complete GEOrGIAN COURSE

THE GEORGIAN LANGUAGE: GATEWAY TO YOUR FUTURE

Welcome on behalf of the Georgian Institute!

If you wish to learn Georgian you are in right place. We have created the world's most Complete Georgian Master Course to take you from absolute beginner to native speaker in 30 days. In this section you will find all the information and answers you need about learning Georgian, such as: the best learning method, reasons to learn this language, the costs associated, the difficulty spikes to watch out for, how to improve your prior skills if you are stuck in a plateau, as well as the differences and similarities to other commonly spoken languages.

First of all you should know that Georgian, known as "Kartuli" in its native form, is a unique and ancient language that stands out in the linguistic landscape of the Caucasus. It belongs to the Kartvelian language family, a distinct group unrelated to the Indo-European, Turkic, or Semitic languages spoken in neighboring regions. Georgian is the official language of Georgia and is spoken by the majority of its population. It also has speakers in neighboring countries such as Turkey, Russia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia, as well as in diaspora communities worldwide. With approximately 4 million speakers, Georgian is the most widely spoken language in the Kartvelian family, which also includes Mingrelian, Laz, and Svan.

Georgian is a difficult language to learn. It’s distinctive features can be found in its Vocabulary, Grammar and Alphabet. The challenge with many learning methods is that they only take you part of the way. Mobile apps are fun and motivating, but they often stay on the surface, giving you basic vocabulary without real depth in grammar or conversation. Live courses offer great interaction with teachers but can be inflexible and expensive, making them difficult to sustain long term. University programs are academically rigorous, but they demand years of commitment and come with high living and tuition costs. Textbooks provide structure and clarity, but they lack immersion and often don't provide the practical information that learners actually need.

If you are serious about learning Georgian, commit to a method that makes you actually speak the language. With the right system, you can go beyond memorised phrases and truly speak, read, and think in Georgian. The journey is demanding, but the rewards — access to Georgian news, cinema, music, history, personal connections and work opportunities — are immense. The time to start is now, with our Complete Georgian Master Course that has been designed to give you nothing less than complete fluency.

Start your Georgian journey with us today!

NATURAL METHOD TO LEARN GEORGIAN

Our language courses are based on the Natural Method, also known as the Natural Approach, developed by linguist Stephen Krashen and language educator Tracy Terrell. This approach focuses on creating an environment that mimics how individuals naturally acquire their first language, emphasizing comprehension, communication, and a stress-free learning experience.

While other language courses rely on rote memorization and drills, a heavy academic approach to grammar, repetitive exercises, expensive and time-consuming formal tutoring sessions or ineffective and shallow phone apps, we will have you gradually build your language skills like a child learning his/her mother tongue.

There are essentially 5 Core Principles in the Natural Method:

1. Comprehensible Input (i+1)
   Learners acquire a language when they are exposed to materials slightly beyond their current level of understanding (represented as i+1). By hearing or reading content they mostly understand, learners can gradually internalize new vocabulary and grammar structures.

2. Focus on Communication

   The Natural Method prioritizes fluency and the ability to communicate over grammatical perfection. Errors are seen as a natural part of the learning process and are not heavily penalised, reducing anxiety and encouraging learners to express themselves.

3. Emotional Element

   Emotional factors like anxiety, motivation and enjoyment greatly influence language acquisition. When learners are in a relaxed state, achieved by removing the anxiety linked to the pressure to produce perfect grammar, it is easier for them to get through the initial phase which is arguably the hardest and where most give up. It is also proven to be easier for the brain to absorb and retain new information if the learner is actually interested in the language and its underlying culture, which is why he have included extensive cultural insights, historical and modern pop culture elements in our language course.

4. Stages of Language Acquisition
   Scholars have identified the following stages in the language acquisition process of young children:

   • Pre-production: The "silent period," where learners focus on listening and understanding without speaking.

   • Early Production: Learners begin using simple words and phrases.

   • Speech Emergence: Learners can construct longer sentences and express ideas more freely.

   • Intermediate Fluency: Learners develop more complex language skills and can engage in meaningful conversations.

   • Advanced Fluency: Learners achieve near-native proficiency.

