Learn Georgian: A Realistic Plan from Alphabet to First Conversation

You’ve moved to Tbilisi, or you’re dating someone from Georgia, and the script on every shop sign looks like beautiful curly decoration you’ll never be able to read. Locals switch to English or Russian the moment you hesitate. Here’s how to get past that point, even though Duolingo and Babbel don’t teach Georgian.

Georgian (ქართული, kartuli) is spoken by around 4 million people, most of them in Georgia, where it’s the official language. It isn’t related to Russian, Turkish or any European language. It belongs to the small Kartvelian family and has its own alphabet that you’ll find nowhere else in the world. That uniqueness is exactly why so many people who move to Georgia, or fall in love with someone from there, give up in the first two weeks.

I’ve been learning languages on my own for over 20 years and have written four books about language learning. I’ll be upfront: I don’t speak Georgian. What I bring to this guide is the method side, and an honest look at which Georgian resources really teach you something and which ones only show up in the search results.

Why learning Georgian feels harder than it should

The stories I hear from Georgian learners are remarkably similar. They arrived in Tbilisi motivated, downloaded two apps that turned out not to have Georgian, learned gamarjoba and madloba from a waiter and then got stuck. After a few weeks, the script still looked like a wall and everyday life simply ran in English.

The problem is rarely you. It’s the starting conditions:

• The big apps are missing. Duolingo, Babbel and Rosetta Stone don’t offer Georgian (checked October 2026).
• The script blocks everything else. As long as you can’t read, every menu, sign and textbook stays closed. Many learners try to skip the alphabet with romanized phrases and hit a ceiling very quickly.
• Nobody lets you practise. Georgians are famously hospitable, and that includes switching to English or Russian the second you search for a word. Friendly, but it kills your progress.
• Your partner isn’t a teacher. Native speakers know the language, but not how to explain why a verb suddenly looks completely different.

When I started Norwegian in 2005, I made a similar mistake: I collected words from everywhere and learned nothing systematically. Things only clicked when I switched to a fixed daily routine with spaced repetition. That same approach is the backbone of this guide, adapted to the one thing Georgian demands first: reading.

Is Georgian hard to learn? Realistic expectations

The US Foreign Service Institute places Georgian in Category III, together with languages like Greek, Russian and Turkish. For English speakers, it estimates around 44 weeks or 1,100 class hours to reach professional working proficiency (FSI language categories, state.gov). That’s the benchmark for diplomats who negotiate in the language. For ordering at the market, chatting with your in-laws or getting around Tbilisi, you need a fraction of that.

What makes Georgian challenging:

• A new alphabet. 33 letters you’ve never seen before. It sounds worse than it is, see below.
• Sounds English doesn’t have. Georgian distinguishes between a breathy and a “popped” version of several consonants, for example ქ (k) and კ (k’). It also loves consonant clusters. The famous example is გვფრცქვნი (gvprtskvni), “you’re peeling us”, with eight consonants in a row.
• The verbs. One Georgian verb often carries the subject and the object at once. მიყვარხარ (miqvarkhar) means “I love you” in a single word. This is the part that takes the longest, and it’s fine to learn many verb forms as fixed phrases at first.

What makes Georgian easier than its reputation:

• Phonetic spelling. Every letter stands for exactly one sound. Once you know the 33 letters, you can read any word out loud correctly. That’s a huge advantage over English or French.
• No capital letters to worry about. Everyday Georgian writing doesn’t distinguish between upper and lower case.
• No grammatical gender and no articles. No der, die, das and no le or la. There’s no “he” versus “she” either, one word covers both.
• People are delighted when you try. In my experience, few things open doors faster than a few words in a smaller language. In Georgia, a toast in Georgian at a dinner table is remembered for years.

How long does it take to learn Georgian?

With 20 minutes of focused study every day, a realistic timeline looks like this: reading the alphabet slowly after 1 to 3 weeks, greetings and basic phrases after about 4 to 6 weeks, simple conversations about family, food and daily life after about 3 months and a solid A2 level after around 6 months. If you live in Georgia and use what you learn every day, you’ll often move noticeably faster.

Georgian, Russian or English: what do people speak in Georgia?

Georgian is the official language and the everyday language of the vast majority of people in the country (Georgia in the Caucasus, not the US state). Many older Georgians also speak Russian, while younger people in Tbilisi and Batumi often speak good English. Regional languages such as Mingrelian and Svan, as well as Armenian and Azerbaijani in some regions, add to the mix.

