Georgian Greetings: Hello, Goodbye, and Everything In Between

The fastest way to transform any interaction in Georgia — from buying bread to checking into a hotel — is to greet people in Georgian. I’ve watched it happen hundreds of times: a foreigner walks into a shop, says “გამარჯობა!” and the shopkeeper’s entire demeanor shifts. Suddenly you’re not a tourist — you’re someone who made an effort. And in Georgia, effort is currency.

Georgian greetings are also beautifully meaningful. The standard “hello” literally means “may you be victorious.” The word for “goodbye” means “until we see each other again.” Even a simple greeting carries centuries of cultural weight.

This guide covers every greeting you’ll need — from formal hellos to casual goodbyes, with pronunciation, cultural context, and practice conversations.

The Essential Georgian Hello

გამარჯობა (Gamarjoba) — Hello

Pronunciation: ga-mar-JO-ba

This is the greeting. Universal, appropriate everywhere, used by everyone. You’ll say it 20+ times a day in Tbilisi — walking into shops, greeting neighbors, meeting people for the first time, arriving at a restaurant.

Literal meaning: “May you be victorious” — rooted in Georgia’s warrior history. It shares a root with გაუმარჯოს (gau-mar-jos — cheers/to victory), which you’ll hear at every supra.

When to use it:

• Meeting anyone for the first time
• Entering any shop, restaurant, or office
• Greeting neighbors, colleagues, strangers
• Answering the phone (sometimes)
• Basically always

გამარჯობათ (Gamarjobat) — Hello (formal/plural)

Pronunciation: ga-mar-JO-bat

The extra თ (-t) at the end makes it formal. Use when:

• Speaking to elders or authority figures
• In professional settings
• Addressing a group of people
• Showing extra respect to anyone

When in doubt, use the formal version. No Georgian has ever been offended by too much politeness.

Example exchange:

— გამარჯობათ, ბატონო! (Hello, sir!)

— გამარჯობა! როგორ ხარ? (Hello! How are you?)

Time-Based Greetings

Georgians use time-specific greetings throughout the day. These are more formal than გამარჯობა and show cultural sophistication.

დილა მშვიდობისა (Dila mshvidobisa) — Good morning

Pronunciation: DEE-la mshvi-DO-bi-sa

Literal meaning: “Morning of peace”

Use until about noon. You’ll hear it at hotels, offices, cafés, and from neighbors in the stairwell. It’s warm but slightly formal — perfect for people you know casually.

შუადღე მშვიდობისა (Shuadghe mshvidobisa) — Good afternoon

Pronunciation: shu-a-DGHE mshvi-DO-bi-sa

Used from around noon to evening. Less common than the morning and evening versions, but understood by everyone.

საღამო მშვიდობისა (Saghamo mshvidobisa) — Good evening

Pronunciation: sa-GHA-mo mshvi-DO-bi-sa

From late afternoon onwards. Perfect when arriving at dinner, evening events, or encountering someone after dark.

ღამე მშვიდობისა (Ghame mshvidobisa) — Good night

Pronunciation: GHA-me mshvi-DO-bi-sa

A farewell greeting for nighttime — when someone is leaving for the night or heading to bed. Not a greeting when arriving somewhere (you’d use საღამო მშვიდობისა instead).

Notice the pattern? All time-based greetings follow the same structure: [time period] + მშვიდობისა (of peace). Once you learn one, you know the pattern for all four.

Saying Goodbye

ნახვამდის (Nakhvamdis) — Goodbye

Pronunciation: nakh-vam-DIS

Literal meaning: “Until we see each other [again]”

The standard goodbye, appropriate in all situations — formal, casual, with strangers, with friends. It’s elegant and carries genuine warmth.

კარგად (Kargad) — Bye (casual)

Pronunciation: kar-GAD

Literally means “well” but functions as a casual goodbye, like saying “take care” in English. Used with friends, people you see regularly, or at the end of a relaxed interaction.

— მივდივარ. კარგად! (I’m leaving. Bye!)

მშვიდობით (Mshvidobit) — Go in peace

Pronunciation: mshvi-DO-bit

A warm, slightly formal goodbye. Often used when someone is leaving on a trip or you won’t see them for a while. Literally means “peacefully” — a wish for safe travels.

