ISO 9984:2026

Information and documentation — Transliteration of Georgian characters into Latin characters

This document establishes a system for the transliteration of Georgian characters into Latin characters, in accordance with the principles of stringent conversion in order to permit international information exchange, particularly by electronic means. This document can be used anyone who has a clear understanding of the system, and is certain that it can be applied without ambiguity. This document focuses on the unambiguous written conversion. The correct pronunciation of the original text is out of the scope of this document.

Information et documentation — Translittération des caractères géorgiens en caractères latins

Informatika in dokumentacija – Transliteracija gruzijskih znakov v latinične znake

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 08-Jan-2026
• ICS: 01.140.10 - Writing and transliteration
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 46 - Information and documentation
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 46 - Information and documentation
• Current Stage: 6060 - International Standard published
• Start Date: 09-Jan-2026
• Due Date: 26-May-2026
• Completion Date: 09-Jan-2026
• Ref Project: oSIST ISO/DIS 9984:2025 - Information and documentation — Transliteration of Georgian characters into Latin characters

Relations

• Revises: ISO 9984:1996 - Information and documentation — Transliteration of Georgian characters into Latin characters
• Effective Date: 10-Jun-2023

Overview

ISO 9984:2026 specifies a comprehensive, unambiguous system for the transliteration of Georgian characters into Latin characters. Developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), this standard facilitates accurate international information exchange, particularly through electronic means. The transliteration process is specifically designed for written conversion, ensuring that every Georgian character is mapped to a unique Latin equivalent. This approach supports users in academia, publishing, libraries, databases, and information management where clarity, reversibility, and data integrity are vital. Pronunciation is outside the scope of this standard; instead, the focus is on written representation to avoid ambiguity.

Key Topics

• Stringent Transliteration Rules: ISO 9984:2026 mandates a strict one-to-one representation between Georgian and Latin characters, ensuring full reversibility and eliminating ambiguity in data conversion.
• Coverage of Georgian Alphabet: The standard provides transliteration for the 33 characters of the modern Georgian script and includes guidance on obsolete and less commonly used characters for complete archival purposes.
• Encoding Compatibility: Unicode hexadecimal references are included for both Georgian and Latin characters, enabling seamless digital transformation and information processing.
• Ambiguity Avoidance: ISO 9984:2026 introduces conventions-such as the use of apostrophes for glottalized consonants and digraph separation by the middle dot-to ensure that the transliterated text cannot be misinterpreted or confused with different character combinations.
• System Updates: This edition updates the system based on the Georgian national system, and introduces modifications to enhance clarity, align with national practices, and remove infrequently used elements like unique Georgian punctuation.

Applications

ISO 9984:2026 plays a crucial role in various real-world settings where reliable Georgian-to-Latin transliteration is required, such as:

• Bibliographic Records: Enables libraries and archives worldwide to accurately catalog and retrieve documents in the Georgian language using Latin script.
• Electronic Databases: Facilitates the storage, search, and exchange of Georgian names, titles, and locations in multilingual or international systems.
• Publishing and Journalism: Ensures consistent representation of Georgian words, names, and places in newsletters, newspapers, and academic publications.
• Geographical Information Systems (GIS): Supports standardized mapping, search, and display of Georgian geographic names and features.
• Cross-border E-Government and Legal Documentation: Provides a stable framework for referencing Georgian entities in international agreements, legal texts, and official communications.

By standardizing the written transliteration, ISO 9984:2026 increases data interoperability, aids in resource discovery, and minimizes errors during data exchange.

Related Standards

• ISO/IEC 10646: Universal Coded Character Set (Unicode), foundational for encoding both Georgian and Latin scripts in digital systems.
• BGN/PCGN Romanization of Georgian: A system for romanizing Georgian for US and UK governmental use.
• United Nations Romanization Systems: Guidance for geographical names via UNGEGN for use by international organizations.
• ALA-LC Romanization Tables: Used by libraries in North America for cataloging.
• Georgian National Romanization System: The basis for many elements in ISO 9984:2026, as set by the national bodies of Georgia.
• Unicode Standard: Encompasses Georgian character blocks for IT and digital applications.

Refer to ISO 9984:2026 for complete tables and nuanced transliteration rules critical to consistent, reversible, and precise Georgian-Latin transliteration across all data-centric environments.

