Etymology

Derived from თელა ‎(tela, “elm”) as მანავი ‎(manavi) was derived from მანა ‎(mana, “a kind of plant”). The earliest form must have been თელევი ‎(televi).

One of the earliest surviving mentions of Telavi is from the 2nd century AD, by Greek geographer Claudius Ptolemaeus, who calls the city Teleda.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /tʰɛlɑvi/