Yes, no and the essentials in Malagasy
The small words that carry half of every conversation, and the ones that rescue it. Play the ten Malagasy words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 10 Malagasy phrases in this lesson
- 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?
Simple and clear. "Eny, ary" (yes, and) is a warm agreement. Malagasy speakers use yes frequently, as refusal is often softened rather than direct.
Direct but softened in practice. "Tsia, misaotra" (no thanks) is how refusals usually sound, staying polite. True negation is softer in Malagasy culture than blunt no.
Literally "yes then", the everyday okay.
Your escape hatch. In urban areas, people often switch to French; in rural areas, they slow down and repeat. Honest admission works well here.
ve marks a question. English is less widely spoken than French, but younger people in towns often know some. French is the safe fallback.
Literally "a little slowly". French is widely spoken too.