     The goal of our courses is thus to mimic the natural language acquisition process without overwhelming the learner with long and tedious lessons but ensuring gradual gains so that he/she remains committed to his/her fluency goal.

5. Meaningful Interaction
   Instead of rote memorization of single words and grammar rules over and over, the Natural Method encourages activities that involve real-world communication to help retain information. This is why we have included storytelling and role-playing scenarios that simulate everyday situations, with exercises that allow the learner to understand his/her current level and thus improve upon specific elements.

EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE

If you are serious about learning Georgian, we recommend that you download the Complete Georgian Master Course.

You will receive all the information available on the website in a convenient portable digital format as well as additional contents: over 15.000 Vocabulary Words and Useful Phrases, in-depth explanations and exercises for all Grammar Rules, exclusive articles with Cultural Insights that you won't find in any other textbook so you can amaze your Georgian friends thanks to your knowledge of their country and history.

With a one-time purchase you will also get hours of Podcasts to Practice your Georgian listening skills as well as Dialogues with Exercises to achieve your own Master Certificate.

Start speaking Georgian today!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

5 reasons to learn Georgian

1. It's Fun! Join a Unique Club
   Unlike Indo European languages, Georgian belongs to the Kartvelian language family, which is not related to most other languages spoken in Europe. Its grammar, verb system, and sentence structure offer a completely fresh perspective on how language can work, making the learning process both intellectually stimulating and deeply rewarding. Georgian is spoken by around four million people worldwide, primarily in Georgia. Because relatively few non Georgians choose to study it, learning Georgian places you in a truly exclusive group.

2. Gain a Deeper Understanding of History and Culture

   Learning Georgian opens the door to one of the oldest continuous cultures in the world. Georgia’s history stretches back thousands of years and includes ancient kingdoms such as Colchis and Iberia, early adoption of Christianity in the 4th century, and a remarkable medieval golden age under Queen Tamar. Understanding the Georgian language allows you to access its epic poetry, folk traditions, polyphonic singing, and national literature in their original form. 

3. Georgians Appreciate When You Speak Their Language
   Georgians take immense pride in their language, which has its own unique alphabet and a literary tradition dating back more than fifteen centuries. If you make the effort to say even a few words, people will respond with genuine warmth and enthusiasm. A simple “Gamarjoba” (Hello) or “Madloba” (Thank you) can instantly break the ice.

4. Business Opportunities in a Growing Economy

   Georgia has developed into an increasingly attractive destination for investment and entrepreneurship. With business friendly policies, simplified tax systems, and a strategic position at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, the country plays a growing role in regional trade and logistics. Sectors such as tourism, energy, agriculture, technology, and transportation are expanding. Learning Georgian can give you a distinct advantage when building local partnerships, negotiating agreements, and understanding the cultural nuances of doing business in the region.

5. Visit Georgia for an Affordable and Unforgettable Experience
   Georgia is an extraordinary travel destination offering dramatic mountain landscapes, ancient monasteries, Black Sea beaches, and vibrant city life at a relatively affordable cost compared to many European countries. The capital, Tbilisi, enchants visitors with its colorful balconies, cobblestone streets, sulfur baths, and lively café culture. Beyond the capital, you can explore the wine region of Kakheti, hike in the Caucasus Mountains near Kazbegi, or relax along the Black Sea coast in Batumi.

Why learn Georgian?

Georgian Mobile Apps

Mobile apps have become one of the most popular entry points for learning Georgian in recent years, especially among young people, due to their accessibility on phones. These apps allow learners to repeat basic vocabulary on the go, through gamified systems that aim to keep learners engaged to sell them as many ads as possible. No one has ever really become fluent in Georgian by using these apps but they can make daily studying more approachable, especially for people that are not completely sure if they want to commit to a more comprehensive language course.

Costs:
Many apps (e.g., Duolingo, Babbel, Pimsleur, Rosetta Stone) use paid monthly subscriptions averaging $20/month without ads or one life-time purchase for $200-$600.

Pros:

• Self-paced content great for daily bite-sized repetition.

• Fun language based games with flashy animations.

• Good for absolute beginners to decide if interested.

Cons:

• Quality and depth are overall quite low.

• Subscription costs can accumulate quickly unless you opt for a lifetime deal.

