The alphabet
33 Mkhedruli letters in six steps
A free online course for the Georgian alphabet: all 33 Mkhedruli letters in six short steps, with flashcards and handwriting practice on your phone. Start with step 1.
You can add writing later. Your mode and results are saved in this browser.
No recordings yet. The hints for the ejectives (ʼ), ყ and ღ are especially rough: these sounds need to be heard.
What this alphabet is
Georgian has one of the world's few original alphabets: the oldest inscriptions are about 1,500 years old. Today people write Mkhedruli: 33 letters, one for each sound, written left to right. Georgia's three historical scripts, Asomtavruli, Nuskhuri and Mkhedruli, are on UNESCO's list of intangible heritage.
Which letters we learn
Four writing lines
The body of a letter sits between the two middle lines. But many letters leave the line: upwards, downwards or both. That is the main difference between similar letters, so the writing practice uses four lines.
Five surprises
- No capital letters: even names and places start with an ordinary letter, თბილისი (Tbilisi).
- One letter, one sound. Words are almost always read the way they are written.
- Instead of one t there are three: დ, თ, ტ (voiced d, t with a puff and t with a catch). k, p, ts and ch work the same way.
- Consonants come in long chains: მწვრთნელი, mtsʼvrtʰneli, coach. Six consonants in a row.
- Stress is weak. Read every vowel clearly and evenly.
How the issue works
Six steps of 4 to 6 letters, each with explanations, flashcards and writing practice. Choose reading, or reading and writing. The colours show what you have done: seen → can read (flashcards) → can write (from memory). Practice for the next step opens after the exercises of your chosen mode. You can read every step's explanations right away.
We learn modern standard Georgian. Reading hints are approximate: the sounds marked ʼ, plus ყ and ღ, need to be heard.
Letters
can write 0 of 33Steps
Phrases of the month
Faded letters are still unfamiliar. More of each phrase lights up as you learn.
- გამარჯობაgamarjoba — hello
- მადლობაmadloba — thank you
- კიkʼi — yes
- არაara — no
- ნახვამდისnakhvamdis — goodbye
- გაუმარჯოსgaumarjos — cheers! (a toast)
In future issues
Questions
How many letters are in the Georgian alphabet?
The modern alphabet has 33 letters. Five more old letters have fallen out of use; they are not taught here.
Does Georgian have capital letters?
Not in ordinary text: sentences and names start with the same letters. Tall Mtavruli forms appear in headings and on signs, but then the whole word is written in them.
What do ʰ and ʼ mean in the hints?
ʰ marks an aspirated consonant, with a puff of air (თ, ფ, ქ, ჩ, ც). ʼ marks an ejective: a short pop from a closed throat, with no breath (ტ, პ, კ, წ, ჭ).
How long does it take?
Six steps of 4 to 6 letters. One step fits a cup of coffee; the next opens after the flashcards.
Can I practise writing on my phone?
Yes. Write the letter with your finger or a mouse and the shape is compared with the model. Stroke order doesn't matter.
Is there audio?
Not yet. Every letter and word has an approximate reading hint. Recordings will be added once they have been checked by ear.
Settings
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A link that opens every step: whiledrinkingcoffee.com/ka/en/?all