Slang

1. გენაცვალე

   Genatsvale

   My dear (term of affection)

   Usage

   Georgia's most famous term of endearment — literally "let me take your place". Older people say it to travellers, and you can return it to anyone. It carries no romantic implication

2. ჩემო კარგო

   Chemo k'argo

   My good one / my dear

   Usage

   Literally "my good one" — a gentle address for someone you have grown close to, safe at any age. With a stranger, stick to gamarjoba

3. ბიჭო

   Bich'o

   Hey man

   Usage

   The vocative of bich'i, "boy". Only for male friends your own age — never for elders, women or strangers. The ჭ is ejective

4. რა ხდება?

   Ra khdeba?

   What's up?

   Usage

   Literally "what is happening?" — a casual greeting for friends. Use "rogor khart?" with elders or staff

5. კაი

   K'ai

   OK / fine

   Usage

   A clipped form of k'argi, "good". Natural with friends and peers; write and say k'argi in formal settings

6. ჰო

   Ho

   Yeah

   Usage

   The casual counterpart of diakh, "yes". Fine with friends and peers; use diakh with elders and in official settings

7. რავი

   Ravi

   Dunno

   Usage

   A contraction of "ra vitsi", literally "what do I know". Fine as a shrug among friends, but it sounds dismissive to staff or officials

8. ძაან

   Dzaan

   Super / really

   Usage

   A drawled contraction of dzalian, "very". "Dzaan k'ai" is "really good". Not coarse, so safe with anyone, though writing calls for dzalian

9. სუპერია

   Sup'eria

   That's great

   Usage

   A compliment that is safe with anyone — food, views, plans alike

10. ბარაქალა

    Barakala

    Well done

    Usage

    A shout of praise. Fine for peers and younger people, but aimed at an elder it sounds like you are grading them — say madloba instead

11. ვაიმე

    Vaime

    Oh my

    Usage

    An exclamation for surprise, dismay or sympathy. Never rude, whoever you say it to

12. მოდი

    Modi

    Come on / let's

    Usage

    Literally "come". Also the lead-in to "let's do X". For friends and peers; with elders use a polite form such as mobrdzandit

13. აბა

    Aba

    Well then / go on

    Usage

    A lead-in that moves the conversation along; on its own it means "go ahead, try". Never rude

14. კარგი და

    K'argi da

    Alright then

    Usage

    A way of conceding and moving on. Natural with friends, but it sounds dismissive to staff or officials

15. სულ ერთია

    Sul ertia

    It's all the same to me

    Usage

    A handy way to leave the choice to the other person — say it with a smile so it does not read as indifference

16. ჰოდა

    Hoda

    And so / anyway

    Usage

    A conversational filler that links one thought to the next. Spoken only, never written, and rude to no one

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