10 facts about the Georgian Language
The Georgian language is not difficult to learn in and of itself. However, people do find it difficult to learn because of the verb system.
Only 4 million people speak the Georgian language as their first or second language. Its use is primarily based in Georgia.
In Georgian, “hello” also means “victory” in reference to its historical success.
Surprisingly, there are 17 dialects and sub-dialects that are based on the Georgian language.
The Georgian language has twenty-digit numerals that are similar to French. For instance, the number 84 is pronounced as "four times twenty and four."
Georgian language has its own alphabet and consists of 33 letters.
Georgian letters have very little in common and cannot be adequately linked in writing.
Georgian is one of the ten ancient languages. It contains thirty-eight alphabet letters, each of which is distinct and is recognized by UNESCO as part of the world's cultural identity. However, five of these are obsolete now.
The Georgian language is spoken predominantly in Georgia, northern Turkey, and local communities in Azerbaijan.
There are 28 consonants in the Georgian language. However, two similar consonants are not placed next to each other in words.
Origin of the language
Current historical evidence suggests that the earliest written documents in Georgian date back to the 2nd century, when Roman writer Marcus Cornelius Fronto referred to the language.
History of the language
Scholars believe that the earliest form of written Georgian arose from the introduction of Christianity into Georgia during the 4th century.
Learning the language
It takes roughly 1,100 hours to learn Georgian as an English speaker.
Georgian language for beginners
Ten basic words to start learning in Georgian:
Home=sakhli
Dark=bnelli
Happy=bednieri
Light=msubuki
Love=siq'varuli
Thanks=madloba
Family=ojakhi
Goodbye=Nakhvamdis
Sun=mze
Hello=Gamarjoba
Man does not deserve a rebuke from us, but compassion; that's the only thing I can say: we must sympathize with everyone!
Otar Chiladze
Author, educator and philosopher
I’m fascinated by anything that deals with the unexplained.
Elena Satine
Actor
The Georgians will treat you like royalty.
Katie Melua
Singer, songwriter
Fun facts about the Georgian language
3 ways of saying "yes"
The Georgian language has three different ways to say "yes"; diakh (formally), ki (informally), ho (colloquial).
Natives do not call the homeland Georgia
Native Georgians do not address their nation by the name Georgia, but rather they call it Saqartvelo in the local language.
Origins incorporated in names
In the Georgian language, people’s surnames indicate their place of origin or region of birth.
Different ways of using the letter "i"
Georgians add the letter “i” to the end of a word that does not contain a vowel.
Foreign terms incorporated
There are numerous foreign terms in Georgian. Most of them come from Turkish, Persian and Arabic.
No uppercase letters
The Georgian language does not use capital letters.
Different surnames
Georgian surnames differ to distinguish people from the eastern and western regions. Names ending with –dze indicate the western Georgian region and –swili indicates the eastern Georgian region; both suffixes mean "child."
Different identities among ethnic groups
Ethnic groups from the Highlands have names that end with –uri or –uli while surnames ending in –ani and –iani occur among ethnic groups from Eastern Georgia.
No third person gender
The Georgian language does not use gender to refer to the third person. If someone mentions an individual in the third person, they address him/her as "that" instead.
Single meaningful phrases
The minimal phrase size in Georgian is likewise unique to the language. For example, a singular verb may have a lot of meaning.
