Festivals & Events

1. გილოცავთ რთველს!

   Gilotsavt rtvels!

   Congratulations on the Harvest / Grape Festival!

   Usage

   Greet someone at Rtveli — Georgia's great autumn grape harvest festival celebrated in September-October

   Grammar Note

   "Gilotsavt" is the formal/plural congratulation verb. In Georgian, the item celebrated takes the dative case (-s).

2. როდის იწყება დღესასწაული?

   Rodis its'q'eba dghesasts'auli?

   When does the festival start?

   Usage

   Ask about the start of Tbilisoba (city birthday festival) or Rtveli grape harvest celebrations

   Grammar Note

   "Its'q'eba" is the mediopassive present of "dats'q'eba" (to begin), meaning "it begins by itself."

3. სად ტარდება მთავარი ზეიმი?

   Sad t'ardeba mtavari zeimi?

   Where is the main celebration held?

   Usage

   Ask where Tbilisoba on Rustaveli Avenue or a regional Rtveli celebration takes place

   Grammar Note

   "Tardeba" is the passive present of "tareba" (to hold/carry). Georgian passives often use the "-eba" ending.

4. შემიძლია მივიღო მონაწილეობა დღესასწაულში?

   Shemidzlia mivigho monats'ileoba dghesasts'aulshi?

   Can I participate in the festival?

   Usage

   Ask to join Rtveli grape treading, Georgian polyphonic singing, or Tbilisoba folk dance

   Grammar Note

   "Shemidzlia" is the first-person potential "I can." Georgian verbs conjugate for both subject and object — a complex system.

5. რა ტრადიციული საჭმელი იჭმება ამ დღესასწაულზე?

   Ra t'raditsiuli sach'meli ich'meba am dghesasts'aulze?

   What traditional food is eaten at this festival?

   Usage

   Ask about mtsvadi (shashlik), badrijani nigvzit (walnut-stuffed eggplant), or churchkhela at Rtveli

   Grammar Note

   "Ich'meba" is the passive present of "ch'ama" (eat). Note that the root vowel drops (ch'am- → ch'm-) — common in Georgian verb morphology.

6. რა უნდა ჩავიცვა დღესასწაულზე?

   Ra unda chavitsva dghesasts'aulze?

   What should I wear to the festival?

   Usage

   Ask about attire — traditional chokha (wool coat) or national dress at Georgian cultural festivals

   Grammar Note

   "Unda + subjunctive" expresses obligation in Georgian. "Chavitsva" is the first-person subjunctive of "chatsma" (to put on, dress).

7. არის საჭირო შესასვლელი ბილეთი?

   Aris sach'iro shesasvleli bileti?

   Is an entrance ticket required?

   Usage

   Ask about ticket requirements at Georgian festivals or cultural performances

   Grammar Note

   "Aris" is the Georgian copula "is." Yes/no questions are typically distinguished by rising intonation in speech.

8. მინდა ვიყიდო სუვენირი დღესასწაულიდან.

   Minda viq'ido suveniri dghesasts'aulidan.

   I want to buy a souvenir from the festival.

   Usage

   Use at festival stalls for Georgian wine, cloisonné enamel jewelry, or traditional pottery

   Grammar Note

   "Minda" means "I want." In Georgian, the experiencer ("me") is the indirect object — a special verb class.

9. რა ტრადიციული წეს-ჩვეულებებია ამ ზეიმისთვის?

   Ra t'raditsiuli ts'es-chveulebebia am zeimistvis?

   What are the traditional customs for this celebration?

   Usage

   Ask about Rtveli grape treading, tamada (toastmaster) customs, or traditional polyphonic singing

   Grammar Note

   "Tses-chveuleba" (custom) becomes "tses-chveulebebi" in the plural. Georgian plurals add "-ebi" to the noun stem.

10. დეკორაციები და ატმოსფერო საოცრად ლამაზია!

    Dek'oratsiebi da at'mospero saotsrad lamazia!

    The decorations and atmosphere are incredibly beautiful!

    Usage

    Express admiration for Tbilisoba street decorations or the colorful Rtveli harvest festival atmosphere

    Grammar Note

    "Saotsrad" is an intensifying adverb meaning "incredibly." "Lamazia" = "lamazi" (beautiful) + copula "ia."

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