• Gamification makes it seem like you are progressing when you actually aren't.

How much does it cost to learn Georgian?

Georgian Textbooks

Textbooks are a cost-effective and time tested resource for studying Georgian, or any language for that matter, just like when you were at school. Their adoption in academic settings has brought a lot of needless information into these books which on the contrary should be strictly practical. Textbooks offer a fixed progression with lots of grammatical terms and scholarly explanations that risks making the learning process feel like a chore. As with mobile apps, it is impossible to actually become fluent in the Georgian language with one single textbook, due to the lack of real life practice and interactivity, which is why even the most diligent learners only achieve a basic language level.

Costs:

Text-only textbooks cost around $20-$35 per volume. These usually include grammar explanations, vocabulary lists and exercises but do not provide any listening material. Textbooks with good quality accompanying audio resources are available for about $50-$60.

Pros:

• One-time cost, no ongoing fees.

• Textbooks with audio build solid grammar and listening comprehension.

• Ideal for structured, self-paced study.

Cons:

• Audio may be outdated or limited (if included at all).

• Less interactive, needs self-discipline.

• Might lack cultural/contextual immersion.

Studying Georgian at a University

University programs provide the most academically rigorous and comprehensive Georgian training. You will become fluent if you attend the courses and get a degree. These courses require many years of commitment and are best suited for those pursuing careers directly connected to the knowledge of the Georgian language like translators or teachers, which given the current state of the market might not be the wisest career choices, especially since you will be competing with native speakers that do not require any formal training to speak their mother tongue.

Costs:
Tuition for foreign students in Georgia is US $2,500–US $5,000 per year depending on the university and program. Monthly living expenses range from $500 to $900, especially in cities like Tbilisi. Rent for a shared student apartment can cost between $250 and $450 per month, while food and groceries average around $150–$250. Public transport passes for students are relatively inexpensive, typically $10–$20 per month. While tuition fees in Georgia are lower than in many European countries, the total yearly cost can still range from $10,000 to $15,000, depending on location and lifestyle.

Pros:

• Deep, structured academic immersion.

• Degree qualification or recognized certifications.

• Full immersion thanks to real Georgian speakers and situations that require language use.

Cons:

• Time-intensive and long-term commitment with limited professional opportunities compared to other degrees.

• Costs of living in Georgia add up quickly.

• Difficult to find Georgian university courses outside of Georgia.

Online Georgian  Courses

Online courses represent the most time and cost effective solution, with a personalised and immersive approach to language learning, thanks to structured lessons guided by professional teachers. When taken online these classes allow students to interact with their teachers in real time, providing opportunities for conversation practice, immediate feedback and progress tracking. Online courses come with three major downsides due to the extremely high costs of private tuition especially for beginners, varying teaching quality that depends on the individual teacher's experience and the fact that they don't allow the flexibility of other significantly cheaper self-study alternatives.

Costs:
Average Georgian 10-week course online with 3-5 live sessions costs US $600-$1,000/month

Private Tutors (available on Preply or Italki) cost US $10–$100 per hour, depending on the teacher’s qualifications

Pros:

• Highly interactive with real-time feedback.

• Customization, especially with one-on-one sessions.

• Accountability and access to experienced teachers.

Cons:

• Very expensive with no guarantee of success.

• Lower flexibility compared to mobile apps or self-study since it depends on teacher's schedule.

• Teaching quality may vary greatly between tutors.

Complete Georgian Master Course

Our Complete Georgian Master Course represents the most comprehensive and cost effective solution available, offering a fully structured and immersive approach to learning Georgian without the limitations of traditional textbooks, university programs, online classes or mobile phone apps.

Designed by Georgian language experts, the course provides step by step lessons, clear grammar explanations, foundational vocabulary, real life practise with dialogues, pronunciation guides, exclusive cultural insights, with hours of audio contents. Unlike online courses, it does not depend on teacher availability or fluctuating teaching quality. Unlike university programs, it avoids rigid schedules and high tuition fees. Unlike phone apps, it goes far beyond basic drills by guiding learners from beginner to advanced level and does not feature recurring monthly payments or subscriptions.

