ქართული
Read Georgian by tonight.
33 letters, one or two evenings. Every letter comes with its sound and a hook written for English speakers, so the shapes stop being squiggles.
A few letters to start with
a round drop with splashes flying off
a round bomb with its fuse lit
a round gong hanging from a hook
Written for English speakers
English speakers get the aspirated series free and only have to learn the ejectives. Russian speakers have to learn both. Same letters, different workload - this is the personalisation, visible in one screen.
- Aspirated: with a puff of air
- English p/t/k at the start of a word ARE aspirated - 'top', 'pot', 'cat'. These letters need no new sound, only a new shape. Mark them as 'you already make this sound'.
- Ejective: throat closed, a sharp pop
- No English equivalent. Close the throat, build pressure, release with a pop. All ejectives are tied to a snap/click image.
The Georgian language
3.8M native speakers
Georgia: the official language
Also spoken in Türkiye, Iran, Russia, Azerbaijan, and United States
Family: Kartvelian. Its only relatives are Mingrelian, Laz and Svan; it is not related to Russian, Turkish or any European language.
Native speakers, estimate of 2020. Source
A short history
5th c.
The first Georgian inscriptions, in the Asomtavruli script: Bir el Qutt near Jerusalem, around 430, and Bolnisi, around 494.
9th c.
Nuskhuri, a script for church books. Its earliest inscription is from 835.
10th c.
Mkhedruli appears, first carved in 982. It is the script on every sign in Georgia today, and the one you learn here.
12th c.
Shota Rustaveli writes The Knight in the Panther’s Skin, still the national epic.
2016
UNESCO lists the living culture of Georgia’s three scripts as intangible cultural heritage.
Questions
How long does it take to learn the Georgian alphabet?
Most people need one or two evenings for all 33 letters. Letters come in small batches; each one is learned once you recognise it three times in a row.
Is it free?
Yes. The alphabet and the word list are free, with no ads.
Do I need an account?
No. Your progress is saved from the first letter without signing up. When you finish the alphabet you can link a Google account to keep it on every device.
I don’t speak Georgian. Can I still learn to read it?
That is exactly who it is for. Reading comes first: once you can sound out Georgian signs and menus, words are much easier to learn.