Malagasy phrases | Most common phrases for everyday life

Malagasy phrases – Here you will find the most common phrases in Malagasy with translation. | Free & useful

Malagasy phrases are short expressions or idioms often used in speech to be polite, express gratitude, greet or say goodbye or simply to have a pleasant conversation.

They are an important part of Malagasy culture and can be useful in different situations, both in private and business life.

Malagasy phrases you should know

*

Greet someone in Malagasy

If you want to greet someone in Malagasy, it’s actually quite easy:

English	Malagasy	IPA
Welcome to the site.	Tonga soa eto amin’ny tranonkala.	[ˈtuŋɡa ˈsuə ˈetʷu ˈaminˌtranunˈkala]
Welcome to the site	Tonga soa eto amin’ny tranonkala	[ˈtuŋɡa ˈsuə ˈetʷu ˈaminˌtranunˈkala]
Good day to you!	Arahaba soa andro!	[aˈrahəba ˈsuə ˈandru]
Good morning to you!	Arahaba maraina!	[aˈrahəba maˈrainə]
Good evening!	Arahaba hariva!	[aˈrahəba haˈrivə]
Good to see you.	Faly mahita anao.	[ˈfalʲ maˈhitə ˈnaʷ]
I’m glad to see you.	Faly aho mahita anao.	[ˈfalʲ ˈahʷ maˈhitə ˈnaʷ]

If you are greeted in Malagasy, the best way to respond is as follows:

English	Malagasy	IPA
Have a nice day too!	Manàna andro mahafinaritra koa!	[maˈnanə ˈandru mahaˈfinarit͡ʂə kuˈa]
Thanks, it’s nice to see you too.	Misaotra, mahafinaritra koa ny mahita anao.	[miˈsutrə mahaˈfinarit͡ʂə kuˈa ni maˈhitə ˈnaʷ]

How is my dialogue partner?

As in any other country, it is polite to start by asking where the person you are talking to is located. Here’s how you do it:

English	Malagasy	IPA
How are you doing?	Ahoana ny fandehanana?	[aˈwanə ni fanˈdenanə]
Are you doing well?	Tsara ve ny fandehanana?	[ˈt͡sarə ve ni fanˈdenanə]

If you are asked how you feel, you can answer with the following phrases:

English	Malagasy	IPA
Thank you for asking, I am fine.	Misaotra nanontany, salama tsara aho.	[miˈsutrə nanunˈtanʲ saləˈma ˈt͡sarə ˈahʷ]
Thank you, I am fine.	Misaotra, salama tsara aho.	[miˈsutrə saləˈma ˈt͡sarə ˈahʷ]
Thank you, I am not doing so well.	Misaotra, tsy dia salama loatra aho.	[miˈsutrə t͡si diə saləˈma ˈluatrə ˈahʷ]
Thanks, I’m fine. How are you doing?	Misaotra, salama aho. Ahoana ny fandehanana?	[miˈsutrə saləˈma ˈahʷ aˈwanə ni fanˈdenanə]

*

More information about the Malagasy Language Course.

How do I say goodbye to someone in Malagasy?

Saying goodbye to a friend or stranger in Malagasy is not that difficult. Just use the following phrases:

English	Malagasy	IPA
Goodbye!	Veloma!	[ˈvelumə]
Take care of yourself!	Mitandrema ianao!	[mitanˈdremə iˈnaʷ]
Goodbye	Veloma	[ˈvelumə]
See you tomorrow	Hifankahita rahampitso	[hifankaˈhitə rahamˈpit͡su]
See you soon	Hifankahita tsy ho ela	[hifankaˈhitə t͡si u ˈelə]
See you later	Hifankahita atsy ho atsy	[hifankaˈhitə ˈat͡si u ˈat͡si]
Good night	Alina tsara	[ˈalinə ˈt͡sarə]
Sleep well	Mandry fahizay	[ˈmandri faˈhizai̯]
Talk to you later.	Hiresaka aminao any aoriana.	[hiˈresakə aminˈnaʷ ˈanj aʷˈrianə]
Nice to have met you!	Faly nahafantatra anao!	[ˈfalʲ nahaˈfantatrə ˈnaʷ]

How do I introduce myself in Malagasy?

