Learn Malagasy ten words at a time
Malagasy
Ten short games: the 102 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.
Greetings and politeness
Hello, please, thank you, sorry: the ten openers everything else builds on.
- Manao ahoanamah-now OH-nah
- Hello
- Arahaba marainaah-rah-HAH-bah mah-RAI-nah
- Good morning
- Arahaba harivaah-rah-HAH-bah hah-REE-vah
- Good evening
- Velomaveh-LOO-mah
- Goodbye
- Mandra-pihaonaman-dra-pee-HOWN
- See you
- Azafadyah-zah-FAH-dee
- Please
- Misaotramee-SOW-trah
- Thank you
- Tsy misy fisaoranatsee MEE-see fee-sow-RAH-nah
- You're welcome
- Mifona ahomee-FOO-nah ah-OO
- Sorry
- Miala tsinymee-AH-lah TSEEN
- Excuse me
- Faly mahafantatra anaoFAH-lee mah-hah-fahn-TAH-trah ah-NOW
- Nice to meet you
Order anything by pointing
I would like, this one, how much, the bill: survive any counter or menu.
- Mba omeo ... ahombah oo-MAY-oo ... ah-OO
- I would like...
- ItyEE-tee
- This one
- 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
- Amin'ny karatraah-MEEN nee KAH-rah-trah
- By card
- Vola an-tananaVOO-lah ahn-TAH-nah-nah
- In cash
- RanoRAH-noo
- Water
- Kafekah-FAY
- Coffee
- DiteDEE-teh
- Tea
- Labieralah-bee-AIR-ah
- Beer
- Tsy asiana...tsee ah-SEE-nah
- Without...
Yes, no and the essentials
The small words that carry half of every conversation, and the ones that rescue it.
- EnyEH-nee
- Yes
- TsiaTSEE-ah
- No
- Eny aryEH-nee AH-ree
- Okay
- 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?
- Averina, azafadyah-veh-REE-nah, ah-zah-FAH-dee
- Can you repeat that?
- Miadana kely, azafadymee-ah-DAH-nah KEH-lee, ah-zah-FAH-dee
- Slowly, please
- Inona ity?ee-NOO-nah EE-tee
- What is this?
- Mila ... ahoMEE-lah ... ah-OO
- I need...
- Afaka manampy ahy ve ianao?AH-fah-kah mah-NAHM-pee AH-ee veh ee-ah-NOW
- Can you help me?
Counting to ten
One to ten, for prices, platforms, rooms and how many beers.
- Irayee-RAY
- One
- RoaROO-ah
- Two
- Teloteh-LOO
- Three
- Efatraeh-FAH-trah
- Four
- DimyDEE-mee
- Five
- EninaEH-nee-nah
- Six
- FitoFEE-too
- Seven
- ValoVAH-loo
- Eight
- SivySEE-vee
- Nine
- FoloFOH-loo
- Ten
Shops and hotels
Open, closed, a bag, the wifi password: the checkout and the front desk.
- Manana...ve ianao?mah-NAH-nah...veh ee-AH-nao
- Do you have...?
- Aiza ny...?AH-ee-zah nee...
- Where is...?
- Misokatramee-SOO-kah-trah
- Open
- Mihidymee-HEE-dee
- Closed
- Kitapo?kee-TAH-poo
- A bag?
- Lafo loatraLAH-foo loo-AH-trah
- Too expensive
- Nanao famandrihana ahonah-NOW fah-mahn-dree-HAH-nah ah-OO
- I have a reservation
- Tafiditra ve ny sakafo maraina?tah-fee-DEE-trah veh nee sah-KAH-foo mah-RAI-nah
- Is breakfast included?
- Inona ny tenimiafina wifi?ee-NOO-nah nee teh-nee-mee-ah-FEE-nah WAI-fai
- What's the wifi password?
- Afaka ... ve aho?AH-fah-kah ... veh ah-OO
- Can I...?
Cafe and restaurant
A table, the menu, what you cannot eat, and a compliment to the kitchen.
