The Georgian Alphabet — A UNESCO World Heritage Treasure
Georgian script is one of only 14 living writing systems in the world. Discover its three historical forms, origins, and UNESCO status.
Three Alphabets, One Culture
The three historical layers of the Georgian script — Asomtavruli, Nuskhuri, and Mkhedruli — were officially added to the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2016.
1. Asomtavruli (5th Century)
The oldest form of the alphabet, dating back to the 5th century. It is characterized by rounded, uniform capital letters. Today, it is primarily used in religious art and ecclesiastical contexts.
2. Nuskhuri (9th Century)
Emerging in the 9th century, this script is more angular and calligraphically practical. It was the standard script for church manuscripts for centuries.
3. Mkhedruli (11th Century)
The secular script which is the only one in daily use today. The name derives from the word "Mkhedari" (knight/cavalryman) — signifying it was the alphabet of the secular classes and the military.
Quick Facts
- 33 letters — A strictly phonetic system: one sound per letter.
- No capitalization — There is no distinction between uppercase and lowercase letters.
- Five vowels: A (ა), E (ე), I (ი), O (ო), U (უ)
- 2000+ years of living history.
Why It’s Unique
- Georgian is one of the 14 unique writing systems in the world that did not evolve directly from other modern scripts.
- April 14th is celebrated as Mother Tongue Day, a national public holiday in Georgia.
- The oldest known Georgian inscription can be found at Bolnisi Sioni, dating back to 493–494 AD.
Where to See It
- Alphabetic Tower — A 130-meter high tower in Batumi with all 33 letters winding around its facade.
- Mtskheta, Svetitskhoveli — A UNESCO world heritage site containing ancient inscriptions.
- National Centre of Manuscripts (Tbilisi) — Home to incredible artifacts like the Djruchi and Alaverdi Gospels.