Study anytime and anywhere, progressing at your own pace while following a carefully structured course toward fluency in Georgian and cultural understanding of its people in less than 30 days.

The Foreign Service Institute (FSI) of the United States Department of State classifies Georgian as a Category IV language, meaning it is considered one of the more challenging languages for native English speakers to learn. It requires significantly more study time than most European languages due to its unique structure, writing system, and linguistic features.

Several factors contribute to the difficulty of learning Georgian for English speakers:

1. Unfamiliar Vocabulary – Unlike French, German, or Spanish, Georgian does not share cognates with English. As a Kartvelian language, it is not related to Indo European languages. For example:

   Megobari (friend) – no resemblance to “friend” in English

   Tskali (water) – looks completely different from other European equivalents

   Dghe (today) – again, no direct link to familiar words

2. Unique Alphabet – Georgian uses its own writing system called Mkhedruli, which consists of 33 letters and is entirely different from the Latin alphabet. Learners must first master a new script before reading confidently.

3. Complex Verb System – Georgian verbs are highly structured and encode information about subject, object, tense, aspect, and sometimes even direction within a single word, making conjugation more intricate than in English.

4. Flexible Word Order – Although Georgian often follows a subject object verb pattern, word order can shift depending on emphasis and context, which may initially confuse beginners.

Our Georgian language course is designed to maximize your learning efficiency, helping you achieve conversational fluency in just 30 days. Instead of overwhelming you with complex grammar rules all at once, our method builds your language skills gradually, ensuring that you can speak, understand, and engage in real life conversations from day one.

How difficult is Georgian?

One of the biggest obstacles to learning Georgian isn’t necessarily the grammar—it’s the lack of comprehensive learning resources that effectively bridge the gap between beginner materials and advanced content. Many learners find themselves stuck after reaching an elementary level because there aren’t enough structured books, in depth courses, or accessible materials that guide them toward real fluency. Unlike languages such as Japanese or Korean, where global pop culture has created enormous international demand, Georgian media and culture have not spread worldwide in the same way. As a result, fewer people attempt to learn Georgian, leading to a smaller selection of textbooks, online courses, and language learning tools.

This lack of resources is further complicated by the fact that Georgian is not widely spoken outside Georgia, and the Georgian speaking diaspora, while present in countries such as Russia, Turkey, and parts of Europe and North America, is still relatively small compared to major world languages. While languages like Spanish or French have millions of speakers across multiple continents, Georgian is primarily concentrated within its home country. This geographical limitation makes it harder for learners to find immersion opportunities, conversation partners, and consistent real world exposure.

We recognize that the lack of high quality Georgian learning resources is a major challenge, and the goal of the Georgian Institute is to bridge that gap by creating content that helps learners confidently progress beyond the beginner stage.

If you have any suggestions for future lessons or articles, feel free to send them to pr@georgianinstitute.com — we’d love to hear from you and tailor our content to fit your learning needs.

Why can't I improve in Georgian?

Choosing between these three South Caucasus languages depends on your goals, interests, and where you see yourself using the language.

Georgian is spoken by around four million people, primarily in Georgia. It has its own unique alphabet and a literary tradition that dates back more than fifteen centuries. Georgian belongs to the Kartvelian language family and is not related to Indo European or Turkic languages. Its grammar, verb system, and phonetics make it structurally distinct from neighboring languages.

Armenian is spoken by approximately seven million people worldwide, including a significant diaspora community spread across Europe, Russia, the Middle East, and North America. It also has its own alphabet, created in the 5th century, and a long religious and literary history. Armenian belongs to the Indo European language family but forms its own independent branch within it.

Azerbaijani is spoken by more than 25 million people, primarily in Azerbaijan and in parts of Iran. It belongs to the Turkic language family and shares similarities with Turkish. Azerbaijani uses a Latin based alphabet and plays an important role in regional communication, media, and economic activity, particularly in the energy sector.

While each of these languages reflects a rich and distinctive culture, Georgian stands out as the best choice. Its completely unique Kartvelian linguistic structure, independent alphabet, and more than fifteen centuries of uninterrupted literary tradition make it one of the most historically continuous languages in the region. The country’s strategic location between Europe and Asia, its growing tourism industry, expanding international partnerships, and increasing global visibility make Georgian not only culturally fascinating but also practically relevant.

