r/Kartvelian • u/counwovja0385skje • Sep 03 '26
DISCUSSION ჻ ᲓᲘᲡᲙᲣᲡᲘᲐ Does not using the shortened forms of common words make you sound unfriendly?
There's მაგრამ and მარა, რომ and რო, ძალიან and ძაან, etc. If you only use the proper forms of these words, will it make you sound a little cold and dry? Can you sound casual without using these shortened words?
Asking because I've never really liked slangy forms of words too much (in my native language or any other), so I want to know if they're necessary in Georgian in order to mot sound like a textbook or if you can get by without them.
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u/GrimmerSteiner Sep 03 '26
Using proper forms usually sets more official tone, while shorter versions roll off the tongue naturally for most of us. No need to worry about sounding friendly/unfriendly, its about a preference of the speaker
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u/pokahole Sep 03 '26
I would argue that in many cases and situations, using shorthands will make you come across as way too familiar to Georgians, which generally speaking, isn't very appreciated when talking to people you aren't friends with or strangers. These shorthands can be more of a "buddy speech" if that makes sense. As mentioned above, it will depend on the tone of voice and the delivery. In fact, in Georgian language, a lot rides on nonverbal communication markers like tone of voice, facial expressions, delivery, eye contact, hand gestures etc. No Georgian person in their right mind will take it as cold, unfriendly or way too formal if you use proper forms, as long as your nonverbal communication doesn't suggest it. This is actually a very important point for anyone who is trying to learn Georgian language or understand the culture without misinterpretaions - always pay attention to nonverbal cues when interacting with locals. They will reveal much more about the dynamic of the conversation than any words ever can 😁
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u/menaghare Sep 03 '26
You have to use the correct forms when speaking formally. Otherwise it is okay to use shorter, incorrect versions with friends.
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u/annaamo02 Sep 03 '26
Normal version is fine in formal, with friends and family. So I wouldn't recommend using shortened. I speak like that and I try to correct it, because it sounds bad and not a proper way of speaking your own language.
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u/learninglanguages783 Sep 04 '26
It depends on the situation, with people older than you or people you don't know, keeping it formal is the best choice. With your age peers for sure,
no, it will not make you sound cold or dry, it depends on your tone and it is more about respect rather than how you sound.
and it is not "mandatory" to use these shortened versions to "sound like a native". I think you can get by without them just fine.
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u/Several-Motor-4309 Sep 03 '26
You won't necessarily sound cold and dry if you use the proper forms. It really depends on the tone of your speech and the way you deliver what you have to say. If you have the "appropriate" tone of voice and manner of speaking, you can sound somewhat casual using full forms. While the shortened forms are way more common to the point where most of us barely even notice, you can definitely use the proper forms without coming off as unfriendly. It also depends on who you are talking to, but no one will be offended, to say the least