Culture & Etiquette

1. სუფრა ქართული სტუმართმოყვარეობის სიმბოლოა

   Supra kartuli st'umartmoq'vareobis simboloa

   The supra is a symbol of Georgian hospitality

   Usage

   Explaining the cultural significance of the supra, Georgia's traditional feast

   Grammar Note

   Georgian uses SOV word order. The supra features a tamada (toastmaster) who leads elaborate toasts (laghoba). UNESCO intangible heritage.

2. პოლიფონია ქართული მუსიკის სული

   P'oliponia kartuli musik'is suli

   Polyphony is the soul of Georgian music

   Usage

   Expressing the importance of Georgian polyphonic singing

   Grammar Note

   Georgian polyphonic singing is UNESCO heritage. Features 3-4 part complex harmonics unique in world folk music. Rustavi Choir is world-famous.

3. სად შემიძლია ქართული ხელოვნება ვიყიდო?

   Sad shemidzlia kartuli khelovneba viq'ido?

   Where can I buy Georgian art?

   Usage

   Asking where to buy traditional Georgian crafts or art

   Grammar Note

   "შემიძლია" (I can) is a complex verb form in Georgian. Old Tbilisi near Narikala fortress has many art and craft shops.

4. ქართული ანბანი მსოფლიოში უნიკალურია

   Kartuli anbani msoplioshi unik'aluria

   The Georgian alphabet is unique in the world

   Usage

   Highlighting the uniqueness of the Georgian script (Mkhedruli)

   Grammar Note

   The oldest Georgian script, Asomtavruli, dates from the 5th century; Mkhedruli, the script used today, spread from about the 11th century and has 33 letters. Georgia's three writing systems are on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list (2016). "Anbani" is named from the first letters.

5. ქართულ ღვინოს ხანგრძლივი ისტორია აქვს

   Kartul ghvinos khangrdzlivi ist'oria akvs

   Georgian wine has a long history

   Usage

   Introducing Georgian wine culture, one of the world's oldest

   Grammar Note

   Georgia is considered the birthplace of wine (~8,000 years). Kvevri clay jar winemaking is UNESCO heritage. Kakheti region produces ~70% of Georgian wine.

6. სად შემიძლია ხევსურული ცეკვა ვნახო?

   Sad shemidzlia khevsuruli tsek'va vnakho?

   Where can I see Khevsur dance?

   Usage

   Asking where to watch traditional regional Georgian folk dances

   Grammar Note

   Georgian folk dance varies by region. Sukhishvili Georgian National Ballet in Tbilisi is a world-renowned professional company.

7. მხატვარი ვინ არის?

   Mkhat'vari vin aris?

   Who is the artist?

   Usage

   Asking who the artist is at a gallery or museum

   Grammar Note

   Famous Georgian artists include Niko Pirosmani (primitivist painter) and Lado Gudiashvili. National Gallery is in central Tbilisi.

8. ქართული ლიტერატურა ჩვენი სიამაყეა

   Kartuli lit'erat'ura chveni siamaq'ea

   Georgian literature is our pride

   Usage

   Speaking with pride about Georgia's rich literary tradition

   Grammar Note

   "The Knight in the Panther's Skin" by 12th-century poet Shota Rustaveli is Georgia's national epic and a UNESCO Memory of the World item.

9. ამ ტრადიციის მნიშვნელობა რა არის?

   Am t'raditsiis mnishvneloba ra aris?

   What is the meaning of this tradition?

   Usage

   Asking about the meaning behind a local custom or ritual

   Grammar Note

   Georgian nouns decline in 7 cases. "ამ ტრადიციის" is genitive ("of this tradition"). Verb "არის" (is) = third person singular of "to be".

10. ქართული ეკლესიები ძალიან ლამაზია

    Kartuli ek'lesiebi dzalian lamazia

    Georgian churches are very beautiful

    Usage

    Admiring the beauty of Georgia's historic churches

    Grammar Note

    Georgia adopted Christianity in 337 AD. Svetitskhoveli Cathedral and Gelati Monastery are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

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