What writing system(s) does this language use?
Georgian uses its own alphabet, which has 33 letters. There are seven more letters, but they are no longer used, except in historical documents. The modern Georgian alphabet is called mkhedruli or მხედრული, which means "military". This is because Georgian used to have another alphabet, called "khutsuri" or ხუცური, which means "church". It is no longer used, except in the Georgian Orthodox Church.
How many people speak this language?
Approximately 4.1 million people speak Georgian.
Where is this language spoken?
Almost all Georgian speakers live in Georgia (click here to learn about Georgia). About 500,000 people abroad, mostly in Turkey, Iran, Russia, and the United States, also speak Georgian.
What is the history of this language?
Who are some famous authors or poets in this language?
Not very many Georgian authors and poets are known throughout the world. Probably the closest person to an internationally recognized Georgian author is Joseph Stalin, or Iosif Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili (იოსებ სტალინი). He mostly wrote things about communism and the Soviet Union, which Georgia was a part of.
Shota Rustaveli (შოთა რუსთაველი), Galaktion Tabidze (გალაკტიონ ტაბიძე), Mikheil Javakhishvili (მიხეილ ჯავახიშვილი), and Konstantine Gamsakhurdia (კონსტანტინე გამსახურდია) are some of the more famous Georgian authors.
What are some basic words in this language that I can learn?
| English | Georgian | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | გამარჯობა | gah-mahr-joh-bah |
| How are you? | როგორა ხართ? | roh-goh-rah khahrt? |
| Goodbye | ნახვამდის | nakh-vahm-dees |
| Please | თუ შეიძლება | tu sheh-eedz-leh-bah |
| Thank you | გმადლობთ | gmahd-lohbt |
| Yes | დიახ | dee-akh |
| No | არა | ah-rah |
| Do you speak English? | ინგლისური იცით? | eeng-lee-soo-ree ee-tseet? |
| Do you speak Georgian? | ქართული იცით | kahr-too-lee ee-tseet? |
What is a simple song/poem/story that I can learn in this language?
Here is an extract of a poem: გაზაფხულის საღამოა მშვიდი, ხიდან ხეზე გადაფრინდა ჩიტი.
It sounds like this: Gah-zap-khoo-lis sah-gah-moh-ah mshvee-dee, Khee-dan kheh-zeh gah-dah-prin-dah chee-tee.
It means: It's a tranquil spring evening, A bird flew from one tree onto another.
References
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Wikijunior: Languages | ||
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Introduction •
Glossary •
Authors and Contributing •
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