Should I learn Georgian, Armenian or Azerbaijani?

Georgian belongs to the Kartvelian language family, which also includes Mingrelian, Laz, and Svan. These languages are indigenous to the South Caucasus and are not related to Indo European, Turkic, or Uralic language families. Unlike its Indo European neighbors, such as Armenian and Russian, or Turkic Azerbaijani, Georgian has a completely distinct linguistic ancestry. This makes it one of the few languages in Europe and Western Asia that forms its own independent language family with no proven genetic connection to the major surrounding linguistic groups.

Although Georgian retains its Kartvelian roots, centuries of cultural, religious, and political contact have introduced a number of loanwords into its vocabulary. Georgian has borrowed from:

Persian – Due to long historical interaction with Persian empires, many administrative, cultural, and everyday terms entered Georgian.

Bazari (market) – from Persian bāzār

Divani (council, court) – from Persian dīvān

Turkic languages – Centuries of contact with Ottoman and other Turkic peoples contributed vocabulary, especially in trade and daily life.

Oda (room) – from Turkic oda

Chai (tea) – from Turkic çay

Russian – During the period of the Russian Empire and later the Soviet Union, numerous modern and technical terms were adopted.

Vokzali (train station) – from Russian vokzal

Mashina (car, machine) – from Russian mashina

Greek and Latin – Through early Christianization and ecclesiastical traditions, many religious and scholarly terms entered the language.

Eklesia (church) – from Greek ekklesia

Universiteti (university) – ultimately from Latin universitas

Is Georgian similar to other languages?

These are 5 proven methods that we have developed as language learners (not only as teachers!) that will help you achieve complete mastery of any language:

• 1. Immerse Yourself Completely

  • Surround Yourself: Change the language of your phone, computer, tv, console, news sources, radio stations, song playlists and streaming apps to the language you want to learn.

  • Engaging Content: Listen to native music, watch original movies, learn about the Culture and history of the country on Youtube. This will help you stay motivated and reduce the initial frustration.

  • Make Mistakes: Travel to the country where the language is spoken and don't be afraid to engage with the locals. People will be amazed at your efforts to learn their language.

  2. Focus on the Most Useful Words and Phrases

  • Study Efficiency: Learn the top 2,000 words in the language, as they often cover 80-90% of everyday conversations. Learning takes time but that doesn't mean it has to take very long to see results.

  • Real Conversations: Start by practising with common phrases you'll

  • actually use in real-life situations, like greetings, ordering food, asking for directions, etc.

  3. Use Memorization Techniques

  • Spaced Repetition: Our Courses are based on spaced spaced repetition systems (SRS) to help you memorize words and grammar in the long term and with miminal effort by showing them to you in progression.

  • Mnemonic Devices: trick your brain and speed up the learning process by trying to think of an example or "story" for each new word / expression you struggle to remember.

  4. Learn the Language based on the Context

  • Practice Makes Perfect: Remember that your grammar doesn't have to be perfect as long as you can be understood! There is no shame in using simple phrases to get you point across.

  • Shadowing Technique: Repeat in your head after native speakers in real-time while listening or watching videos with original subtitles to improve your comprehension.

  5. Consistency is Everything

  • Daily Practice: Even just 30 minutes a day is more effective than sporadic, long day study sessions. Take breaks often when reading and always have fun to increase productivity.

  • Compound Results: Small, achievable goals like reading 5 pages daily, or even just watching a movie or playing a videogame every evening produce results over time if you don't see them immediately.

How to become fluent in Georgian in 30 days?

EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE

If you are serious about learning Georgian, we recommend that you download the Complete Georgian Master Course.

You will receive all the information available on the website in a convenient portable digital format as well as additional contents: over 15.000 Vocabulary Words and Useful Phrases, in-depth explanations and exercises for all Grammar Rules, exclusive articles with Cultural Insights that you won't find in any other textbook so you can amaze your Georgian friends thanks to your knowledge of their country and history.

With a one-time purchase you will also get hours of Podcasts to Practice your Georgian listening skills as well as Dialogues with Exercises to achieve your own Master Certificate.

Start speaking Georgian today!