The Malagasy course
Learn Malagasy ten words at a time
Malagasy
Ten games of ten words: the hundred most useful Malagasy words and expressions you could live on for years, from greetings and ordering food to numbers, small talk and getting around. Play a lesson in the box beside its words, and the next one starts itself.
Malagasy challenge
Do you know the essentials? 25 quick questions from across the course. Score high and you are ready for the trip.
Malagasy · Lesson 1 of 10
Greetings and politeness
Hello, thanks, please: the ten openers everything else builds on.
- Manao ahoanamah-NOW ah-OO-nah
- Hello
- Salamasah-LAH-mah
- Hi
- Manao ahoana isikamah-NOW ah-OO-nah ee-SEE-kah
- Good morning
- Tafandria mandrytah-fahn-DREE-ah MAHN-dree
- Good night
- Misaotra betsakamee-SOW-trah bet-SAH-kah
- Thank you very much
- Misaotramee-SOW-trah
- Thanks
- Tsy misy fisaoranatsee MEE-see fee-sow-RAH-nah
- You're welcome
- Azafadyah-zah-FAH-dee
- Please
- Azafadyah-zah-FAH-dee
- Excuse me
- Velomaveh-LOO-mah
- Goodbye
Malagasy · Lesson 2 of 10
Order anything by pointing
One beer please, one of these please, the bill: survive any menu.
- Labiera iray azafadylah-bee-AIR-ah ee-RAY ah-zah-FAH-dee
- One beer, please
- Ity iray azafadyEE-tee ee-RAY ah-zah-FAH-dee
- One of these, please
- Kafe iray azafadykah-FEH ee-RAY ah-zah-FAH-dee
- One coffee, please
- Roa azafadyROO-ah ah-zah-FAH-dee
- Two, please
- Iray hafa azafadyee-RAY HAH-fah ah-zah-FAH-dee
- One more, please
- Ohatrinona izany?oh-hah-tree-NOH-nah ee-ZAHN-yee
- How much is it?
- Ny faktiora azafadynee fahk-too-OO-rah ah-zah-FAH-dee
- The bill, please
- Azafady mahakela mihinana...?ah-zah-FAH-dee mah-hah-KEH-lah mee-hee-NAHN...
- May I...?
- Santé!san-TAY
- Cheers!
- Salama!sah-LAH-mah
- Bless you
Malagasy · Lesson 3 of 10
Yes, no and the essentials
The tiny words that carry half of every conversation.
- EnyEH-nee
- Yes
- TsiaTSEE-ah
- No
- Mba manaombah mah-NOW
- Okay
- Tsy maninonatsee mah-nee-NOH-nah
- Sure, no problem
- Tsy fantatrotsee fahn-TAH-troo
- I don't know
- Tsy azokotsee ah-ZOO-koo
- I don't understand
- Miteny anglisy ve ianao?mee-TEN-yee AHN-glees-ee veh ee-AH-nao
- Do you speak English?
- KelyKEH-lee
- A little
- Azo raha izanyAH-zoo RAH-hah ee-ZAHN-yee
- Of course
- Tsara rehetraTSAH-rah reh-HEH-trah
- Everything is fine
Malagasy · Lesson 4 of 10
Numbers and money
Counting, prices, paying by card or cash.
- Irayee-RAY
- One
- RoaROO-ah
- Two
- Teloteh-LOO
- Three
- FoloFOH-loo
- Ten
- ZatoZAH-too
- Hundred
- Ariaryah-ree-AH-ree
- Ariary
- Amin'ny karaah-MEEN nee KAH-rah
- By card
- Amin'ny paombyah-MEEN nee pah-OOM-bee
- In cash
- Lafo loatraLAH-foo loo-AH-trah
- Too expensive
- Samihafa?sah-mee-HAH-fah
- A discount?
Malagasy · Lesson 5 of 10
At the supermarket
Bread, milk, a bag, nothing else thanks: the checkout routine.
- MofoMOO-foo
- Bread
- Rononoroo-NOH-noo
- Milk
- Fromazyfroo-mah-ZEE
- Cheese
- RanoRAH-noo
- Water
- Taaska iray?TAH-skah ee-RAY
- A bag?
- Manana...ve ianao?mah-NAH-nah...veh ee-AH-nao
- Do you have...?
- Aiza ny...?AH-ee-zah nee...
- Where is...?
- Ity irayEE-tee ee-RAY
- This one
- Tsy misy hafatsee MEE-see HAH-fah
- Nothing else
- Tsara arinaoTSAH-rah ah-ree-NAO
- Have a nice day
Malagasy · Lesson 6 of 10
Cafe and restaurant
A table, the menu, a compliment to the kitchen.
