Malagasy is the national language of Madagascar.
; 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"
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"
; 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 Malagasy [well]. : 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 _______
; Go away!: Mandehana ("man-day-HAN")
; Beware of dog: Alika masiaka ("a-LEEK-ya mash-YUK")
;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.
;Hello! : AllO! ;Who is it please? : Iza io azafady? ;It is a pleasure to acquire you. : Faly mandary anao. ;
; 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
; 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
; 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), <nowiki>18:45</nowiki> : amin'ny fito latsaka fahefany ; Quarter past seven (in the evening), <nowiki>19:15</nowiki> : amin'ny fito sy fahefany ; Half-past seven, <nowiki>19:30</nowiki> : amin'ny fito sy sasany ; Midnight : sasakalina (X)
; _____ 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
; 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
; January : janoary ; February : febroary ; March : martsa ; April : aprily ; May : mey ; June : jona ; July : jolay ; August : aogositra ; September : septambra ; October : oktobra ; November : novambra ; December : desambra
; Black : mainty ; White : fotsy ; Grey : volon-davenona ; Red : mena ; Blue : manga ; Yellow : mavo ; Green : maitso ; Orange : volom-boasary ; Purple : ranonombalahy ; Brown : volontany
; 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 _____ ______)
;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.
; 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 [American/Australian/British/Canadian] embassy? : ny ambasady [Amerikanina/Aostralianina/Britanika/Kanadianina] ? ; ...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! : <p> Fiara karetsaka!</p> ; 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?: <B>Lavitra avy eto ve izany?</B> ;Thank you in advance!: <B> Misaotra anao mialoha!</B> ;Stop here!: <B> Ajanony eto!</B> ;Speed it up!: <B> Malakilaky kely!</B> ;Keep the change!: <B>Tazony ny famerimbola!</B>
Money=Vola "Vula"
<p> <I>In Madagascar, the currency name is "Ariary" symbolized as <B>"AR"</B> or Malagasy ARIARY. </I> </p> <p> <B>1Ar One Ariary</B> </p> <p> <B>50Ar Fifty ______ Dimampolo Ariary</B> </p> <p> <B>100 Ar</B> Ariary Zato </p> <p> <B>500 Ar</B> Dimanjato Ariary </p> <p> <B>1000 Ar</B> Arivo Ariary </p> <p> <B>2000 Ar</B> Roa Arivo Ariary </p> <p> <B>5000 Ar</B> Dimy Arivo Ariary </p> <p> <B>10.000 Ar</B> Iray Alina Ariary </p> <p> <B>20.000 Ar</B> Roa Alina Ariary </p>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. :
; 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?
; 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 [US dollars/Pound Sterling]? : 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
; 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 :
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?
;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.
;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 ...
In Madagascar, each region has its own greetings.
;TOAMASINA : Manakory e! Akory lahaly?! ;NORTHERN REGION : Mbola tsara! ;SOUTHERN REGION : Akory koahy! Finaritra!