For you as a learner, that means: you can get by in Tbilisi without Georgian, but you’ll stay a guest. Georgian is the language of the family table, the village, the market stalls and the jokes. If you want the full picture, read our guide on what language is spoken in Georgia.

How to learn Georgian: a step-by-step plan for beginners

This is the approach I’d use myself, based on how I structured my own learning for Norwegian, Danish and Swedish, with one important difference: for Georgian, the alphabet comes first, not later.

Step 1: The Georgian alphabet (week 1 to 3)

Modern Georgian uses the Mkhedruli script with 33 letters. It’s one of three historical Georgian scripts, and together they’re recognised by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage. The good news: because spelling is phonetic, the alphabet is a one-time investment that pays off every single day afterwards.

What works best from my experience with new scripts:

• 5 letters a day. That gets you through the whole alphabet in about a week, with a second week for revision.
• Read real words immediately. Shop signs, menus and metro stations are perfect practice material. Reading ხაჭაპური (khachapuri) on a café board for the first time is a small victory you’ll remember.
• Write by hand. Writing the round letters a few times helps you tell similar shapes apart much faster than just looking at them.

The full alphabet with pronunciation and the letters that trip English speakers up most is in our guide to the Georgian alphabet.

Step 2: Your first 30 phrases (week 2 to 4)

Phrases give you the quick wins that keep you motivated. These eight carry most first conversations:

A nice detail: gamarjoba comes from the word for “victory”, and gaumarjos, the toast you’ll hear all evening at a supra, means something like “to victory”. You’ll find many more everyday expressions with pronunciation in our Georgian phrases.

Step 3: Core vocabulary with spaced repetition (month 1 to 3)

From my own experience, the method that really sticks is spaced repetition: you review words at growing intervals, right before you would forget them. That’s the core of what I describe in my books. For Georgian, focus first on the words you’ll use every day: family, food and drink, numbers, directions, shopping and the most common verbs. If you live in Tbilisi, add the vocabulary of your own daily routine, from the bakery to the taxi.

Step 4: Grammar in small doses (from month 2)

Don’t start with verb tables. Georgian verbs are complex enough to scare off anyone who tackles them in theory. Learn the most common forms as complete phrases first (I want, I like, I love you, I don’t understand) and only look at the system once you notice patterns. The noun endings follow more regular rules and come naturally once you’ve heard the same words in different sentences.

Step 5: Listen and speak from week one

Georgian music, from polyphonic folk singing to modern pop, trains your ear long before you understand everything. And when people switch to English, ask them openly to stay in Georgian with you for five minutes. Most Georgians are happy to help once they know you’re serious. A supra is a great opportunity, too: the toastmaster (tamada) repeats the same structures toast after toast, which is perfect listening practice.

Can you learn Georgian on Duolingo? Apps and courses compared

“Duolingo Georgian” is one of the most searched terms around learning Georgian, and the answer disappoints many people. Here’s what’s really available (checked October 2026):

Course	Georgian available?	Method	Best for	Rating
17-Minute-Languages	✅ Beginner course (A1 to A2)	Spaced repetition, 15 to 20 min/day	Structured self-study from day one
Preply (live tutors)	✅ Georgian tutors	1-on-1 live lessons	Speaking practice, pronunciation
Duolingo	❌ No Georgian	Not available	Not available	Not rated
Babbel	❌ No Georgian	Not available	Not available	Not rated
Rosetta Stone	❌ No Georgian	Not available	Not available	Not rated

My honest take on the table: The 5 stars for 17-Minute-Languages reflect the method, the same spaced repetition approach I used for my Scandinavian vocabulary, and the fact that it’s one of very few structured Georgian courses for English speakers with native speaker audio. The 4 stars for Preply reflect the value of a real person correcting your pronunciation, which matters even more in Georgian with its unusual consonants. Ideally, you combine both: the course for vocabulary and reading, a tutor or Georgian friends for speaking.

