გაკვეთილი 5 (Lesson 5) — Ejective Stops

Introduction

Ejective consonants are one of Georgian's most distinctive features. They're produced by closing the glottis (in your throat) and releasing air pressure. This may be new to English speakers!

Characters

How to Produce Ejectives

1. Close your throat (like holding your breath)
2. Build up pressure
3. Release the consonant sharply
4. No air puff - the sound is "crisp"

Think of the sound when you say "uh-oh" - that glottal stop is similar!

Practice Words

Comparing All Three Types

Key Points

1. Ejectives are unique to Georgian (and some other Caucasian languages)
2. No air puff - the sound is sharp and "popping"
3. Practice by saying "uh-oh" to feel the glottal closure
4. პური (bread) is one of the most important Georgian words!