There are 18 regional variants of Malagasy that are spoken across the island. Some of these dialects are Tsimihety, Betsimisaraka, Betsileo, Antandroy, Antanosy, Antesaka, Antemoro, Bara, and Standard Malagasy.
There is only one official language spoken across Madagascar, Malagasy. An essential point is that all dialects share the same grammatical structure. The main area where they diverge is in their vocabulary. The Malagasy alphabet lacks some vowels and consonants, including “u, c, q, x, and w.” The pronunciation of Malagasy is actually rather similar to that of Arabic. Whether you are on a Madagascar tour or just visiting on your own in this article, we will share some essential Malagasy phrases for your trip.
The Malagasy Alphabet
Malagasy vowels are a, e, i, and o, and they are pronounced as follows in the Malagasy alphabet:
‘A’ sounds like [ae], like the ‘a’ in “Father” in English.
Salama (hello) and Manana (to have) are ideal examples.
Like the “ei” in “made” and “pay” in English, the letter “E” can be heard as [ei].
“Bye!” (veloma), “language” (teny), and “six” (enina) are some examples.
‘I’ / Y (Ending) is pronounced as [i:], just as the ‘ee’ in “Keep” or “leek” in English.
Misy means ‘there is” and to say no is tsia.
Like the ‘oo’ in “Pool” and “Sue” in English, the sound of “O” is akin to that of “u.”
Aho (I) and Voky (full) are two examples.
Malagasy is characterised by its frequent use of abbreviations and elisions. Variables such as interior consonants, consecutive vowels becoming single vowels, and beginning and finishing vowels being skipped are all present. Words that are used very often are the ones most likely to be abbreviated; the likelihood of this increases as the frequency of use increases.
Take the example of misaotra, a term with multiple meanings depending on the context: “Thank you,” “Got it,” “That is kind of you,” and so on. One may hear all four vowels and all four consonants, or one of these abbreviations, depending on one’s location in Madagascar and the person with whom one is speaking: Sohtra, Sotra, Saotr, Shotr and Misaotr (shadow “r” at the end).
Often Used Phrases
Hello: | Salama (Shalama) |
Good evening: | Manao ahoana! |
Good morning: | Manao ahoana! |
Nice to meet you!: | Faly mahafantatra anao! |
Thank you: | Misaotra |
Thank you very much: | Misaotra betsaka |
You’re welcome: | Tsy misy fisaorana |
Goodbye: | Veloma |
What’s new?: | Ino vaovao? |
Nothing: | misy! |
Excuse me / please / sorry: | Azafady |
What’s your name?: | Iza moa kay no anaranao? |
My name is Peter Pan: | Ny anarako dia Peter Pan |
Where do you live?: | Aiza kay ianao no mipetraka? |
Do you speak (English/ Malagasy)?: | Mahay miteny anglisy/malagasy ve ianao? |
Just a little: | kely fotsiny(ihany)! |
Where are you from?: | Avy aiza kay ianao? |
What do you do for a living?: | Inona kay ny asa fivelomanao? |
I’m a (teacher/ student/ engineer): | Mpampianatra/mpianatra/injeniora aho! |
Student: | mpianatra |
Doctor: | dokotera |
Scientist: | mpikaroka |
Journalist: | mpanao gazety |
How old are you?: | Firy taona ianao? |
I have children/child: | Manan-janaka aho |
Are you married?: | Manambady ve ianao? |
my/your family: | ny fianahaviako/ny fianahavianao |
my/your husband/wife: | ny vadiko/ny vadinao |
my/your children: | ny zanako/ny zanakao |
my/your parents: | ny ray aman-dreniko/ny ray aman-dreninao |
How can I get to (this place, this city): | kay ny làlana mankany amin’ny (anaran-toerana)? |
Airport: | fiantsonan’ny fiara manidina |
Taxi: | fiara karetsaka |
Help!: | mila fanampiana! |
Thief!: | mpangalatra ô! |
Watch out!: | mitandrema! |
Call a doctor!: | miantsoa dokotera! |
Call the police!: | miantsoa paolisy! |