- Latabatra ho an'olona roalah-tah-BAH-trah hoo ah-NOO-loo-nah ROO-ah
- A table for two
- Ny menio, azafadynee meh-NEE-oo, ah-zah-FAH-dee
- The menu, please
- Inona no tsara?ee-NOO-nah noo TSAH-rah
- What do you recommend?
- Tsy mihinana ... ahotsee mee-HEE-nah-nah ... ah-OO
- I don't eat...
- Tsy mahazaka ... ahotsee mah-hah-ZAH-kah ... ah-OO
- I'm allergic to...
- HenaHEH-nah
- Meat
- Akohoah-KOO-hoo
- Chicken
- TrondroTROON-droo
- Fish
- Matsiromah-TSEE-roo
- It's delicious
- Ho fahasalamana!hoo fah-hah-sah-lah-MAH-nah
- Cheers
Meeting people
How are you, what is your name, where are you from, I like it: the first five minutes.
- Manao ahoana ianao?mah-NOW ah-OO-nah ee-AH-nao
- How are you?
- Tsara aho, misaotraTSAH-rah ah-OO, mee-SOW-trah
- I'm fine, thanks
- Ary ianao?AHR ee-AH-nao
- And you?
- Iza no anaranao?EE-zah noo ah-nah-rah-NOW
- What's your name?
- ... no anarakonoo ah-nah-RAH-koo
- My name is...
- Avy aiza ianao?AH-vee AI-zah ee-ah-NOW
- Where are you from?
- Avy any ... ahoAH-vee AH-nee ... ah-OO
- I'm from...
- Tiakotee-AH-koo
- I like it
- KantoKAHN-too
- It's beautiful
- Tongasoatoon-gah-SOO-ah
- Welcome
Getting around
Left, right, the station, one ticket, where is the toilet.
- Aiza ny trano fidiovana?AI-zah nee TRAH-noo fee-dee-OO-vah-nah
- Where is the toilet?
- Ahoana no hahatongavako any ...?ah-OO-nah noo hah-hah-toon-gah-VAH-koo AH-nee
- How do I get to...?
- Ankaviaahn-kah-vee-AH
- To the left
- Ankavananaahn-kah-VAH-nah-nah
- To the right
- Mahitsymah-HEET-see
- Straight ahead
- Etoeh-TOO
- Here
- Ny garanee GAH-rah
- Train station
- Taxi-beTAHK-see beh
- Bus
- Seranam-piaramanidinaseh-rah-nahm-pee-ah-rah-mah-NEE-dee-nah
- Airport
- Tapakila iray, azafadytah-pah-KEE-lah ee-RAY, ah-zah-FAH-dee
- One ticket, please
Time and days
Now, later, tomorrow, what time it opens and one moment please.
- Ankehitrinyahn-keh-hee-TREE-nee
- Now
- Avy eoAH-vee EH-oo
- Later
- Anioah-nee-OO
- Today
- Rahampitsorah-hahm-pee-TSOO
- Tomorrow
- Anio alinaah-NEE-oo AH-lee-nah
- Tonight
- Rahoviana?rah-hoo-vee-AH-nah
- When?
- Amin'ny firy no misokatra?ah-MEEN nee FEE-ree noo mee-SOO-kah-trah
- What time does it open?
- Andraso kelyahn-DRAH-soo KEH-lee
- One moment, please
- MinitraMEE-nee-trah
- Minutes
- OraOO-rah
- Hours
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
- Fivarotam-panafodyfee-vah-roo-tahm-pah-nah-FOO-dee
- Pharmacy
- Hopitalyhoo-pee-tah-LEE
- Hospital
- Very ahoVEH-ree ah-OO
- I'm lost
- Tsy salama ahotsee sah-LAH-mah ah-OO
- I don't feel well
- Nangalarinanahn-gah-lah-REE-nah
- It was stolen
- Maika ityMAI-kah EE-tee
- It's an emergency
- Avelao ahoah-veh-LOW ah-OO
- Leave me alone