Tbilisi - Post Report Question and Answers
How much of the local language do you need for daily living? Are local language classes/tutors available and affordable?
Downtown Tbilisi - service providers speak passable English but you’ll get better and more accurate service if you speak Georgian. Once you get to the suburbs or outside Tbilisi, Georgian or Russian are essential. - Aug 2023
Need some local language. Good tutors are around $14/hour. - Sep 2022
Local language would be wonderful, sadly, I don't have any. It is possible to get around with English, many younger Georgians speak English. Older Georgians often speak Russian. Most restaurants and signs are in both English and Georgian. As you get into less touristic places, language gets more difficult. - Jun 2020
You do need some language, but that language can also be Russian. Older people tend to speak Russian, younger speak English. Outside of the city, chances of finding English-speakers go down, but you can still find Russian speakers. Anyway, if you know any Russian, you'll be OK in most situations. Georgian is quite difficult but knowing a few phrases goes a long way. - Jan 2019
Most people get by without any Georgian, because it's a pain to learn and useless anywhere else in the world. Most older Georgians speak Russian and most younger Georgians speak English. I do take Georgian twice a week through the embassy, and I'm really glad I have it. I think it's be impossible to navigate in a taxi in English (another benefit of Taxify - you can enter your destination without having to speak to the driver). It's also nice to be able to read signs. Georgian people also LOVE it when foreigners speak Georgian, so my day-to-day is just filled with more positivity than if I didn't speak the language at all. I think having a little would go a long way. - Apr 2017
The embassy offers several language classes. Some Georgian or Russian would be extremely helpful to get around and read menus. - Feb 2017
You can get by with English here for sure in the city. Out of the city it is hit and miss. Some Georgian or Russian is helpful. - May 2016
You could probably do without it, but a little goes a long way. Garmajobat! - Jul 2014
Many educated Georgians speak English, so for work purposes Georgian is not needed, though always appreciated. Most everyone over the age of 30 speaks Russian and people are generally quite amenable to using Russian. Learning the Georgian alphabet at minimum the alphabet, vocabulary for taxis, and the numbers is very helpful and will make your life easier. Georgian is a very difficult language. - Oct 2011
Some would be great, but honestly can get away without any. - Sep 2011
Learn Russian. Everybody knows it, and you will be able to use it in over 15 countries. Georgian is the most widely spoken language in Tbilisi, but it is a worthless language to learn, as their is no relation to Russian and has just a few more speakers than Basque in Spain. - Apr 2011
You should know the basic phrases in Georgian. Definitely learn the Georgian alphabet. Although many of the older people speak Russian, they prefer not to. A lot of the younger people are now learning English rather than Russian. - Jun 2010
Most locals speak either Russian (only) or also English to various degrees. Learn some Georgian. You can get away without much. - Oct 2009
Depends on what your life is like. If you're working in the Embassy you will be speaking English all the time. But no matter what, please learn how to say and understand basic greetings and questions. Knowing how to read at least the alphabet so you can sound out words is also helpful. That way you can read what signage exists. Russian is spoken by some but not preferred. Most under 25 don't even know Russian at all. - Jan 2009
