Malagasy phrasebook

Vowels

; a : like 'a' in "father"
; e : like 'ay' in "pay"
; o : like 'u' in "rule"
; i : like 'ee' in "see"
; y : like 'ee' in "see"

Consonants

Malagasy doesn't use C, W, Q or X.
; b : like "b" in "better"
; d : like "d" in "distance"
; f : like "f" in "file"
; g : like "g" in "go"
; h : like "h" in "hot"
; j : like "j" in "January"
; k : like "c" in "calendar"
; l : like "l" in "lost"
; m : like "m" in "master"
; n : like "n" in "name"
; p : like "p" in "power"
; r : like "r" in "rust"
; s : like "s" in "sew"
; t : like "t" in "toast"
; v : like "v" in "vest"
; z : like "z" in "zebra"

Common diphthongs

Basics

; Hello. : Salama. (like Arabic Salaam ) or Manao Hoana (Manow-OWN)
; Hello. (informal, used mainly in the North) : mbola tsara. (mm-BOOL-uh TSAR-uh)
; How are you? : inona voavoa? (ee-nan vow-vow)
; Sir/Madam : tompoko (TOOM-pook)
; Fine, thank you. (literally very good): tsara be
; What is your name? : inona ny anaranao? (n-new-na knee a-nair-a-now)
; My name is ______ ny aranako. : ______ . (knee anaRAkoo.)
; Nice to meet you. : Faly mahafantatra anao ( )
; Please. : azafady. ( az-a-fad)
;Where do you come from? : Avy aiza ianao?
;What is your nationality? : Firenena inona no niavinao?
;Are you foreigner? : Vahiny ve ianao?
;Yes, I am. : Eny, Tompoko!
;No, I am not. : Tsia, Tompoko!
;Welcome! : Tongasoa!
; Thank you. : Misaotra. (meesh-OW-truh)
; You're welcome. : tsy misy fisaorana ( )
; Yes. : Eny. (Any) although 'yoh' is more widely used
; No. : Tsia. (Tseeya)although 'ahh' is more widely used
; Excuse me. (getting attention) : Azafady-o ( )
; Excuse me. (begging pardon) : Aza fady. ( )
; I'm sorry. Aza fady: . ( ) formal = miala tsiny
; Goodbye : Veloma. (ve-LOOMa)
; Goodbye (informal) : Zay a . ( )
; I can't speak name of language . : Tsy mahay teny malagasy aho ( tsy MA-high tain-NEY malagasy AH-oh)
; Do you speak English? : ? ( ?)
; Is there someone here who speaks English? : ? ( ?)
; Help! : Vonjeo ! ( !)
; Look out! : Masiaka! (Mash-YUCK)
; Go away! : Mandehana! (man-day-HAN)
; Good morning. : Salama e . ( )
; Good evening. : Salama . ( )
; Good night. : . Salama( )
; Good night (to sleep) : Tafandria mandry . ( )
; I don't understand. : Tsy azoko . ( )
; Where is the toilet? : Aiza Toilety( Aizuh twal-YET-ee)
; and : sy
; the : ny
; there is : misy (mees)
; nothing, not : tsy
; I don't have anything (literally there is not, can be used as a reply to beggars): tsy misy (tsee-mees)
;Who are you? : Iza moa ianao?
;I am _____ : Izaho no/dia _______
===Problems===
; Go away!: Mandehana ("man-day-HAN")
; Beware of dog: Alika masiaka ("a-LEEK-ya mash-YUK")

Warnings

;Dead End : Tsy azo aleha.
;Do not enter : Tsy azo idirana.
;Zone under security: Toerana voaaro.
;No smoking : Tsy azo ifohana sigara.
;Respect the cleanness : Hajao ny fahadiovana.