Standards Content (Sample)

International
Standard
ISO 9984
Second edition
Information and documentation —
2026-01
Transliteration of Georgian
characters into Latin characters
Information et documentation — Translittération des caractères
géorgiens en caractères latins
Reference number
© ISO 2026
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below
or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Transliteration tables . 2
4.1 General .2
4.2 Georgian characters .2
4.3 Other characters used in the Georgian script .3
Bibliography . 5

iii
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through
ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee
has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations,
governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely
with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described
in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the different types
of ISO document should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of the
ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
ISO draws attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the use of (a)
patent(s). ISO takes no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any claimed patent
rights in respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, ISO had not received notice of (a)
patent(s) which may be required to implement this document. However, implementers are cautioned that
this may not represent the latest information, which may be obtained from the patent database available at
www.iso.org/patents. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions
related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the World Trade
Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 46, Information and documentation.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 9984:1996), which has been technically
revised.
The main changes are as follows.
— The system is now based on the Georgian national system of 2002 (presidential decree of 2011), with
modifications incorporated to ensure reversibility, for detail see Table 4.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.

iv
Introduction
This document is one of the International Standards dealing with the conversion of systems of writing
developed by ISO/TC 46. The aim of these International Standards is to provide a means for international
communication of written messages. The system is entirely reversible.
For information, Georgia has also developed a transcription system, see Reference [7]. This simpler system,
which does not differentiate between aspirated and glottal consonants with the use of apostrophes, is also
used nationally for the text of statements, notices, titles, posters, signs, geographical and personal names on
addresses and road stencils, advertisements, and other visual information intended to inform the public. It
is not used for academic or scientific purposes.
— 10 modifications to the former romanizations (shown in Table 1) have been added in Table 4;
Table 1 — General comparison of former and new romanizations
Row Georgian Former New
number character romanization romanization
16 ჟ ž zh
23 ღ ḡ gh
25 შ š sh
26 ჩ č' ch
27 ც c' ts
28 ძ j dz
29 წ c ts'
30 ჭ č ch'
31 ხ x kh
32 ჯ ǰ j
— glottalized consonants have been marked with neutral (vertical line) apostrophe (Unicode 0027) (e.g.
4.2, row 19: ტ was /t/ now / t'/). This is relevant to the items shown in Table 2;
Table 2 — Marking of glottalized consonants
Row Georgian Former New
number character romanization romanization
10 კ k k'
15 პ p p'
19 ტ t t'
24 ყ q q'
29 წ c ts'
30 ჭ č ch'
— Previously, aspirated counterparts were represented with this mark (e.g. 4.2, row 8: თ was /t'/, now /t/).
This is relevant to the items shown in Table 3;

v
Table 3 — Marking of aspirated consonants
Row Georgian Former New
number character romanization romanization
8 თ t' t
21 ფ p' p
22 ქ k' k
26 ჩ č' ch
27 ც c' ts
— The main system (see 4.2) is now limited to the 33 characters of the current Georgian alphabet (removing
long obs
...

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-junij-2025
Informatika in dokumentacija – Transliteracija gruzijskih znakov v latinične znake
Information and documentation — Transliteration of Georgian characters into Latin
characters
Information et documentation — Translittération des caractères géorgiens en caractères
latins
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: ISO/DIS 9984
ICS:
01.140.10 Pisanje in prečrkovanje Writing and transliteration
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

