Essential Georgian for Taxis, Marshrutkas & Getting Around Tbilisi

Your first taxi ride in Tbilisi goes one of two ways.

Option A: You open a ride-share app, tap the destination, ride in silence while the driver plays Georgian pop music. Fine, but forgettable.

Option B: You tell the driver “საბურთალოზე, თუ შეიძლება” (to Saburtalo, please), he responds enthusiastically, you exchange a few more phrases, and suddenly you’re getting recommendations for the best khinkali place in the neighborhood.

This guide gives you everything you need for Option B.

Quick Reference: Must-Know Transport Phrases

Before we dive deep, here are the 10 phrases you’ll use most often:

Georgian	Pronunciation	English
სად მიდიხართ?	sad midi-khart?	Where are you going?
…ზე, თუ შეიძლება	…ze, tu sheidzleba	To…, please
აქ გაჩერდით	ak gacherd-it	Stop here
რამდენია?	ramdenia?	How much is it?
პირდაპირ	pirdapir	Straight ahead
მარცხნივ	martskh-niv	Left
მარჯვნივ	marjv-niv	Right
სადგური	sadguri	Station
გაჩერება	gachereba	Stop (bus/marshrutka)
მადლობა	madloba	Thank you

Pro tip: Save this table as a screenshot on your phone. You’ll use it constantly in your first week.

Taking a Taxi in Tbilisi

Ride-Share Apps vs. Street Taxis

Most locals use Bolt, Yandex Go, or Maxim. The apps work in English, prices are fixed, and you don’t need to speak Georgian.

But here’s what apps can’t give you:

• The driver who knows a shortcut during rush hour
• Restaurant recommendations from a local
• Practice actually using Georgian
• That feeling of belonging rather than just visiting

Street taxis (yellow cars with the checkered stripe) are still common, especially at airports and train stations. For these, you’ll need Georgian.

Essential Taxi Phrases

Getting in:

Georgian	Pronunciation	English
თავისუფალია?	tavisupalia?	Are you free/available?
…ზე მივიდეთ	…ze mividet	Let’s go to…
მთავარ სადგურზე	mtavar sadgurze	To the main station
აეროპორტზე	aeroportze	To the airport
მეტრო სადგურთან	metro sadgurtan	Near the metro station

During the ride:

Georgian	Pronunciation	English
შორსაა?	shorsa?	Is it far?
რამდენ ხანს გრძელდება?	ramden khans grdz-eldeba?	How long does it take?
აქ მარცხნივ	ak martskh-niv	Turn left here
აქ მარჯვნივ	ak marjv-niv	Turn right here
შემდეგ მოხვევაზე	shemdeg mokhvevaze	At the next turn
შუქნიშანთან	shuknish-antan	At the traffic light

Ending the ride:

Georgian	Pronunciation	English
აქ კარგია	ak k’argia	Here is good
აქ გაჩერდით, თუ შეიძლება	ak gacherdit, tu sheidzleba	Please stop here
რამდენი გმართებთ?	ramdeni gmart-ebt?	How much do I owe you?
ნაშთი არ მინდა	nashti ar minda	Keep the change
მადლობა, კარგად	madloba, k’argad	Thanks, goodbye

Negotiating Price (Street Taxis)

For street taxis, always agree on price before getting in:

You: “რამდენი ღირს რუსთაველამდე?” (ramdeni ghirs rustavelmade?) — How much to Rustaveli?

Driver might say: “ათი ლარი” (ati lari) — 10 lari

If it sounds too high, you can say:

• “ძვირია” (dz-viria) — That’s expensive
• “რვა ლარი?” (rva lari?) — Eight lari?

Or just check Bolt for the standard price and use that as your benchmark.

Navigating Marshrutkas (Minibuses)

Marshrutkas are the backbone of Georgian transport. These yellow (or sometimes white) minibuses have route numbers and run fixed paths across the city and country.

Finding Your Marshrutka

Georgian	Pronunciation	English
სად არის გაჩერება?	sad aris gachereba?	Where is the bus stop?
რა ნომრით მივდივარ დიდუბეზე?	ra nomrit mivdivar didubeze?	What number goes to Didube?
ეს მარშრუტკა მიდის ვაკეში?	es marshrutka midis vak’eshi?	Does this marshrutka go to Vake?

Getting On

When the marshrutka arrives, you can ask the driver:

• “…ზე მიდიხართ?” (…ze midikhhart?) — Do you go to…?

Don’t be shy — drivers expect this question and will nod yes or wave you to another marshrutka.