Calling

;Hello! : AllO!
;Who is it please? : Iza io azafady?
;It is a pleasure to acquire you. : Faly mandary anao.
;

Numbers

; 1 : iray (I-yrah)
; 2 : roa (ROU-ah)
; 3 : telo (TEH-lou)
; 4 : efatra (EH-fatreh)
; 5 : dimy (DE-mey)
; 6 : enina (EH-ne)
; 7 : fito (FEE-tou)
; 8 : valo (VAH-lou)
; 9 : sivy (SI-vi)
; 10 : folo (FOU-lou)
; 11 : raikambin'ny folo
; 12 : roambin'ny folo
; 13 : teloambin'ny folo
; 14 : efatrambin'ny folo
; 15 : dimiambin'ny folo
; 16 : eninambin'ny folo
; 17 : fitoambin'ny folo
; 18 : valoambin'ny folo
; 19 : siviambin'ny folo
; 20 : roambolo
; 21 : iraikiambiroapolo
; 22 : roambiriapolo
; 23 : teloambiroapolo
; 30 : telompolo
; 40 : efapolo
; 50 : dimampolo
; 60 : enimpolo
; 70 : fitompolo
; 80 : valompolo
; 90 : sivifolo
; 100 : zato (ZAH-tou)
; 200 : roanjato
; 300 : telonjato
; 1000 : arivo (ah-REE-voo) like in Antananarivo which means "city of the thousand"
; 2000 : roa arivo
; 10,000 : iray alina
; 100,000 : iray etsy
; 1,000,000 : iray tapitr'isa
; Number __ (train, bus, etc.) : nomerao __
; Half. : sasany, antsasany, tapany
; Less. : latsaka
; More. : mihoatra

Time

; Now : izao, ankehitriny
; Very late : avy eo, aoriana
; Before : talohany
; Morning : maraina
; In the morning: ny marainany
; Afternooni : tolak'andro
; Evening : hariva
; In the evening: ny ariva
; Night : alina

Clock time

; One o'clock in the morning : iray ora maraina
; Two o'clock in the morning : roa ora maraina
; Nine o'clock in the morning : sivy ora maraina
; Noon :
; One o'clock in the afternoon : iray ora antoandro
; Two o'clock in the afternoon : roa ora hariva
; Six o'clock in the evening : enina ora hariva
; Seven o'clock in the evening : fito ora hariva
; Quarter 'til seven (in the evening), : amin'ny fito sy sasany
; Midnight : sasakalina (X)

Duration

; _____ minute(s) : ______ X (mini tr)
; _____ hour(s) : ______ X (leh-ra)
; _____ day(s) : ______ X (and-roe)
; _____ week(s) : ______ X (ehrinandro)
; _____ months : ______ X (volahnah)
; _____ year(s) : ______ X (taouna)
; weekly : isan-kerinandro
; monthly : isam-bolana
; annually : isan-taona

Days

; Today : androhany
; Yesterday : omaly
; Tomorrow : rahampitso
; This week : ity herinandro ity
; Last week : herinandro ambony
; Next week : herinandro ho avy
; Sunday : alahady
; Monday : alatsinainy
; Tuesday : talata
; Wednesday : alarobia
; Thursday : alakamisy
; Friday : zoma
; Saturday : asabotsy

Months

; January : janoary
; February : febroary
; March : martsa
; April : aprily
; May : mey
; June : jona
; July : jolay
; August : aogositra
; September : septambra
; October : oktobra
; November : novambra
; December : desambra

Colors

; Black : mainty
; White : fotsy
; Grey : volon-davenona
; Red : mena
; Blue : manga
; Yellow : mavo
; Green : maitso
; Orange : volom-boasary
; Purple : ranonombalahy
; Brown : volontany