კეთილი იყოს შენი მობრუნება (Ketili iq’os sheni mobruneba) — Welcome back

Pronunciation: ke-TI-li i-KOS she-ni mob-ru-NE-ba

Literal meaning: “May your return be blessed”

Said to someone who has returned from a trip. Beautiful, traditional, and guaranteed to earn a huge smile.

How Are You? (And How to Respond)

Asking

როგორ ხარ? (ro-gor khar?) — How are you? (informal) Use with friends, peers, and people your age or younger.

როგორ ბრძანდებით? (ro-gor br-dzan-DE-bit?) — How are you? (formal) Use with elders, in professional settings, or when showing respect.

რა ხდება? (ra KHDE-ba?) — What’s happening? / What’s up? Very casual, used among friends. The Georgian equivalent of “what’s up?”

Responding

Georgian	Pronunciation	Meaning
კარგად, შენ?	kar-GAD, shen?	Fine, and you?
კარგი ვარ	KAR-gi var	I’m good
ნორმალურად	nor-ma-LU-rad	Normal / Okay
ცუდად არა	TSU-dad a-RA	Not bad
ძალიან კარგად	DZA-li-an kar-GAD	Very well
ასე, ისე	a-SE, i-SE	So-so

Cultural note: Georgians often respond with “კარგად” (fine) even when things aren’t great. It’s a social lubricant, not necessarily an honest report. If you want to know how someone really is, ask a follow-up question and listen to the tone.

Essential Polite Phrases

These aren’t exactly greetings, but they accompany greetings so often they belong here.

გეთაყვა (Getaq’va) — Please

Pronunciation: ge-TAK-va

A traditional, slightly formal “please.” You can also use თუ შეიძლება (tu sheidz-le-ba — literally “if it’s possible”), which works as “please” in requests.

მადლობა (Madloba) — Thank you

Pronunciation: mad-LO-ba

You’ll say this dozens of times a day. When someone hands you change, your coffee, holds a door, gives directions — anything.

Upgrade: დიდი მადლობა (di-di mad-lo-ba) — “Big thanks” / Thank you very much.

Casual version: მერსი (mer-si, from French “merci”) — used by younger Georgians.

არაფრის (Arafris) — You’re welcome

Pronunciation: a-ra-FRIS

Literally “for nothing.” The standard response to მადლობა.

ბოდიში (Bodishi) — Sorry / Excuse me

Pronunciation: bo-DI-shi

Covers “excuse me” (getting attention, squeezing past someone) and “sorry” (minor apologies). Perfect for crowded marshrutkas, busy streets, and small mistakes.

უკაცრავად (Ukatsravad) — Excuse me (formal)

Pronunciation: u-ka-tsra-VAD

More formal than ბოდიში. Use when you need to get someone’s attention politely or in situations requiring more decorum.

Introducing Yourself

მე … ვარ (Me … var) — I am …

Pronunciation: me … var

Simple structure: მე + [name or description] + ვარ

• მე ჯონი ვარ (me Jo-ni var) — I am John
• მე ამერიკელი ვარ (me a-me-ri-ke-li var) — I am American
• მე ინგლისელი ვარ (me in-gli-se-li var) — I am English
• მე გერმანელი ვარ (me ger-ma-ne-li var) — I am German

რა გქვია? (Ra gkvia?) — What’s your name?

Pronunciation: ra GKVI-a?

The informal version. For formal situations: რა გქვიათ? (ra gkvi-AT?)

სასიამოვნოა (Sasiamovnoa) — Nice to meet you

Pronunciation: sa-si-a-MOV-no-a

Literally “it’s pleasant.” Use after exchanging names. Polite and warm.

A complete introduction

— გამარჯობა! მე სარა ვარ. ამერიკელი ვარ. თბილისში ვცხოვრობ. (Hello! I’m Sarah. I’m American. I live in Tbilisi.)

— გამარჯობა, სარა! მე გიორგი ვარ. სასიამოვნოა! (Hello, Sarah! I’m Giorgi. Nice to meet you!)

