All-Capital Letters on Signs

Level 3

Mtavruli is an all-capitals style of the same 33 letters, used on signs and headings.

How It Works

Georgian has no capital letters in ordinary writing. Names and the first word of a sentence use the same letters as every other word: ნინო, თბილისი.

For signs, headings, book covers and logos, Georgian sometimes uses მთავრული (mtavruli), an all-capitals style. It is the same 33 letters as მხედრული (mkhedruli), the ordinary alphabet, drawn in a taller, even shape.

MkhedruliMtavruliMeaning
მეტროᲛᲔᲢᲠᲝmetro
აფთიაქიᲐᲤᲗᲘᲐᲥᲘpharmacy
გასასვლელიᲒᲐᲡᲐᲡᲕᲚᲔᲚᲘexit

Each Mtavruli letter is read exactly like its Mkhedruli partner, so nothing changes in pronunciation. The shapes are close, too: many Mtavruli letters look like the Mkhedruli letter stretched to the same height.

Mtavruli is only used for whole words or lines. It is never used to start a name or a sentence. In your own writing, use Mkhedruli.

Examples (5)

  1. ᲒᲐᲡᲐᲡᲕᲚᲔᲚᲘ

    Exit

    The word გასასვლელი in Mtavruli, on a door sign.

  2. ᲐᲤᲗᲘᲐᲥᲘ

    Pharmacy

    The word აფთიაქი in Mtavruli, over a shop.

  3. ᲛᲔᲢᲠᲝ

    Metro

    The word მეტრო in Mtavruli, at a station entrance.

  4. ᲓᲐᲙᲔᲢᲘᲚᲘᲐ

    Closed

    The word დაკეტილია (it is closed) in Mtavruli, on a shop door.

  5. ᲡᲐᲥᲐᲠᲗᲕᲔᲚᲝᲡ ᲘᲡᲢᲝᲠᲘᲐ

    The History of Georgia

    A book title in Mtavruli: საქართველოს ისტორია.

Common Mistakes

  • Writing a capital letter at the start of a name or sentence.

    Ნინო მოვიდა.
    ნინო მოვიდა.

    Georgian has no capitals in ordinary writing. Mtavruli is only for whole words on signs and headings.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

All-Capital Letters on SignsLevel 3

Learn This First

Mtavruli is a capital style of the same alphabet.