About the Georgian Language
What is Georgian?
Georgian is one of the world's most unique languages. Think about this: only 14 writing systems exist globally that aren't borrowed from anyone else. Georgian is one of them. It's like finding a unicorn in the world of languages.
Georgian belongs to the Kartvelian language family. But here's the wild part: it has NO living relatives. It's a linguistic island. The closest languages are Laz, Mingrelian, and Svan. But they're like distant cousins who haven't spoken in centuries. Most Georgians don't even speak them.
Today, about 3.8 million people speak Georgian worldwide. Most live in Georgia, but Georgian communities thrive globally. From Brooklyn to Berlin, from Moscow to Melbourne, Georgians keep their language alive.
Here's something mind-blowing: Georgia has been Christian since the 4th century. But they never adopted Greek, Latin, or Church Slavonic for their religious texts. They said, "Nope, we'll create our own writing system." That's confidence!
The Georgian Writing System
Now this is where it gets really cool. Georgian doesn't have one alphabet. It has THREE. Yes, three different scripts used simultaneously for different purposes.
Mkhedruli is the script you see every day. It has 33 letters. No capital letters. All letters look the same whether they start a sentence or not. This is the script you'll use for typing Georgian online, texting friends, writing emails, and modern books.
Asomtavruli is the oldest script, dating back to the 5th century. Imagine giant, blocky letters carved in stone. This script still appears in religious icons and architectural decorations. It's like the Gothic cathedral of Georgian writing.
Nuskhuri developed in the 9th century. It's more rounded and flowing. Priests and monks use this script for religious manuscripts. When combined with Asomtavruli, they create something called Khutsuri, meaning "church script."
The shapes of Georgian letters are completely unique. They don't look like Latin, Greek, Cyrillic, or any other alphabet. Some letters have these cool little hooks and circles. Others look like they could be symbols from a video game. Each letter has its own personality.
UNESCO recognized the living culture of Georgian writing as Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2016. Think about that. Not just the alphabet itself, but the entire culture around writing. That's how special Georgian writing is to world heritage.
Why Use an Online Georgian Keyboard?
Common Use Cases
Let's talk about real life. When would you need to type in Georgian?
Maybe you're learning Georgian. You've mastered the alphabet and want to practice writing. Or you need to complete homework for your Georgian language class. An online keyboard helps you learn letter positions without spending money on special equipment.
Perhaps you're planning a trip to Tbilisi. Georgia is becoming an incredible tourist destination. You need to book hotels, write emails to tour guides, or chat with local friends. But your laptop only has English keys. Problem solved with an online Georgian keyboard.
Or maybe you're running a business. You're sending messages to clients in Georgia or to Georgian diaspora communities. Professional communication in Georgian builds trust. Shows respect for their culture. Georgians appreciate when foreigners make an effort to speak their language.
Social media is huge in Georgia. With 84-85% internet penetration, Georgians are active on Facebook, Instagram, and local platforms. If you want to engage Georgian-speaking audiences, you need to write in Georgian. Simple as that.
Research is another big use case. Searching for Georgian content, reading Georgian news websites, or accessing Georgian academic databases. Georgia has a rich literary tradition, but much of it isn't translated into English. You need Georgian to access it directly.
Advantages Over Physical Keyboards
Why use a virtual keyboard instead of buying a Georgian physical keyboard?
First: zero installation. No software downloads. No driver updates. No IT headaches. Just open your browser and start typing. Works on any device. Your laptop, your phone, your tablet. Even your friend's computer.
Second: it's free. Physical Georgian keyboards are expensive. Plus shipping. Plus time waiting for delivery. Why spend $50 when you can type for free right now?
Third: you see the keys. Physical Georgian keyboard stickers wear off. Keys fade. You forget which letter is where. Online keyboards show you exactly what you're clicking. Visual feedback helps you learn faster.
Fourth: no mess. Keyboard stickers look terrible. They peel off. Leave sticky residue. Make your keyboard look like a science experiment. Online keyboards keep your physical keyboard clean and professional.
Fifth: flexibility. Maybe you only need Georgian occasionally. Why clutter your desk with a physical Georgian keyboard you use once a month? Online keyboards appear when you need them. Disappear when you don't.
How to Type in Georgian Like a Pro
Beginner Tips
Start with the basics. Georgian has 33 letters. Don't try to memorize all of them in one day. Learn six letters per day. In less than a week, you'll know them all.
Practice the most common letters first. ა (a), ი (i), ე (e), ო (o), and უ (u) appear constantly. Master these vowels first. You'll recognize half of any Georgian text just from the vowels.
Remember: Georgian writes left to right. Same as English. Your cursor starts on the left side. Moves right as you type. No direction confusion like with Arabic or Hebrew.
Use the visual keyboard. Click the letters with your mouse initially. Watch how they appear on screen. Notice the unique shapes. This visual learning sticks better than memorizing layouts.
Don't worry about the three scripts yet. Just focus on Mkhedruli, the modern script used for everyday writing. The other scripts are for special purposes like religious texts and decorative writing.
Advanced Techniques
Ready to level up? Time for speed typing.
Learn the QWERTY to Georgian key mapping. If you're a fast English typist, you can transfer some muscle memory. The Georgian letters follow a logical pattern on standard keyboards. Not identical to English, but systematic.
Use keyboard shortcuts. Need to switch between English and Georgian quickly? Don't reach for the mouse. Learn the quick-switch commands. Alt+Shift or Ctrl+Shift usually work. Check your system settings.