— სასიამოვნოა! როგორ ხარ? (Nice to meet you! How are you?)

— კარგად, შენ? (Fine, you?)

Cultural Tips for Georgian Greetings

1. Shake hands firmly

Georgian handshakes are strong and direct. Men shake hands frequently when meeting. Mixed-gender handshakes are common in modern settings but follow the other person’s lead.

2. Eye contact matters

Looking someone in the eye during a greeting shows respect and confidence. Avoiding eye contact can seem evasive.

3. Cheek kisses among friends

Close friends and family greet with cheek kisses — usually two or three. Wait for locals to initiate if you’re unsure.

4. Greet everyone individually

In a group, it’s polite to greet each person individually with a გამარჯობა and handshake rather than a general wave.

5. Elders first

When entering a room or meeting a group, acknowledge the oldest people first. Age commands deep respect in Georgia.

6. Default to formal

When in doubt, use formal versions (გამარჯობათ, როგორ ბრძანდებით). Georgians will signal when you can switch to informal.

7. The phone greeting

When answering the phone, Georgians often say გისმენთ (gis-MENT — “I’m listening”) or ალო (a-LO — “allo”). You can also use გამარჯობა.

Quick Reference Card

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Situation	Georgian	Pronunciation
Hello	გამარჯობა	ga-mar-JO-ba
Hello (formal)	გამარჯობათ	ga-mar-JO-bat
Good morning	დილა მშვიდობისა	DEE-la mshvi-DO-bi-sa
Good afternoon	შუადღე მშვიდობისა	shu-a-DGHE mshvi-DO-bi-sa
Good evening	საღამო მშვიდობისა	sa-GHA-mo mshvi-DO-bi-sa
Good night	ღამე მშვიდობისა	GHA-me mshvi-DO-bi-sa
Goodbye	ნახვამდის	nakh-vam-DIS
Bye (casual)	კარგად	kar-GAD
How are you?	როგორ ხარ?	ro-gor KHAR?
I’m fine	კარგად ვარ	kar-GAD var
Please	გეთაყვა / თუ შეიძლება	ge-TAK-va / tu sheidz-le-ba
Thank you	მადლობა	mad-LO-ba
You’re welcome	არაფრის	a-ra-FRIS
Sorry	ბოდიში	bo-DI-shi
Nice to meet you	სასიამოვნოა	sa-si-a-MOV-no-a
My name is…	მე … ვარ	me … var
What’s your name?	რა გქვია?	ra GKVI-a?
Cheers!	გაუმარჯოს!	gau-MAR-jos!

Practice Conversations

At a café

You: გამარჯობა! Barista: გამარჯობა, რა გსურთ? You: ყავა, თუ შეიძლება. Barista: კარგი. აი, თქვენი ყავა. You: მადლობა! Barista: არაფრის!

Meeting someone new

You: გამარჯობა! მე ჯონი ვარ. Them: გამარჯობა, ჯონ! მე ნინო ვარ. სასიამოვნოა. You: სასიამოვნოა! როგორ ხარ? Them: კარგად, შენ? You: კარგად ვარ, მადლობა!

Saying goodbye to a friend

You: კარგი, მე მივდივარ. ნახვამდის! (Okay, I’m leaving. Goodbye!)

Them: კარგად! ნახვამდის! (Take care! Goodbye!)

Greeting your neighbor in the morning

You: დილა მშვიდობისა! Neighbor: დილა მშვიდობისა! როგორ ხარ? You: კარგად, მადლობა. შენ? Neighbor: ნორმალურად!

What’s Next?

Greetings are your entry point into Georgian conversation. Once you’ve mastered these, here’s where to go:

• Expand your basics — 10 Essential Georgian Phrases for Daily Life
• Learn the numbers — Georgian Numbers 1-100 for shopping and transactions
• Order food in Georgian — Restaurant Phrases Guide
• Build real conversation skills — Our audio course takes you from greetings to full conversations through interactive lessons
• Practice vocabulary daily — The flashcard app reinforces these phrases (and hundreds more) with spaced repetition

გაგიმარჯოთ! (ga-gi-mar-jot — Good luck to you!)