When travelling in Madagascar, sooner or later you will come into contact with local people. Naturally, you’ll want to introduce yourself in Malagasy and know who you’re talking to.

English	Malagasy	IPA
My name is Jonas.	Ny anarako dia Jonas.	[ni anaˈrakʷ ˈdiə ˈʒunas]
What is your name?	Iza no anaranao?	[ˈizə nu anaraˈnaʷ]
What is your surname?	Iza no fanampin’anaranao?	[ˈizə nu fanampinaˈnaʷ]
What is your first name?	Iza no anarana voalohanao?	[ˈizə nu anaraˈnavuˈalunəʷ]
What is your surname?	Iza no fanampin’anaranao?	[ˈizə nu fanampinaˈnaʷ]

If you want to tell people where you come from, the following sentences are useful:

English	Malagasy	IPA
Where do you come from?	Avy aiza ianao?	[ˈavʲ ˈajzə iˈnaʷ]
I am from London.	Avy any Londres aho.	[ˈavʲ ˈanj ˈlundres ˈahʷ]
Are you from Birmingham?	Avy any Birmingham ve ianao?	[ˈavʲ ˈanj ˈbirmiŋham ve iˈnaʷ]
No, I’m from Madrid.	Tsia, avy any Madrid aho.	[ˈt͡siə ˈavʲ ˈanj maˈdrit ˈahʷ]
Great, I’m from Madrid too.	Tena tsara! Avy any Madrid koa aho.	[ˈtenə ˈt͡sarə ˈavʲ ˈanj maˈdrit kuˈa ˈahʷ]
Where do you live?	Mipetraka aiza ianao?	[miˈpetrakə ˈajzə iˈnaʷ]
I live in Berlin.	Mipetraka any Berlin aho.	[miˈpetrakə ˈanj berˈlin ˈahʷ]

If you have problems with your Malagasy, it is good to know which languages are still spoken:

English	Malagasy	IPA
Do you speak English?	Miteny anglisy ve ianao?	[miˈtenʲ aŋˈɡlisʲ ve iˈnaʷ]
Yes, I speak English.	Eny, miteny anglisy aho.	[ˈenj miˈtenʲ aŋˈɡlisʲ ˈahʷ]
Yes, I speak some English.	Eny, miteny anglisy kely aho.	[ˈenj miˈtenʲ aŋˈɡlisʲ ˈkelʲ ˈahʷ]
No, I do not speak any English.	Tsia, tsy miteny anglisy aho.	[ˈt͡siə t͡si miˈtenʲ aŋˈɡlisʲ ˈahʷ]
I only speak English.	Miteny anglisy ihany aho.	[miˈtenʲ aŋˈɡlisʲ iˈhanʲ ˈahʷ]
I understand some Malagasy.	Mahafantatra teny malagasy kely aho.	[mahaˈfantatrə ˈtenʲ malaˈɡasʲ ˈkelʲ ˈahʷ]

Useful sentences with ‘I am…’

The following sentences will help you orientate yourself in Malagasy and express your wishes and concerns:

