Georgian language

Phonology

Consonants

Where there are multiple consonants for a point of articulation, they are given in the following order: voiceless / voiced / voiceless ejective.

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1{{IPA|/qʼ/}} has neither non-ejective nor voiced counterparts

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It is important to note that some consonants in Georgian are combination of two sounds. These are:

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• ?, ʦ (dental and affricate, voiceless aspirated)
• ?, ʣ (dental and affricate, voiced)
• ?, ʦʼ (dental and affricate, voiceless ejective)

Also compare these similar sounds:

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• ?, k (aspirated) and ?, kʼ (ejective)
• ?, t (aspirated) and ?, tʼ (ejective)
• ?, p (aspirated) and ?, pʼ (ejective)
• ?, {{IPA|ʧ}} (aspirated) and ? , {{IPA|ʧʼ}} (ejective)

In the ejective sounds, one creates a stronger stress in the sound that follows the consonant.

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In Georgian there are two sounds resembling the English -h-:

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• ?, "h" (fricative and glottal) and ? ("kh"), (fricative and velar).

While the first one sounds the same as h in the word hotel, the second one does not have an English equivalent, but is articulated in the same place as English k and g. It is the same sound as in the Scottish word loch or the name of the composer Bach.

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There are many consonant clusters in Georgian, while all the nouns' nominative case end with a vowel. Many nouns in Georgian begin with two consonants (see the examples section).

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Vowels

See also: Georgian in Iran

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