Transportation

Bus et Train

; How much is a ticket to go to ____ ? : Ohatrinona ny saran-dalana mankany ____ ? (Ohatrinohna nee sahrah-dalana mankany _____ )
; A ticket for ____, please. : Anaovy saran-dalana iray mankany ____ X. ( anowvee sahrah-dalana iray mankany ______ azafady )
; Where is the train/bus ? : Mankaiza ity masinina/bus ity ? (Mankayza ee-tee masinina /bus ty?)
; Where is the train/fiarakodia for ____ ?: ____? (Aiza ny masinina/bus mankany ____ ?)
; This train/bus stops at ____ ?: X ____ ? (mijanona any _____ ve ty?)
; When does the train/bus for ____ leave ? :X _____ X ? (amin'ny fïry no mandeha ny masinina/bus mankany_____ X)
; When will the train/bus arrive at _____ ? :X _____ ? (amin'ny fïry ty machine/bus ty no tonga any _____ _____)

By pousse-pousse or other transportation

;Pouss-pouss! : Pousse-pousse!
;How much to go to ... ? : Ohatrinona ny mandeha any .... ?
;Too expensive! : Lafo loatra.
;But how much do you often go there? : Ohatrinona no fandehananao/nareo any ?
;It's _____ : ... Mille(French)
;Ok, get in! : Eny ary, midira!
;Keep the changes : Tazony ny famerim-bola
;Here's your money. : Ity ny famerimbolanao.
;See you later!: Mandrampihaona indray/amin'ny manaraka indray!
;We're almost arrive: Efa ho tonga isika.

Directions

; Where is the _____ ?? : aiza ny_____?
; ...train station ? : gara ?
; ...bus station ? : stationa ?
; ... airport ? : seranam-piaramanidina
; ...downtown? : ambonivohitra
; ...neighborhood ? : toerana akaiky
; ...youth hostel ? :
; ...hotel _____ ? : hôtely hatorizana
; ...the embassy? : ny ambasady ?
; ...tourist attractions ? :
; Can you show me on the map ? : Afaka asehonao ahy ve ny sarintany?
; Road : lalana
; Turn to the left. : mihodìna havia
; Turn to the right. : mihodìna havanana
; Left : havia, ankavia
; Right : havanana, ankavanana
; Straight : mahitsy
; In the direction of _____ : Aankany ____
; After the _____ : Aorian'ny ____
; Before the _____ : Alohan'ny ____
; Locate the _____. : Atoroy ny ____
; Crossroads : sampan-dalana
; North : avaratra
; South : atsimo
; East : atsinanana
; West : andrefana
; On top : ambony
; On bottom : ambany

Taxi

; Taxi! : Fiara karetsaka!
; Take me to ___, please. : Atero any (ary) amin'ny _____ anie aho, azafady.
; How much does it cost to go to _____? : Ohatrinona kay mandeha any (ary) amin'ny _____ ?
; Take me there, please. : Atero etsy anie aho, azafady.
;Is it so far away from here?: Lavitra avy eto ve izany? ;Thank you in advance!: Misaotra anao mialoha! ;Stop here!: Ajanony eto! ;Speed it up!: Malakilaky kely! ;Keep the change!: Tazony ny famerimbola!

Money

Money=Vola "Vula"

In Madagascar, the currency name is "Ariary" symbolized as "AR" or Malagasy ARIARY.

