Kobuleti is a small resort town where Georgian is the primary language, but Russian is widely understood across hotels, sanatoriums, restaurants, and taxi services due to Soviet-era tourism ties and ongoing regional travel. A few Georgian phrases go a long way in markets, beach cafes, and guesthouses, while Russian helps with older signage and transport staff. Many service workers in tourism areas also speak basic Turkish or English, especially in summer.
The Georgian script is Mkhedruli and is used on road signs, menus, and storefronts. Learning the Georgian alphabet for key nouns (water, tea, beach, station) helps when reading signs between Kobuleti and Batumi. For emergencies, the pan-Georgia emergency number 112 operates with multilingual support, and English-speaking help is available in larger sanatoriums along the coast.
Use Gamarjoba (hello) and Nakhvamdis (goodbye) in Georgian; Zdravstvuyte and Do svidaniya in Russian. Say Madloba / Spasibo for thanks and Gtxovt / Pozhaluysta for please. Ki means yes, Ara means no. Ar mevs理解 (Ar mesmis) means 'I don't understand'.
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Restorani / Restoran means restaurant. Useful items: Khachapuri (cheese bread), cha (tea, served Georgian-style), ts'qali (water), kombosto (cornbread), sulguni (cheese), and lobio (beans). Ask 'Ra ghirs?' / 'Skol'ko stoit?' for prices. 'Misamarti, gtxovt' means 'Bring the bill, please.'
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Marshrutka/Rusuli means minibus to Georgians. Taxi / Taksi is understood. Useful destinations: Batumi (ბათუმი), Tbilisi (თბილისი), Ureki. Ask 'Sad aris avtosadguri?' (Where is the bus station?) or 'Gde avtovokzal?' in Russian. Long-distance marshrutkas depart from central Kobuleti.
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Market = Bazari (ბაზარი). Phrases: Ra ghirs? (How much?), Ketebit (cheaper), Gidaze (too expensive). Useful goods: ts'qali (water), p'uri (bread), chalozi (churchkhela), adjarian tea. Carry small Georgian Lari (GEL / ლარი) notes; cards are accepted in sanatoriums and larger restaurants but not in small markets.
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Dial 112 for all emergencies (police, ambulance, fire) with multilingual support. 'Dakhmareba!' / 'Pomogite!' means 'Help!' Pharmacy = Aptiaqi (აფთიაქი) / Apteka. Hospital = Saavadhipo (საავადმყოფო) / Bol'nitsa. Sanatorium medical staff in Kobuleti often speak Russian and some English.
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Accept offered tea and snacks with 'Gmadlobt' (thank you, polite). Handshakes are standard greetings; close friends may kiss both cheeks. Remove shoes when entering homes and traditional settings. Modest dress is appreciated away from beaches; bring a wrap for visits to churches in nearby villages and for walking through sanatorium corridors.
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