English	Malagasy	IPA
I am English.	Anglisy aho.	[ˈaŋɡlisʲ ˈahʷ]
I am injured.	Maratra aho.	[maˈratrə ˈahʷ]
I am here.	Eto aho.	[ˈetʷ ˈahʷ]
I am hungry.	Noana aho.	[ˈnwanə ˈahʷ]
I am thirsty.	Mangetaheta aho.	[maŋɡətəˈhetə ˈahʷ]
I am a single person.	Tokana aho.	[ˈtukənə ˈahʷ]
I need help!	Mila fanampiana aho!	[ˈmilə fanamˈpjanə ˈahʷ]
I am tired.	Vizana aho.	[ˈvizanə ˈahʷ]
I am happy.	Faly aho.	[ˈfalʲ ˈahʷ]
I am sad.	Malahelo aho.	[malaˈhelʷ ˈahʷ]
I am in love.	Mifankatia aho.	[mifanˈkatiə ˈahʷ]
I am ill.	Marary aho.	[maˈrarʲ ˈahʷ]
I am ready.	Vonona aho.	[ˈvununə ˈahʷ]
I am busy.	Miasa aho.	[ˈmjasə ˈahʷ]
I am lost.	Very aho.	[ˈverʲ ˈahʷ]
I am a tourist.	Mpizaha tany aho.	[mpiˈzahə ˈtanʲ ˈahʷ]
I am new here.	Vaovao eto aho.	[vawˈvaw ˈetʷ ˈahʷ]
I am confident.	Matoky tena aho.	[maˈtukʲ ˈtenə ˈahʷ]
I am proud.	Mirehareha aho.	[mirəˈharehə ˈahʷ]
I am a teacher.	Mpampianatra aho.	[mpampjaˈnatrə ˈahʷ]
I am late.	Tara aho.	[ˈtarə ˈahʷ]
I am 30 years old.	30 taona aho.	[ˈtelupulu ˈtawnə ˈahʷ]
I am in a hurry.	Maika aho.	[ˈmajkə ˈahʷ]
I am happy.	Faly aho.	[ˈfalʲ ˈahʷ]
I am surprised.	Gaga aho.	[ˈɡaɡə ˈahʷ]
I am angry.	Tefa aho.	[ˈtefə ˈahʷ]

Apologising in Malagasy

Here’s how to apologise to a Malagasy speaker:

English	Malagasy	IPA
I apologise.	Miala tsiny aho.	[ˈmialə ˈt͡sinʲ ˈahʷ]
Sorry, that was not the intention.	Miala tsiny, tsy fanahy iniana izany.	[ˈmialə ˈt͡sinʲ t͡si fəˈnahʲ iˈnianə ˈzanʲ]
Sorry, I did not do it on purpose.	Miala tsiny, tsy nataoko niniana izany.	[ˈmialə ˈt͡sinʲ t͡si naˈtawkʷ niniˈanə ˈzanʲ]
Sorry, that was very clumsy of me.	Miala tsiny, tena tsy mahay aho.	[ˈmialə ˈt͡sinʲ ˈtenə t͡si maˈhaj ˈahʷ]

*

More information about the Malagasy Intermediate Course.

Useful signs and notices in Malagasy

Useful signs and messages in Malagasy that you will often see.

English	Malagasy	IPA
Entrance	Fidirana	[fiˈdiranə]
Toilet	Trano fivoahana	[ˈtranʷ fivʷaˈanə]
Exit	Fivoahana	[fivʷaˈanə]
Attention!	Mitandrema!	[mitanˈdremə]
Police	Pôlisy	[ˈpolisʲ]
Emergency services	Vonjy taitra	[ˈvunɟ taˈit͡ʂə]
Fire brigade	Mpamono afo	[mpamuˈnʷ ˈafʷ]
Passage forbidden.	Voarara ny mandalo.	[vʷaˈrarə ni manˈdalʷ]
Caution!	Mitandrema!	[mitanˈdremə]
This building is under video surveillance.	Arovana amin’ny fakantsary ity trano ity.	[aˈruvanə aminˈnʲ fakant͡sarʲ ˈitʲ ˈtranʷ ˈitʲ]

Numbers to 25 in Malagasy

Counting in Malagasy is not that difficult. Here are the numbers in Malagasy from 1 to 25.