Payment happens during or after boarding. Have small bills ready (1-2 lari coins are best).

During the Ride

To tell the driver where to stop:

Georgian	Pronunciation	English
გაჩერება!	gachereba!	Stop! (at the next stop)
აქ გავიდე	ak gavide	I’ll get off here
გააჩერე აქ, თუ შეიძლება	gaachere ak, tu sheidzleba	Stop here, please

Insider tip: Locals often just shout “გამაჩერეთ” (gamacheeret) or even just “აქ!” (ak! — here!). The driver understands.

Common Marshrutka Routes

Here are routes you might actually use:

Route	From	To
#37	Station Square	Gldani
#61	Didube	Ortachala
#55	Station Square	Varketili
#71	Avlabari	Technical University
#80	Station Square	Dighomi

For longer routes (Kutaisi, Batumi, etc.), marshrutkas leave from Didube or Ortachala stations.

Using Tbilisi Metro

The metro is the easiest transport to navigate — announcements are in Georgian and English. But knowing the Georgian helps you feel less like a tourist.

Metro Vocabulary

Georgian	Pronunciation	English
მეტროსადგური	metrosadguri	Metro station
ბილეთი	bileti	Ticket
გადასასვლელი	gadasasvleli	Transfer
პირველი ხაზი	pirveli khazi	Line 1 (Akhmeteli-Varketili)
მეორე ხაზი	meore khazi	Line 2 (Saburtalo)

Asking for Help

Georgian	Pronunciation	English
როგორ მივიდე თავისუფლების მოედანზე?	rogor mivide tavisuplebis moedanze?	How do I get to Freedom Square?
სად არის გადასასვლელი?	sad aris gadasasvleli?	Where is the transfer?
რომელ სადგურზე გადავჯდე?	romel sadgurze gadavjde?	At which station do I change?

Key Metro Stations (Georgian Names)

Learn these — you’ll see them on signs:

Georgian	Pronunciation	Location
რუსთაველის	Rustaveli	Main avenue, museums
თავისუფლების მოედანი	Tavisuplebis Moedani	Freedom Square, old town
სადგურის მოედანი	Sadguris Moedani	Train station
დიდუბე	Didube	Bus station for intercity
ავლაბარი	Avlabari	Holy Trinity Cathedral area
საბურთალო	Saburtalo	University area
ვარკეთილი	Varketili	Eastern terminus

Giving Directions in Georgian

When your taxi driver asks which way, you’ll need these:

Basic Directions

Georgian	Pronunciation	English
პირდაპირ	pirdapir	Straight
მარცხნივ	martskh-niv	Left
მარჯვნივ	marjv-niv	Right
უკან	uk’an	Back
წინ	ts’in	Forward

More Specific

Georgian	Pronunciation	English
პირველ მოხვევაზე	pirvel mokhvevaze	At the first turn
მეორე ქუჩაზე	meore kuchaze	On the second street
ხიდის შემდეგ	khidis shemdeg	After the bridge
ხიდამდე	khidamde	Before the bridge
მარცხენა მხარეს	martskhena mkhares	On the left side
მარჯვენა მხარეს	marjvena mkhares	On the right side
ბოლომდე	bolomde	To the end

Landmarks as Reference Points

Georgians give directions using landmarks, not addresses. Learn these:

Georgian	Pronunciation	English
ეკლესიასთან	ek’lesiast’an	Near the church
სუპერმარკეტთან	supermark’ettan	Near the supermarket
პარკთან	p’arktan	Near the park
სკოლასთან	sk’olast’an	Near the school
აფთიაქთან	aptiaktan	Near the pharmacy
ბანკთან	banktan	Near the bank

Example directions: “პირდაპირ, შემდეგ მარცხნივ აფთიაქთან” — Straight, then left at the pharmacy.

Numbers You’ll Need for Transport

Quick review of numbers for fares, route numbers, and platforms:

Number	Georgian	Pronunciation
1	ერთი	erti
2	ორი	ori
3	სამი	sami
5	ხუთი	khuti
10	ათი	ati
20	ოცი	otsi
50	ორმოცდაათი	ormotsda-ati
100	ასი	asi

For marshrutka prices: “ორი ლარი” (ori lari) = 2 lari

For route numbers: “ოცდათერთმეტი” (otsdatertmeti) = 37

Want to master Georgian numbers? Our complete guide covers 1-100 with the unique vigesimal system.

