Signification
Specific greeting for someone's birthday.
Contexte culturel
At a birthday feast, the 'Tamada' will make a specific toast to the birthday person's parents, thanking them for 'bringing such a person into the world.' If giving flowers for a birthday, always ensure the number is odd. Even numbers are strictly for funerals and mourning. This is the traditional song sung at birthdays. It means 'For many years' and is a staple of Georgian polyphonic singing. In Georgia, the person having the birthday often pays for the dinner or drinks. It is considered a gesture of generosity to host others on your special day.
Add 'Mravals'
To sound like a local, always follow up with 'Mravals daestsari!' It shows you know the culture, not just the words.
The '-s' is Key
Don't forget the 's' in 'dghes'. Without it, the sentence is grammatically broken.
Signification
Specific greeting for someone's birthday.
Add 'Mravals'
To sound like a local, always follow up with 'Mravals daestsari!' It shows you know the culture, not just the words.
The '-s' is Key
Don't forget the 's' in 'dghes'. Without it, the sentence is grammatically broken.
Response
If someone says this to you, the best response is 'Gaikhare!' (Be joyful) or 'Didi madloba!' (Big thanks).
Teste-toi
Fill in the missing word to complete the birthday wish.
დაბადების ______ გილოცავ!
The word 'day' must be in the dative case ('dghes') because it is the object of the verb 'gilotsav'.
Which form should you use to wish your 70-year-old teacher a happy birthday?
ქალბატონო ნინო, ...
The '-t' suffix is required for formal address (tqven) to show respect to an elder or teacher.
Match the Georgian phrase with its English equivalent.
Match the following:
These are the four most common variations of birthday greetings.
Complete the dialogue.
ლუკა: ნიკა, დღეს შენი დაბადების დღეა? ნიკა: დიახ! ლუკა: ოჰ, ______ !
Luka should congratulate Nika after finding out it's his birthday.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Formal vs Informal
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesდაბადების ______ გილოცავ!
The word 'day' must be in the dative case ('dghes') because it is the object of the verb 'gilotsav'.
ქალბატონო ნინო, ...
The '-t' suffix is required for formal address (tqven) to show respect to an elder or teacher.
Associez chaque element a gauche avec son pair a droite :
These are the four most common variations of birthday greetings.
ლუკა: ნიკა, დღეს შენი დაბადების დღეა? ნიკა: დიახ! ლუკა: ოჰ, ______ !
Luka should congratulate Nika after finding out it's his birthday.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsYes, 'Gilocav' is a very common shorthand, especially among friends or in quick texts.
The formal version is 'Dabadebis dghes gilotsavt.' Use this for bosses, elders, or people you don't know well.
Say 'Dagvianebit gilotsav dabadebis dghes.'
Yes, Georgians sing 'Mravalzhamier' or the Georgian version of 'Happy Birthday to You' (Gilocavt dabadebis dghes...).
In Georgian, the verb 'congratulate' (lotsva) requires its object to be in the dative case.
No, for a wedding you would say 'Qortsils gilotsavt.'
It literally means 'May you attend many [more birthdays].' It's a wish for a long life.
No, the verb 'gilotsav' already includes 'I' (subject) and 'You' (object).
It's better to wait until the actual day, as some Georgians are superstitious about early wishes.
A common card message is: 'დაბადების დღეს გილოცავ! გისურვებ ჯანმრთელობას და ბედნიერებას.'
Expressions liées
მრავალს დაესწარი
similarMay you attend many more
გილოცავ
specialized formI congratulate you
საუკეთესო სურვილებით
builds onWith best wishes
გაიხარე
contrastThe standard response to a birthday wish.
