ღ, ყ, ხ

Sounds English Does Not Have

Level 1Sounds Like gh, qʼ kh

ღ, ყ and ხ are three sounds made far back in the throat.

How It Works

Letter	Romanization	How to say it	Example
ღ	gh	like ხ with the voice on, close to a French r	ღვინო (ghvino, wine)
ხ	kh	like ch in Scottish loch or German Bach	ხაჭაპური (khach'ap'uri, cheese bread)
ყ	q'	a popped k made further back	ყავა (q'ava, coffee)

Learners often say ხ as an English h. Keep it rough, close to clearing your throat. Georgian has a separate letter, ჰ (h), for a soft h.

ყ, კ and ქ are three different sounds: ყ is popped and far back, კ is popped, and ქ is breathy. ყველი (q'veli, cheese) starts with ყ.

ღვინო წითელი არის.
The wine is red.
ღ starts ღვინო (ghvino).
ხაჭაპური ცხელი არის.
The khachapuri is hot.
ხ starts ხაჭაპური, and ცხელი has ხ inside.
ყავა მინდა.
I want coffee.
ყ is a popped sound far back.
ყველი გემრიელი არის.
The cheese is tasty.
ყველი starts with ყ.
ღამე მშვიდობისა!
Good night!
ღამე (night) starts with ღ.

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

ღ, ყ, ხLevel 1Sounds English Does Not Have

ყ is a popped sound, so the popped consonants come first.

Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Georgian lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.