English	Malagasy	IPA
1	Isa iray	[ˈisə iˈraj]
2	Isa roa	[ˈisə ˈruə]
3	Isa telo	[ˈisə ˈtelʷ]
4	Isa efatra	[ˈisə ˈefatrə]
5	Isa dimy	[ˈisə ˈdimʲ]
6	Isa enina	[ˈisə eˈninə]
7	Isa fito	[ˈisə ˈfitʷ]
8	Isa valo	[ˈisə ˈvalʷ]
9	Isa sivy	[ˈisə ˈsivʲ]
10	Isa folo	[ˈisə ˈfulʷ]
11	Iraika ambin’ny folo	[iˈrajkʲ ambiˈnə fulʷ]
12	Roa ambin’ny folo	[ˈruə ambiˈnə fulʷ]
13	Telo ambin’ny folo	[ˈtelʷ ambiˈnə fulʷ]
14	Efatra ambin’ny folo	[ˈefatrə ambiˈnə fulʷ]
15	Dimy ambin’ny folo	[ˈdimʲ ambiˈnə fulʷ]
16	Enina ambin’ny folo	[eˈninə ambiˈnə fulʷ]
17	Fito ambin’ny folo	[ˈfitʷ ambiˈnə fulʷ]
18	Valo ambin’ny folo	[ˈvalʷ ambiˈnə fulʷ]
19	Sivy ambin’ny folo	[ˈsivʲ ambiˈnə fulʷ]
20	Roa-polo	[ˈruəˌpulʷ]
21	Iraika amby roa-polo	[iˈrajkʲ ambʲ ˈruəˌpulʷ]
22	Roa amby roa-polo	[ˈruə ambʲ ˈruəˌpulʷ]
23	Telo amby roa-polo	[ˈtelʷ ambʲ ˈruəˌpulʷ]
24	Efatra amby roa-polo	[ˈefatrə ambʲ ˈruəˌpulʷ]
25	Dimy amby roa-polo	[ˈdimʲ ambʲ ˈruəˌpulʷ]

The colours in Malagasy

The most common colours in Malagasy with phonetic transcription for pronunciation.

English	Malagasy	IPA
Red	Mena	[ˈmenə]
Blue	Manga	[ˈmaŋɡə]
Yellow	Volom-boasary	[vʷuˈlumbwaˈsarʲ]
Green	Maitso	[ˈmait͡sʷ]
Black	Mainty	[ˈmain̪tʲ]
White	Fotsy	[ˈfut͡sʲ]
Orange	Volomboasary	[vʷuˈlumbwaˈsarʲ]
Purple	Volom-parasy	[vʷuˈlumˈparasʲ]
Pink	Volon-davenona	[vʷuˈlundavenʷnə]
Brown	Volon-kazo	[vʷuˈluŋˈkazʷ]

Days of the week, months and seasons in Malagasy

Of course, you will also need the days of the week in Malagasy and the pronunciation of the months and seasons in dialogues and daily communication in Malagasy.

Days of the Week
English	Malagasy	IPA
Monday	Alatsinainy	[alat͡siˈnainʲ]
Tuesday	Talata	[taˈlatə]
Wednesday	Alarobia	[alaˈrubʲə]
Thursday	Alakamisy	[alakaˈmisʲ]
Friday	Zoma	[ˈzumə]
Saturday	Sabotsy	[saˈbut͡sʲ]
Sunday	Alahady	[alaˈhadʲ]
Months
English	Malagasy	IPA
January	Janoary	[d͡ʒanuˈarʲ]
February	Febroary	[februˈarʲ]
March	Martsa	[ˈmart͡sə]
April	Aprily	[aˈprilʲ]
May	May	[ˈmaj]
June	Jona	[ˈd͡ʒunə]
July	Jolay	[ˈd͡ʒulaj]
August	Aogositra	[awɡuˈsit͡rə]
September	Septambra	[sepˈtambrə]
October	Oktobra	[ukˈtubrə]
November	Novambra	[nuˈvambrə]
December	Desambra	[deˈsambrə]
Seasons
English	Malagasy	IPA
Spring	Lohataona	[luhaˈtawnə]
Summer	Fahavaratra	[fahavaˈrat͡rə]
Autumn / Fall	Fararano	[faraˈranʷ]
Winter	Ririnina	[rirʲˈninə]

*

More information about the Malagasy Business Course.

Additional links

• The different ways of learning languages
• Learning vocabulary successfully
• Motivated language learning
• It is so easy to train your understanding of a language at the same time
• Learning languages quickly? – Is it possible?
• The different types of learners when learning languages

More information about the Malagasy Course for Children.