Master the unique Georgian sounds. Some Georgian sounds don't exist in English. Like ხ (kh), ღ (gh), and ყ (q'). These require practice. Listen to native speakers pronounce them. Mimic their mouth movements.
Try typing common phrases. "Hello" (გამარჯობა), "Thank you" (გმადლობ), "How are you?" (როგორ ხარ?). These phrases use different letter combinations. Practice them until your fingers remember the patterns.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Don't type too fast at first. Speed comes later. Accuracy comes first. One wrong letter can change meaning completely. "კატა" (kata, "cat") versus "კარტა" (karta, "card"). See the difference? Small change, big difference.
Don't confuse similar-looking letters. Some Georgian letters look alike to beginners. ვ (v) and კ (k) can look similar at first glance. თ (t) and ტ (t) are different letters with different pronunciations. Pay attention to the small details.
Don't forget the apostrophe. Georgian sometimes uses apostrophes for foreign words or specific sounds. Know when and where to use them. It's not random punctuation.
Don't ignore pronunciation. Georgian spelling is phonetic, meaning words are spelled exactly as they're pronounced. Once you learn the rules, you can spell any word you hear. But you need to get the sounds right first.
Georgian Language Facts & Statistics
Let's talk numbers. Real data from real sources.
Georgian has 3.8 million speakers globally. About 3.2 million live in Georgia. The rest are part of the Georgian diaspora, which numbers 1.5-2 million people worldwide. That's a huge diaspora for a country of only 3.7 million people.
Georgian diaspora communities are thriving in Russia (40% of diaspora), Turkey (15%), the United States (10%), and various European countries (35%). Major centers include Brooklyn, Moscow, Istanbul, Berlin, and Tel Aviv. These communities maintain Georgian culture through weekend schools and cultural events.
The Georgian language education system is impressive. Approximately 100,000 students are enrolled in Georgian language programs worldwide in 2024. This includes formal schools, weekend programs, and online initiatives. The Virtual Georgian Academy alone serves over 3,000 students globally.
Georgia has achieved 84-85% internet penetration, with approximately 3.2 million internet users. The Georgian government has been actively promoting digital transformation initiatives to improve internet access and Georgian language support in digital contexts.
The Georgian writing system is over 1,500 years old. The three scripts (Asomtavruli, Nuskhuri, Mkhedruli) were created between the 5th and 11th centuries CE. UNESCO recognized the living culture of Georgian writing as Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2016.
The modern Mkhedruli script consists of exactly 33 letters. Unlike other alphabets, Mkhedruli has no capital or lowercase letters. All letters are the same shape and size, which gives Georgian writing a distinctive uniform appearance.
Georgian is one of the few languages with its own unique writing system that's not derived from any other script. It's a linguistic isolate in terms of both language family and writing system. This uniqueness makes it a fascinating subject for linguists and language enthusiasts worldwide.
Language proficiency varies by generation in the diaspora. First generation maintains 95% proficiency, second generation 60-70%, and third generation 20-30%. Digital learning tools and online resources are showing promise for reversing this trend and helping maintain the language across generations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I type Georgian on my regular keyboard?
Yes, but you need to enable Georgian in your system settings. Windows, Mac, and Linux all support Georgian. But you won't see the Georgian letters on your physical keys. You'll need to memorize positions or use keyboard stickers. An online keyboard shows you exactly where each letter is. Much easier for beginners.
Do I need to install anything?
Nope. Nothing. Zero installations. Our online Georgian keyboard runs entirely in your browser. Works on Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge. Desktop or mobile. Just visit the page and start typing. Your text auto-saves in your browser. Come back later and it's still there.
Can I copy the Georgian text?
Absolutely. Type your text, click the copy button, and paste anywhere. Email, social media, documents, messages. The text is real Unicode Georgian. Works everywhere that supports Georgian text. Which is basically everywhere in 2024.
How do I search Google in Georgian?
Type your Georgian search query in our keyboard. Then click the Google button. We'll send your search to Google. You'll see Georgian search results. Same works for YouTube, Facebook, and other websites. Search the Georgian web without switching keyboards.
Statistics & Data
| Statistic | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Total speakers worldwide | 3.8 million | Ethnologue (2024) (2024) |
| Native speakers in Georgia | 3.2 million | Georgian National Statistics Office (2024) |
| Georgian diaspora population | 1.5-2 million | State Diaspora Agency of Georgia (2024) |
| UNESCO heritage status | Intangible Cultural Heritage (2016) | UNESCO (2016) |
| Alphabet letters in modern script | 33 letters | Omniglot Georgian Script (2024) |
| Georgian internet penetration | 84-85% | Georgia Digital Transformation Report (2024) |
| Georgian language students abroad | 100,000+ worldwide | UNESCO Education Report (2024) |
| Writing system age | 1,500+ years old | Georgian Script History (2024) |
Sources
- Ethnologue (2024) - Total speakers worldwide (2024)
- Georgian National Statistics Office - Native speakers in Georgia (2024)
- State Diaspora Agency of Georgia - Georgian diaspora population (2024)
- UNESCO - UNESCO heritage status (2016)
- Omniglot Georgian Script - Alphabet letters in modern script (2024)
- Georgia Digital Transformation Report - Georgian internet penetration (2024)
- UNESCO Education Report - Georgian language students abroad (2024)
- Georgian Script History - Writing system age (2024)