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5 Step 5 of 6
Ejective consonants The most Georgian sounds of all. Compare the pairs კ/ქ, პ/ფ, ტ/თ, წ/ც and ჭ/ჩ, and meet ყ.
How to practise Reading and writing Reading only You can add writing later. Your mode and results are saved in this browser.
Step tipThe ʼ in our hints marks an ejective: close your throat for a moment and release the consonant with a pop, without any breath. It is not a stress mark. These sounds really need to be heard.
Practice unlocks after flashcards and writing from memory in the previous step.
Look at the letters below: sound, name, how to rememberFlashcards learn to recognise the letters, 0/6Start Handwriting write each one from memory, 0/6Start The next step opens after flashcards and writing from memory for every letter in this step.
Letters კ
«kʼ»
name: კანი (kʼani)
Ejective k: close the throat for a moment, release k with a pop and no breath.
How to rememberA 3 dropped below the line. A clicking beak: k with a catch.Watch out: პ and ჰ look similar: their 3 is raised above the line.
პ
«pʼ»
name: პარი (pʼari)
Ejective p.
How to rememberA 3 raised above the line. A paper pyramid: p with a catch.Watch out: ჰ is the same 3 with a little hat on top.
ტ
«tʼ»
name: ტარი (tʼari)
Ejective t.
How to rememberA circle with a vertical stem through it. A tulip on its stalk: t with a catch.Watch out: Compare თ: t with a puff.
წ
«tsʼ»
name: წილი (tsʼili)
Ejective ts.
How to rememberLike ნ, but with a wave on top. A flower on its head: ts with a catch.Watch out: Without the wave on top it is ნ.
ჭ
«chʼ»
name: ჭარი (chʼari)
Ejective ch.
How to rememberA hook crossed by a tall stem, going both up and down. A check mark: ch with a catch.Watch out: Compare ჩ: ch with a puff.
ყ
«qʼ»
name: ყარი (qʼari)
A deep ejective sound made far back in the throat. English has nothing close; the spelling qʼ is a convention, you really need to hear it.
How to rememberLooks like y with a tail below the line. Deep in the throat: q.Watch out: Don't mix it up with კ: different sounds.
Try reading Read the word first, then tap it to check the reading hint and meaning.
კარი tap when you have read it kʼari — doorპური tap when you have read it pʼuri — breadყველი tap when you have read it qʼveli — cheeseყავა tap when you have read it qʼava — coffeeჭიქა tap when you have read it chʼikʰa — glass, cupწყალი tap when you have read it tsʼqʼali — waterწიგნი tap when you have read it tsʼigni — bookტყე tap when you have read it tʼqʼe — forestPractice Can read: 0 of 6 letters Can write from memory: 0 of 6 The next step opens after flashcards and writing from memory for every letter in this step.
No recordings yet. The hints for the ejectives (ʼ), ყ and ღ are especially rough: these sounds need to be heard.