Call the ambulance!: | miantsoa fiara mpamonjy voina |
Where is the nearest pharmacy?: | Aiza kay ny trano fivarotam-panafody akaiky |
Especially | indrindra? |
It’s urgent!: | Tena maika be! |
Can you help me?: | Afaka manampy ahy ve ianao? |
To Pay: | mandoa vola |
trip: | dia |
I am lost: | Very aho |
Go back: | miverena |
Straight: | Mahitsy be |
Do you accept credit cards?: | Mandray “cartes de crédit” ve ianareo? |
Do you have rooms available?: | Misy efitrano tsy misy mampiasa ve ato? |
I would like a non-smoking room: | Ny ilaiko dia efitrano tsy azo ifohana sigara |
With shower / With bathroom: | Miaraka amin’ny trano fidiovana? |
How much will it cost?: | Hoatrinona kay izao izany? |
I’d like to rent a car: | Mba te-hanofa fiara aho |
I don’t have change: | Tsy mana-majinika aho. |
I need my hair cut: | Mila hety volo aho. |
This is a gift for you: | Fanomezana ho anao ity. OR Ity dia |
a gift for you | fanomezana ho anao. |
What time is it?: | Amin’ny firy izao? |
Oh gosh! (when making a mistake): | andrekaky ô! |
Leave me alone!: | Ndana mandeha any! |
What’s wrong with you?: | Fa inona kay no tsy mety any aminao? |
I’m not interested!: | Tsy mahaliana ahy! |
I’m hungry: | noana aho! |
I’m thirsty: | mangetaheta aho! |
Tomorrow: r | ahampitso |
Yesterday: | omaly |
Today: | anio/androany |
Yes: | eny |
No: | tsia |
You: | ianao |
Him: | izy |
her: | iszy |
Me: | izaho |
Us: | isika |
What?: | inona? |
When?: | oviana?rahoviana? |
Why?: (fa) | maninona?nahoana? |
Who?: | iza? |
Look!: | jereo anie e! |
Fast: | haingana |
Slow: | miadana |
Cold: | mangatsiaka |
Hot: | mafana |
Here: | eto/ity |
There: | ery |
That: | ito |
This: | ity |
Big: | ngeza/lehibe |
Small: | kely |
Good: | tsara |
Bad: | ratsy |
Market: | tsena |
Museum: | musee |
River: | renirano |
School: | sekoly |
Sea: | ranomasina |
Rural area: | ambanivohitra |
Car: | fiara,fiarakodia,tomobilina,taomobily |
How long does the trip take?: | Maharitra haririana ny mankany [DESTINATION]? |
I would like to go to [DESTINATION]: | Saika ho eny [DESTINATION] aho |
My trip was very nice: | Nahafinaritra ny fizahan toerana nataoko tany |
I had a good time with you: | Nahafinaritra tokoa ny fotoana niarahantsika! |
I would love to visit your country again: | Mbola maniry ny hitsidika ny firenenao indray aho |
How long does it take to get there?: | Afaka adin’ny firy kay vao tonga eny? |
I would like to go into the forest: | Te ho any an’ala aho |
I would like to go to the beach: | Te ho any amoron-dranomasina aho |
I would like to visit a nature reserve: | Te ho any amin’ny reserves naturellets aho |
Can we walk there?: | Tonga tongotra ve any? |
Just a moment please: | Miandrasa vetivety azafady |
I don’t speak any Madagascan: | Tsy miteny gasy aho. |
Could you write that down please: | Mba soraty amin’ny teny … ity azafady. |
Could you please repeat that: | Mba avereno kely azafady. |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many dialects of Malagasy are spoken in Madagascar?
Madagascar is home to 18 regional variants of the Malagasy language. Some of the most recognized dialects include Tsimihety, Betsimisaraka, Betsileo, Antandroy, Antanosy, Antesaka, Antemoro, Bara, and Standard Malagasy. While these dialects differ mainly in vocabulary, they all share the same grammatical structure.
What is the official language of Madagascar and how is it pronounced?
The official language of Madagascar is Malagasy. Although there are many dialects, they all follow the same grammar rules. The Malagasy alphabet omits letters such as “u, c, q, x, and w,” and its pronunciation is somewhat similar to Arabic. Learning a few essential phrases in Malagasy can enhance your experience while traveling the island.