DRAFT
International
Standard
ISO/DIS 9984
ISO/TC 46
Information and documentation —
Secretariat: AFNOR
Transliteration of Georgian
Voting begins on:
characters into Latin characters
2025-04-02
Information et documentation — Translittération des caractères
Voting terminates on:
géorgiens en caractères latins
2025-06-25
ICS: 01.140.10
THIS DOCUMENT IS A DRAFT CIRCULATED
FOR COMMENTS AND APPROVAL. IT
IS THEREFORE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
AND MAY NOT BE REFERRED TO AS AN
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD UNTIL
PUBLISHED AS SUCH.
IN ADDITION TO THEIR EVALUATION AS
BEING ACCEPTABLE FOR INDUSTRIAL,
TECHNOLOGICAL, COMMERCIAL AND
USER PURPOSES, DRAFT INTERNATIONAL
STANDARDS MAY ON OCCASION HAVE TO
This document is circulated as received from the committee secretariat.
BE CONSIDERED IN THE LIGHT OF THEIR
POTENTIAL TO BECOME STANDARDS TO
WHICH REFERENCE MAY BE MADE IN
NATIONAL REGULATIONS.
RECIPIENTS OF THIS DRAFT ARE INVITED
TO SUBMIT, WITH THEIR COMMENTS,
NOTIFICATION OF ANY RELEVANT PATENT
RIGHTS OF WHICH THEY ARE AWARE AND TO
PROVIDE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION.
Reference number
ISO/DIS 9984:2025(en)
DRAFT
ISO/DIS 9984:2025(en)
International
Standard
ISO/DIS 9984
ISO/TC 46
Information and documentation —
Secretariat: AFNOR
Transliteration of Georgian
Voting begins on:
characters into Latin characters
Information et documentation — Translittération des caractères
Voting terminates on:
géorgiens en caractères latins
ICS: 01.140.10
THIS DOCUMENT IS A DRAFT CIRCULATED
FOR COMMENTS AND APPROVAL. IT
IS THEREFORE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
AND MAY NOT BE REFERRED TO AS AN
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD UNTIL
PUBLISHED AS SUCH.
IN ADDITION TO THEIR EVALUATION AS
BEING ACCEPTABLE FOR INDUSTRIAL,
© ISO 2025
TECHNOLOGICAL, COMMERCIAL AND
USER PURPOSES, DRAFT INTERNATIONAL
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
STANDARDS MAY ON OCCASION HAVE TO
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
This document is circulated as received from the committee secretariat. BE CONSIDERED IN THE LIGHT OF THEIR
the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below
POTENTIAL TO BECOME STANDARDS TO
WHICH REFERENCE MAY BE MADE IN
or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
NATIONAL REGULATIONS.
ISO copyright office
RECIPIENTS OF THIS DRAFT ARE INVITED
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
TO SUBMIT, WITH THEIR COMMENTS,
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
NOTIFICATION OF ANY RELEVANT PATENT
Phone: [phone]
RIGHTS OF WHICH THEY ARE AWARE AND TO
PROVIDE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION.
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland Reference number
ISO/DIS 9984:2025(en)
ii
ISO/DIS 9984:2025(en)
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .vi
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Transliteration tables . 2
4.1 General .2
4.2 Georgian characters .2
4.3 Other characters used in the Georgian script .3
Bibliography . 4

iii
ISO/DIS 9984:2025(en)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through
ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee
has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations,
governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely
with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described
in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the different types
of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of
the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives). Attention is drawn to the possibility that some
of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for
identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of any patent rights identified during the development
of the document will be in the Introduction and/or on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see
www.iso.org/patents). Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of
users and does not constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions
related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the World Trade
Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 46 Information and documentation.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 9984:1996), which has been technically
revised. The main changes are as follows:
— The system is now based on the Georgian national system of 2002 (presidential decree of 2011),
1)
with modifications incorporated to ensure reversibility . There are certain digraphs included in the
romanizations in the table, e.g. /zh/ for ჟ (row 16), and to ensure there is no ambiguity with the possible
occurrence of /z/ followed by /h/, such adjoining characters should be separated by a middle dot symbol
in their romanization (Unicode 00B7) to show that they do not represent the digraph, so /z·h/ for the
character combination ზჰ (rows 7 and 33).

This is relevant to characters:
/g/ გ (row 3) followed by /h/ ჰ (row 33)
/z/ ზ (row 7) followed by /h/ ჰ (row 33)
/s/ ს (row 18) followed by /h/ ჰ (row 33)
/k/ ქ (row 22) followed by /h/ ჰ (row 33)
/t/ თ (row 8) followed by /s/ ს (row 18)
/d/ დ (row 4) followed by /z/ ზ (row 7)
— In introducing digraphs to follow the national system, there are 10 modifications to former romanizations:
1) For information, Georgia has also developed a transcription system: Guidelines for Latin Transliteration of the
Sound System of the Georgian language 2019-2020 (State Language Department, Bulletin II, Griponi Publishing, Tbilisi,
ISBN 978-9941-480-63-8): https://enadep.gov.ge/uploads/Guidelines_for_Latin_Transliteration_of_the_Sound_System_
of_the_Georgian_Language_.pdf (Accessed 16 July 2024). This simpler system, which does not differentiate between
aspirated and glottal consonants with the use of apostrophes, is also used nationally for the text of statements, notices,
titles, posters, signs, geographical and personal names on addresses and road stencils, advertisements, and other visual
information intended to inform the public. It is not used for academic or scientific purposes.
...