- Latabatra roa ho an'ny roalah-tah-BAH-trah ROO-ah hoo ahn nee ROO-ah
- A table for two
- Ny sakafom-pilanana azafadynee sah-kah-FOOM-pee-lah-NAH-nah ah-zah-FAH-dee
- The menu, please
- Kafe espreso iray azafadykah-FEH es-PREH-soh ee-RAY ah-zah-FAH-dee
- One espresso
- Divay iray azafadydee-VAY ee-RAY ah-zah-FAH-dee
- A glass of wine
- Labiera iray azafadylah-bee-AIR-ah ee-RAY ah-zah-FAH-dee
- A beer
- Vary sy osaVAH-ree see OH-sah
- Rice and zebu
- Tsara ny sakafoTSAH-rah nee sah-KAH-foo
- It's delicious
- Tsy misy siratsee MEE-see see-RAH
- Without salt
- Halainahah-LAH-ee-nah
- To take away
- Tolotra ny ambinytoo-LOON-trah nee ahm-BEE-nee
- Keep the change
Malagasy · Lesson 7 of 10
Small talk and neighbors
How are you, nice day, see you soon: superficial and proud of it.
- Manao ahoana ianao?mah-NOW ah-OO-nah ee-AH-nao
- How are you? (polite)
- Ahoana?ah-OO-nah
- How are you? (casual)
- Tsara ahoTSAH-rah AH-hoo
- I'm fine
- Ary ianao?AHR ee-AH-nao
- And you?
- Inona no afa-tsy?ee-NOH-nah noo ah-fah-TSEE
- What's new?
- Tsara ny andro, asa miny?TSAH-rah nee AHN-droo, AH-sah MEE-nee
- Nice weather, huh?
- Hitsidika moahee-tsee-DEE-kah MOO-ah
- See you soon
- Tsara ny arivonyTSAH-rah nee ah-ree-VON-yee
- Have a nice evening
- Mifampitso ny fianakavianamee-fahm-pee-tsoo nee fee-ah-nah-kah-vee-AH-nah
- Say hi to the family
- Tsara rehetraTSAH-rah reh-HEH-trah
- All the best
Malagasy · Lesson 8 of 10
Getting around
Left, right, the station, one ticket, where is the toilet.
- Aiza ny ventilaitra?AH-ee-zah nee ven-tee-LAY-trah
- Where is the toilet?
- Ankaviaahn-kah-vee-AH
- Left
- Ankavananahn-kah-vah-NAHN
- Right
- Alohaah-LOO-hah
- Straight ahead
- Etoeh-TOO
- Here
- Etoaeh-TOO-ah
- There
- Taxi-brousseTAHK-see-BROOS
- Taxi-brousse
- Ny garanee GAH-rah
- The station
- Tapitra iray azafadytah-pee-TAH ee-RAY ah-zah-FAH-dee
- One ticket, please
- Ohatrinona ny ora?oh-hah-tree-NOH-nah nee OO-rah
- How long?
Malagasy · Lesson 9 of 10
Time and days
Today, tomorrow, later, the weekend.
- Anioah-nee-OO
- Today
- Rahampitsorah-hahm-pee-TSOO
- Tomorrow
- Omalyoo-MAH-lee
- Yesterday
- Ankehitrinyahn-keh-hee-TREE-nee
- Now
- Avy alohaAH-vee ah-LOO-hah
- Later
- Firy ny ora?FEE-ree nee OO-rah
- What time is it?
- Alahadyah-lah-HAH-dee
- Monday
- Sabotsysah-BOOTS-yee
- Saturday
- Alahadyah-lah-HAH-dee
- Sunday
- Ny herinandronee heh-ree-AHN-droo
- The weekend
Malagasy · Lesson 10 of 10
Help and emergencies
The words you hope to never need.
- Vonjeo!von-JAY-oo
- Help!
- Miantso dôktera azafadymee-ahn-tsoo dook-TEH-rah ah-zah-FAH-dee
- Call a doctor
- Polisypoo-lee-SEE
- Police
- Famatsianafah-mah-tsee-AH-nah
- Pharmacy
- Hopitalyhoo-pee-tah-LEE
- Hospital
- Sira ahoSEE-rah AH-hoo
- I'm lost
- Tsy tsara ny aokotsee TSAH-rah nee AH-oo-koo
- I don't feel well
- Ny telefoanakonee teh-leh-FOH-ah-nah-koo
- My phone
- Nangalatra eonahng-ah-LAH-trah eh-OO
- It was stolen
- Tsy hay ny toetratsee hay nee TOOH-trah
- It's urgent