1Ar One Ariary

50Ar Fifty ______ Dimampolo Ariary

100 Ar Ariary Zato


500 Ar Dimanjato Ariary


1000 Ar Arivo Ariary


2000 Ar Roa Arivo Ariary


5000 Ar Dimy Arivo Ariary


10.000 Ar Iray Alina Ariary


20.000 Ar Roa Alina Ariary

Eating

sakafo : aliments;
mihinana : manger;
; A table for one/two people, please. : Latabatra ho an'olona iray/ndroa,azafady.
; Can I have a menu ? : Afaka mahazo Menio ve?
; What is the house specialty : Inona no manavanana ny ato?
; Is there a local specialty? :
; I am vegetarian. : Tsy mihinan-kena aho.
; I do not eat pork. : Tsy mihinan-kisoa aho.
; I eat kosher meat. : Tsy mihinana afatsy hanin-jiosy aho.
; Can you cook light ? (with less oil/butter/fat) : Afaka manao nahandro matsatso ve ianao.
; menu : Menio
; à la carte :
; Breakfast : Sakafo maraina
; Lunch : Sakafo antoandro
; Dinner : Sakafo hariva
; I would like _____ : Te___aho
; I would like a meal with _____. : Te hiara-sakafo amin'i_____aho.
; Chicken : henan akoho (EN-ahn a-KOO)
; Beef : henan omby (En-ahn OOMB)
; Fish : Trondro
; Salmon :
; Tuna :
; White fish :
; Cod :
; Seafood : Hazandranomasina
; Lobster :
; Clams :
; Oysters :
; Snails : Sifotra
; Frogs : Sahona
; Ham :
; Pork : . Henakisoa
; Cheese :
; Eggs : Atody
; Salad :
; Vegetables : anana
; Fruit : voankazo (vwan KAZoo)
; Banana: kata-kata
; bread : mofo (MOOF)
; Toast :
; Rice : vary
; Beans : Tsaramaso (X)
; Can I have a glass of _____? : zao mety mahazo verra ny ____?
; Can I have a packet of _____? :
; Can I have a bottle of _____? :
; Coffee : café
; Tea : Dite
; Juice : Ranomboankazo
; Sparkling Water :
; Water : rano
; Beer :
; Red/White wine :
; Can I have some _____? : Afaka mahazo______
; Sugar : sira mamy
; Salt : sira
; Pepper :
; Butter : Dobera
; Excuse-me ? (to get attention): azafady (aza-FAD)
; I'm finished : Lany!
; It was delicious (literally very tasty): matsiro be
; I am (very) full (after having eaten lots of food): voki (be) sao
; You can clean the table. : Afaka diovinao ny latabatra.
; The check please. :

Bars

; Do you serve alcohol ? : Aiza ny toaka ?
; Do you have table service? :
; One beer, please. : Alefaso aty ny labiera
; A glass of red/white wine, please. :
; One bottle please. : Omeo tavoangy iray azafady.
; Whisky :
; Vodka :
; Rum : toaka
; Water : rano
; Soda:
; Orange juice : ranom-boasary
; Do you have bar snacks (Chips or nuts) ?
; Another, please. : Omeo hafa, azafady.
; Another for the table, please. :
; What time do you close? : Amin'ny firy no mikatona ianareo?

Shopping

; Do you have this in my size : Misy antonina ahy ve ny tahak'ity ?
; How much does this cost ? : Hoatrinona ?
;How? : Ahoana?
; That's expensive ! : Lafo loatra !
;Drop it! : Aoka aloha!
; Do you accept ? : Mandray Dollar Amerikana ve ianareo?
; Expensive : lafo
; Cheap : mora
; I cannot pay. : Tsy mahavidy aho
; I don't want that : Tsy mila aho.
; You confused me. : Fitahinao aho
; I'm not interested. : Tsy mila aho
; I understand. : Mazava/Azoko.
; I would like to use a sack? : Mila harona ve ianao?
; I need ____. : mila ____ aho
; ...toothpaste.: Dentifrice.(French)
; ...a toothbrush. : Borosy nify.
; ...tampons. : tampô
; ...
; ...soap. : savony
; ...shampoo. : savony anasàna loha
; ...pain reliever (aspirin, ibuprofen) : aspirinina, ibuprofene (ahs-pee-RIN, ee-bew-proh-fay-n)
; ...cold medicine. :
; ...stomach medicine. :
; ...a razor. : fitaovam-piaratana (fee-taw-vam-pee-ya-RAH-tan)
; ...batteries. : bateria, pila (bah teh REE, peel)
; ...umbrella : elo (AY-loo)
; ...sunscreen. : fiarovana ny hoditra amin'ny masoandro
; ...a postcard. : karatra paositra, kara-paositra
; ...stamps. : kase (kah-SEH)
; ...letter paper. : taratasy hanoratana (tah-ra-TAHS ah-noo-RAH-tan)
; ...a pen. : penina (Pehn)
; ...books in English : boky miteny anglisy
; ...a newspaper in English. : gazety miteny anglisy
; ...a Malagasy-English dictionary. : rakibolana malagasy-anglisy