What’s inside the 17-Minute-Languages Georgian course

Since it’s the main recommendation on this page, here’s what you really get, without the marketing copy:

• Vocabulary in context: According to the provider, the beginner course covers over 1,300 words, embedded in 42 dialogues and phrases instead of isolated word lists.
• Native speakers: All words and dialogues are recorded by native Georgian speakers, so you hear the tricky consonants correctly from day one.
• Daily plan: The software sets your tasks every day. You decide how many new words you learn and switch between multiple choice, writing and listening exercises.
• Trainers for the hard parts: a verb trainer, a sentence building trainer and an audio trainer for learning without looking at a screen.
• Goal: A solid A2 foundation after about three months of daily practice.
• Risk-free start: A free 2-day trial and a 31-day money-back guarantee, with a one-off payment instead of a subscription.

From my experience with the method: the long-term memory loop works. Words you don’t know come back more often, words you know move into longer review cycles. What the course doesn’t replace is real conversation. That’s where your partner, your Georgian friends or a tutor come in.

Online course, language school in Tbilisi or private tutor?

If you live in Georgia, a language school in Tbilisi may sound like the obvious choice. It can be, but only if the schedule fits your life. Here’s how the three options compare:

My recommendation: build your vocabulary and reading with an online course every day, and add one or two tutor sessions a week as soon as you know a few hundred words. That gives you the structure of a school and the speaking practice of a tutor, without having to rearrange your week around a class.

Looking for a tutor? On Preply you can filter for Georgian tutors, compare prices and book a trial lesson. → Browse tutors on Preply (filter for Georgian)*

Learn Georgian for free: resources that actually help

Can you learn Georgian for free? For the first steps, yes. For a structured path to real conversations, free resources alone rarely get you there, simply because there’s so little material for English speakers. These are worth your time:

• Our Georgian alphabet guide: all 33 letters with pronunciation, your most important first step. → Georgian alphabet
• Our Georgian phrases: greetings, small talk and polite expressions with pronunciation. → Georgian phrases
• Georgian music: Georgian polyphonic singing and modern Georgian pop are easy to find on YouTube and Spotify. Pick songs you like and read along with the lyrics. It’s reading and listening practice at the same time.
• The streets of Tbilisi: If you live there, every sign, menu and bus stop is free reading practice. Read everything out loud, even if you don’t understand it yet.
• Free 2-day course trial: Test the structured method before you decide. → Try the Georgian course for free*

*

For more on building vocabulary that sticks, see my guide to learning vocabulary successfully.

Frequently asked questions about learning Georgian

Can you learn Georgian on Duolingo?

No. As of October 2026, Duolingo doesn’t offer a Georgian course, and neither do Babbel or Rosetta Stone. For structured self-study, 17-Minute-Languages offers a Georgian beginner course with native speaker audio, and Preply has live Georgian tutors.

Is Georgian hard to learn for English speakers?

Georgian is in the FSI’s Category III, which means it takes longer than Spanish or French. The new alphabet, unusual consonants and complex verbs are the main challenges. Phonetic spelling, no grammatical gender and no articles make other parts easier than expected.

How long does it take to learn Georgian?

With 20 minutes a day, expect to read the alphabet after 1 to 3 weeks, hold simple conversations after about 3 months and reach a solid A2 level after around 6 months. The FSI estimates about 1,100 class hours for professional working proficiency.

How many letters are in the Georgian alphabet?

The modern Georgian alphabet, called Mkhedruli, has 33 letters. Each letter stands for one sound, and everyday writing doesn’t use capital letters. More in our Georgian alphabet guide.

Do I need Russian to live in Georgia?

No. Georgian is the official language, and many younger people in Tbilisi and Batumi speak English. Russian is still understood by many older Georgians, but if you want to connect with people, Georgian is the better investment.

How do you say hello in Georgian?

Hello is gamarjoba (გამარჯობა). Thank you is madloba (მადლობა), and goodbye is nakhvamdis (ნახვამდის). More in our Georgian phrases.

Can I learn Georgian for free?

You can learn the alphabet, your first phrases and train your listening for free with our guides, music and everyday reading practice. For a systematic path to real conversations, a structured course or a tutor is much faster.

Related links

• The Georgian alphabet: all 33 letters with pronunciation
• Common Georgian phrases with pronunciation
• What language is spoken in Georgia?
• The different ways of learning languages
• Learning vocabulary successfully
• Motivated language learning
• Train your listening comprehension
• Learning languages quickly, is it possible?

Prefer another language?

• 🇩🇪 – Georgisch lernen
• 🇳🇴 – Lær georgisk