Animals

1. ძაღლი

   Dzaghli

   Dog

   Usage

   Tbilisi has many tagged, vaccinated strays. "Dzaghlma mik'bina" means a dog bit me

2. კატა

   K'at'a

   Cat

   Usage

   Both კ and ტ are ejective. Common on Old Town balconies and in winery courtyards

3. ჩიტი

   Chit'i

   Bird

   Usage

   The general word for a small bird. ჩ is aspirated, ტ is ejective

4. თევზი

   Tevzi

   Fish

   Usage

   Also a menu word; river trout, k'almakhi, is a Georgian staple

5. ცხენი

   Tskheni

   Horse

   Usage

   In Tusheti and Svaneti, horse trekking is still a real way to get around

6. ძროხა

   Dzrokha

   Cow

   Usage

   Cows lie on Georgian highways as a matter of course — essential vocabulary if you drive

7. ღორი

   Ghori

   Pig

   Usage

   If you avoid pork, show this with ara (no). ღ is a voiced sound made at the back of the throat

8. ქათამი

   Katami

   Chicken / hen

   Usage

   Starts with the aspirated ქ; the ejective კ would give a different word. Also the menu word for chicken

9. იხვი

   Ikhvi

   Duck

   Usage

   Seen on lakes and rivers; also useful when asking what a duvet is filled with

10. თხა

    Tkha

    Goat

    Usage

    Common on mountain slopes. თ is aspirated, and the word has just one vowel

11. ცხვარი

    Tskhvari

    Sheep

    Usage

    Huge flocks cross the roads in spring and autumn on their seasonal move — the answer when you ask why traffic has stopped

12. ვირი

    Viri

    Donkey

    Usage

    Still a working animal in mountain villages. Applied to a person it is an insult, so keep it literal

13. დათვი

    Datvi

    Bear

    Usage

    Brown bears live in the Caucasus forests — use it when asking whether hiking alone is advisable in Borjomi or Lagodekhi

14. მგელი

    Mgeli

    Wolf

    Usage

    A real concern on high pastures, which is what the Georgian shepherd dogs guard against

15. მელა

    Mela

    Fox

    Usage

    Seen at dusk in fields and on forest tracks

16. კურდღელი

    K'urdgheli

    Rabbit / hare

    Usage

    Covers both wild hares and pet rabbits

17. თაგვი

    Tagvi

    Mouse

    Usage

    Report one at the front desk; the bigger rat is virtkha

18. ვირთხა

    Virtkha

    Rat

    Usage

    The bigger species, as opposed to tagvi. Use it for a hygiene complaint

19. გველი

    Gveli

    Snake

    Usage

    You may meet one while hiking; venomous species exist, so say "gvelma mik'bina" if bitten

20. ხვლიკი

    Khvlik'i

    Lizard

    Usage

    They sun themselves on fortress walls and stone terraces, and are harmless

21. ბაყაყი

    Baq'aq'i

    Frog

    Usage

    A good word for practising the ejective ყ, which appears twice. Heard by rivers and wet fields

22. კუ

    K'u

    Turtle / tortoise

    Usage

    Just two letters. It names Tbilisi's Turtle Lake, K'us Tba

23. ღამურა

    Ghamura

    Bat

    Usage

    Built on ghame, "night". They live in the caves around the David Gareja monasteries

24. კოღო

    K'ogho

    Mosquito

    Usage

    Essential on the summer Black Sea coast around Batumi and the Kolkheti wetlands — show it at a pharmacy to get repellent

25. ტარაკანი

    T'arak'ani

    Cockroach

    Usage

    Report one at the front desk. Never apply it to a person — it is an insult

26. ჭიანჭველა

    Ch'ianch'vela

    Ant

    Usage

    The ejective ჭ appears twice; it is a different letter from the aspirated ჩ

27. ფუტკარი

    Put'k'ari

    Bee

    Usage

    Georgian mountain honey, tapli, is a classic souvenir; also use it to report a sting allergy

28. ობობა

    Oboba

    Spider

    Usage

    Common in old stone guesthouses; dangerous species are rare

29. პეპელა

    P'ep'ela

    Butterfly

    Usage

    Two ejective პ sounds in one word — good practice. Seen in alpine meadows

30. ბუზი

    Buzi

    Fly

    Usage

    They settle on food at outdoor tables — use it when asking for a cover

31. არწივი

    Arts'ivi

    Eagle

    Usage

    Seen circling over the Caucasus peaks. წ is an ejective

32. ჯიხვი

    Jikhvi

    Caucasian tur (wild goat)

    Usage

    The big-horned wild goat found only in the Caucasus — it comes up in every national park display and trekking briefing

Browse all TravelPhrases languages