Driving

; I would like to rent a car. : tia hanofa fiara aho
; I would like to get insurance ? : aiza no ahazoako fiantohana/assurance
; Stop (on a sign) : stop
; Yield :
; Parking prohibited : tsy az ijanonana
; Speed limit : fe-kafainganana
; Gas station :
; Gas :
; Diesel :

Authority

Use the word Tompoko ("TOOM-pook") (unisex: sir/madam) after a sentence when speaking to an elder/authority figure.
; I did not do anything wrong. : Tsy nanao ratsy na inona na inona aho
; It's a mistake. : Misy diso.
; Where are you taking me ? : Entinareo aiza aho
; Am I under arrest? : Samborinareo ve aho
; I am a(n) American/Australian/British/Canadian. : Vazaha amerikanina/aostralianina/britanika/kanadiana aho
; I demand to call the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy : Mangataka hiantso ny ambasady amerikanina/aostralianina/britanika/kanadiana aho
; I want to talk with a lawyer. : tia hiteny amy mpisolovava aho.
; Can I simply pay a fine ? : Afaka mandoa ny lamandy/dina ve aho?

Help

;Could you help me? : Afaka manampy ahy ve ianao?
;What can I help you? : Inona no azoko anampiana anao?
;I'm sick. : Marary aho.
;Could you call a doctor? : Afaka miantso mpitsabo ve ianao?
;Call an Ambulance! : Miantsoa Ambulance.

Expresssions & Glossary

;I don't know. : Tsy haiko.
;Ask to someone. : Anontanio olona.
;Find it! : Tadiavo!
;Take! : Alaivo!
;Give back! : Avereno!
;Why? : Nahoana?
;Because : Satria
;Over here! : Mandehana aty!
;I can't see! : Tsy hitako!
;Come on! : Andao e!
;It's enough! : Ampy izay!
;Make it better! : Ataovy tsara!
;Good job!: Tsara be!
;Get in! : Midira!
;Get out! : Mivoaha!
;I got it! : Azoko.
;You're lucky! : Tsara vintana ianao!
;It's a pity! : Indrisy!
;Enjoy your meal! : Mazotoa homana!
;Have a nice day! : Mirary tontolo andro finaritra!
;Happy new year! : Tratrin'ny taom-baovao!
;Week End : Faran'ny herin'andro
;Cool! : Mahafinaritra!
;I'm too hot! : Mafana be aho!
;I'm cold! : Mangatsiaka aho!
;Next time : Amin'ny manaraka !
;Next Week : Amin'ny herin'andro
;Come here: Mandehana aty!
;Can I take a picture here? : Afaka maka sary eto ve aho?
;No matter : Tsy maninona.
;It's a pleasure for me : Tena ho afaliana ho ahy.
;It's done. : Vita.
;Not yet. : Mbola
;Already : Sahady
;Don't worry! : Aza manahy!
;How to do ... ? : Ahoana no manao ny ... ?
;When are you free? : Amin'ny oviana ianao no malalaka?
;I'm busy : Mbola tsy afaka aho.
;I'm free. : Afaka aho.
;Where are you now? : Aiza ianao izao?
;I'm at the ... : Efa eto amin'ny ...

Regional greetings

In Madagascar, each region has its own greetings.
;TOAMASINA : Manakory e! Akory lahaly?!
;NORTHERN REGION : Mbola tsara!
;SOUTHERN REGION : Akory koahy! Finaritra!