Official Language
Georgian
Updated July 2026 · Sources cited: talkpal.ai, premiumautorent-ge.com
Overall5/10Less English-friendly than about 80% of cities
Good to know
Good to Know
- Outside of the main cities, English proficiency drops considerably. In rural villages and smaller towns, older generations are less likely to speak English, and communication may rely more on gestures or basic Russian.
- There is an unwritten rule: greet first in Georgian ("gamardjoba!"), then ask how your interlocutor prefers to continue the conversation – in English or Russian. This approach is considered the most polite: you show respect for the country and give the person a choice of language.
- Language experts assure that mastering the basics of the characters takes only between 2 and 3 hours.
- Learn a few Georgian greetings—"Gamarjoba" (hello), "Madloba" (thanks). Locals love the effort.
- Tour operators, guides, hotel receptionists, and airport personnel in tourist hotspots generally have a working knowledge of English.
By Age Group
- Young People
- University students and graduates are also likely to have a good grasp of English, as it is increasingly taught in schools and universities.
- Older Generation
- Considering the Soviet past, when the nations used to communicate among themselves in Russian, almost every representative of the elderly generation speaks Russian.
Russian Language
Russian is still widely understood: a significant part of the population knows it at least at a basic level, especially older people and those who have worked with tourists from post-Soviet countries.
Georgian Alphabet
- Composition
- The modern Georgian alphabet, Mkhedruli, is made up of 33 letters. It has 5 vowels and 28 consonants.
- Script Name
- Mkhedruli
- Letters Count
- 33
- Characteristics
- Georgian is written from left to right, its alphabet is made of 33 letters, it has no upper or lower case, and uses punctuations marks you already know. Georgian has many difficulties, but spelling is not one of them: each letter represents one sound and conversely.
Official Languages
Georgian
- Status
- official
- Description
- Georgian is the official language of Georgia
English Proficiency
- Details
- In cities like Tbilisi, Batumi, and Kutaisi, English is more commonly spoken, particularly among young people, students, and professionals working in tourism, hospitality, and international businesses. In Georgia's major cities – Tbilisi, Batumi, Kutaisi, and others – the language barrier is minimal.
- Overall Level
- Moderate in city center, limited outside tourist areas
Hospitality Sector English
Restaurants, hotels, and tourist attractions in these cities often have English-speaking staff and English-language menus or signs. Staff at hotels, restaurants, tour agencies, and clinics speak English or Russian, sometimes both.
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this language & english friendliness research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Kutaisi
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.