Café & Drinks

1. ერთი ჭიქა ღვინო, გთხოვთ

   Erti ch'ika ghvino, gtkhovt

   One glass of wine, please

   Usage

   Ordering a glass of wine at a restaurant or wine bar

   Grammar Note

   "გთხოვთ" (please) is polite request form. Georgian wine (especially Kakheti's amber/orange wine from kvevri clay jars) is world-renowned.

2. ბორჯომი წყალი გაქვთ?

   Borjomi ts'q'ali gakvt?

   Do you have Borjomi water?

   Usage

   Ordering Borjomi, Georgia's famous sparkling mineral water

   Grammar Note

   "გაქვთ" = polite "do you have" (possession verb). Borjomi water from the eponymous town is celebrated for its alkaline mineral taste.

3. ცივი წყალი მომიტანეთ

   Tsivi ts'q'ali momit'anet

   Please bring cold water

   Usage

   Requesting cold water at a café or restaurant

   Grammar Note

   "მომიტანეთ" encodes subject (you-polite), indirect object (me), and direction (toward speaker) all within one verb form — a Georgian hallmark.

4. ჩაი თუ ყავა გირჩევნია?

   Chai tu q'ava girchevnia?

   Do you prefer tea or coffee?

   Usage

   Asking someone whether they prefer tea or coffee

   Grammar Note

   "გირჩევნია" is a preference verb where the experiencer is in the dative case — a distinctly Georgian grammatical feature.

5. ქართული ლუდი მაჩვენეთ

   Kartuli ludi machvenet

   Show me Georgian beer

   Usage

   Asking to see what Georgian beers are available

   Grammar Note

   Georgian beer brands Natakhtari, Argo, and Kazbegi are popular. Craft brewing is growing alongside the wine tradition.

6. ჭაჭა რა არის?

   Ch'ach'a ra aris?

   What is chacha?

   Usage

   Asking about chacha, Georgia's traditional grape pomace brandy

   Grammar Note

   Chacha is a clear, potent spirit (40-60% ABV) made from grape pomace after winemaking. Often called Georgian vodka. Served at supras.

7. ალკოჰოლს არ ვსვამ

   Alk'ohols ar vsvam

   I don't drink alcohol

   Usage

   Declining alcohol politely

   Grammar Note

   "სმა" (to drink) is irregular. At Georgian supras, alcohol pressure can be intense; "ვერ ვსვამ" (I cannot drink) or citing health reasons works.

8. ახალი წვენი გაქვთ?

   Akhali ts'veni gakvt?

   Do you have fresh juice?

   Usage

   Asking if fresh fruit juice is available

   Grammar Note

   Georgia offers fresh juices from pomegranates, mulberries, and sour cherries. Markets (bazroba) are great places to find them.

9. გაუმარჯოს! ყველას ჯანმრთელობისთვის!

   Gaumarjos! q'velas janmrtelobistvis!

   Cheers! To everyone's health!

   Usage

   Making a toast to health at a Georgian supra feast

   Grammar Note

   "გაუმარჯოს" = "may it be victorious" — the standard Georgian toast. The "უ-" marks the person or thing being toasted.

10. ყავა ერთი გთხოვთ

    Q'ava erti gtkhovt

    One coffee, please

    Usage

    Ordering a coffee at a café

    Grammar Note

    "ყავა" (coffee) shares Arabic root "qahwa" with many world languages. Tbilisi has a thriving specialty coffee scene with many excellent cafés.

11. მინერალური წყალი

    Mineraluri ts'q'ali

    Mineral water

    Usage

    Point to it to order bottled water; Georgian mineral water such as "ბორჯომი" is usually sparkling, so add "გაზის გარეშე" for still

12. ყინულის გარეშე

    Q'inulis gareshe

    No ice

    Usage

    Point to it when ordering, to avoid ice made from tap water

13. ცხელი წყალი

    Tskheli ts'q'ali

    Hot water

    Usage

    For asking for hot water for formula, instant noodles or medicine; say "მდუღარე წყალი" if it must be boiling

14. ყინული

    Q'inuli

    Ice

    Usage

    Point to it to ask for ice, including for cooling something down

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