bit more slowly?"

Asking for the Meaning of a Word

Sometimes you catch one word, but you do not know what it means. It is very useful to ask "What does X mean?" or "What is X in Georgian / in English?"

Basic patterns:

Replace X with the word you want to ask about.

Examples:

1. 
   You hear the word "modi."

You: ra nishnavs "modi"?
რა ნიშნავს „მოდი“?
"What does 'modi' mean?"

2. 
   You want to know how to say "apple" in Georgian.

You: rogo r ambobt "apple"‑s kartulad?
როგორ ამბობთ „apple“‑ს ქართულად?
"How do you say 'apple' in Georgian?"

3. 
   You point to a written word:

You: ra nishnavs es sitkva?
რა ნიშნავს ეს სიტყვა?
"What does this word mean?"

Checking Your Understanding

After someone explains, you can check if you understood correctly. This makes your communication clearer and also helps you learn.

Useful patterns:

Here X is your own explanation or translation in any language.

Examples:

1. 
   Someone explains a word to you in English. You want to confirm.

You: anu, es nishnavs "friend"?
ანუ, ეს ნიშნავს „friend“?
"So, does it mean 'friend'?"

2. 
   You repeat the idea:

You: ase gavige: shen tskhovrob Tbilisshi, sworia?
ასე გავიგე: შენ ცხოვრობ თბილისში, სწორია?
"I understood like this: you live in Tbilisi, is that right?"

3. 
   You want to be sure you got the explanation:

You: sworad gavige?
სწორად გავიგე?
"Did I understand correctly?"

Asking to Switch Language or Use Simpler Words

At a beginner level it is natural to ask someone to use English, or just easier words.

Useful phrases:

Examples:

1. 
   You are lost.

You: inglisurad laparakobt?
ინგლისურად ლაპარაკობთ?
"Do you speak English?"

2. 
   The person uses difficult Georgian.

You: kartulshi damitsqebi var, martivi kartuli gamosiyene, tu sheidzleba.
ქართულში დამწყები ვარ, მარტივი ქართული გამოიყენე, თუ შეიძლება.
"I am a beginner in Georgian, use simple Georgian, please."

3. 
   You want the English version:

You: shegidzlia anglisurad tkva, tu sheidzleba?
შეგიძლიათ ინგლისურად თქვათ, თუ შეიძლება?
"Can you say it in English, please?"

Combining Clarification Phrases in Real Dialogues

You can mix several phrases to handle a difficult moment in conversation.

Example 1: At a Shop

Shopkeeper speaks quickly in Georgian.

You: ver gavige.
ვერ გავიგე.
"I did not get it."

Then:

You: tsota nela, tu sheidzleba.
ცოტა ნელა, თუ შეიძლება.
"A bit more slowly, please."

Shopkeeper repeats more slowly. You understand partly, but one word is new:

You: ra nishnavs es sitkva?
რა ნიშნავს ეს სიტყვა?
"What does this word mean?"

When you think you understood:

You: anu, es nishnavs "discount"? sworia?
ანუ, ეს ნიშნავს „discount“? სწორია?
"So, it means 'discount'? Is that right?"

Example 2: Meeting a New Friend

Your friend says a sentence with a new word "gagizardeb" (just an example).

You: ver gaviji, shegidzlia gaimeoro?
ვერ გავიგი, შეგიძლია გაიმეორო?
"I did not understand, can you repeat?"

They repeat. You still do not know the meaning of the new word.

You: ra nishnavs "gagizardeb"?
რა ნიშნავს „გაგიზარდებ“?
"What does 'gagizardeb' mean?"

They explain in English. Then you confirm:

You: sworad gavige?
სწორად გავიგე?
"Did I understand correctly?"

Softening Your Clarification Requests

Georgians appreciate politeness. One small word makes your questions softer: tu sheidzleba "please". It can appear at the beginning or end of the sentence.

Both orders are fine. Use whichever is easier.

Examples:

• tu sheidzleba, tsota nela.
  თუ შეიძლება, ცოტა ნელა.
  "Please, a bit more slowly."
• ra nishnavs es, tu sheidzleba?
  რა ნიშნავს ეს, თუ შეიძლება?
  "What does this mean, please?"

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Short Emergency Phrases

If you feel lost in a conversation, these ultra short sentences are very useful.

You can say just one of these, even without a full sentence, and people will usually know what you need.

New Vocabulary for This Chapter

With these phrases you can keep conversations going even when you do not understand everything. Use them often, and native speakers will usually be happy to help and explain.