Real Conversation Examples

Scenario 1: Taking a Taxi to Old Town

You: თავისუფალია?
Driver: დიახ. სად მიდიხართ?
You: ძველ თბილისში, თუ შეიძლება.
Driver: რომელ ქუჩაზე?
You: შარდენის ქუჩასთან.
Driver: კარგი.

(Translation: “Are you free?” — “Yes. Where are you going?” — “Old Tbilisi, please.” — “Which street?” — “Near Shardeni Street.” — “Okay.”)

Scenario 2: Finding Your Marshrutka

You: ბოდიში, სად არის გაჩერება დიდუბეზე?
Local: აი, იქ. ნომერი ოცდაცხრა.
You: მადლობა!

(Translation: “Excuse me, where is the stop for Didube?” — “Right there. Number 29.” — “Thank you!”)

Scenario 3: Stopping the Marshrutka

You: (loudly) გააჩერეთ!
Driver: (slows down)
You: (paying) რამდენია?
Driver: სამოცი თეთრი.
You: (handing coins) მადლობა!

(Translation: “Stop!” — “How much?” — “60 tetri.” — “Thanks!”)

Useful Apps and Their Georgian

Even with apps, some Georgian helps:

Bolt/Yandex Terms

In-App Term	Georgian	Pronunciation
Pickup	აყვანის წერტილი	ayvanis ts’ertili
Drop-off	ჩამოსვლის წერტილი	chamosvlis ts’ertili
Driver arriving	მძღოლი მოდის	mdzgh-oli modis
Trip completed	მგზავრობა დასრულდა	mgzavroba dasrulda

Google Maps Georgian

Set Google Maps to Georgian for practice. You’ll learn:

• მარშრუტი (marshuti) = Route
• მანძილი (mandzili) = Distance
• დრო (dro) = Time
• მიხვედით (mikhvedit) = You’ve arrived

Regional Transport: Beyond Tbilisi

Planning trips to wine country, the mountains, or the coast? Here’s what you need:

Asking About Long-Distance Transport

Georgian	Pronunciation	English
სად მიდის მარშრუტკა ბათუმში?	sad midis marshrutka batumshi?	Where does the marshrutka to Batumi leave from?
როდის გადის მატარებელი კახეთში?	rodis gadis matarebeli kakhetshi?	When does the train to Kakheti leave?
რამდენი ღირს ბილეთი?	ramdeni ghirs bileti?	How much is a ticket?
რამდენ საათში ჩავალთ?	ramden saatshi chavalt?	In how many hours will we arrive?

Key Intercity Stations

Station	Georgian	Goes To
Didube	დიდუბე	Kutaisi, Zugdidi, Mestia
Ortachala	ორთაჭალა	Batumi, Borjomi
Samgori	სამგორი	Kakheti (wine region)
Railway Station	რკინიგზის სადგური	Everywhere (trains)

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Mistake #1: Forgetting the -ზე Ending

Destinations in Georgian use the postposition “-ზე” (to/at):

• ❌ “მივდივარ რუსთაველი”
• ✅ “მივდივარ რუსთაველზე”

Mistake #2: Being Too Polite

Georgian drivers appreciate directness. You don’t need elaborate please-and-thank-you:

• Long version: “თუ არ გეწყინებათ, აქ გაჩერდით, თუ შეიძლება”
• What locals say: “აქ გაჩერდი” (informal) or “აქ გაჩერდით” (polite but direct)

Mistake #3: Whispering on Marshrutkas

Marshrutkas are noisy. The driver won’t hear a quiet “გაჩერება”. Project your voice! It’s not rude — it’s expected.

Mistake #4: Not Having Small Bills

Many drivers don’t carry change for 50 or 100 lari notes. Always have 1, 2, and 5 lari bills ready.

Building Real Fluency: Next Steps

These transport phrases will get you around Tbilisi comfortably. But if you want to go beyond survival Georgian — if you want to actually understand what the taxi driver is saying about traffic, or chat with locals on the marshrutka — you need systematic learning.

Your options:

📱 Our free flashcard app — Start with 99 free cards covering numbers and essential phrases. Practice the vocabulary from this guide with spaced repetition.

🎧 Audio Course — Learn conversational Georgian through 60 lessons designed for Pimsleur-style active recall. Perfect for practicing pronunciation while commuting.

📥 Free Phrases PDF — Get our 50 Essential Georgian Phrases with audio pronunciations.

---

Challenge: Next time you’re in a taxi, try at least three Georgian phrases from this guide. Even if the driver switches to English, you’ll have practiced — and you might be surprised how much they appreciate the effort.

ბედნიერ მგზავრობას! (Bednier mgzavrobas!) — Happy travels!