Getting around in Malagasy
Left, right, the station, one ticket, where is the toilet. 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
- 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
Literally "where is the cleaning house?".
Ankavia is left, ankavanan (right). Often accompanied by a gesture, because directions are given casually and landmarks matter more than street names.
Literally "straight".
Eto is here. Avy eto (here) or eto no (right here). Often accompanied by pointing. Precision in directions is rare; approximate locations are the norm.
Gara is station, from the French gare. Not all towns have proper stations; taxi-brousses depart from parking lots or the market. Ask around.
Literally "big taxi", the shared minibuses that serve as city buses.
Literally "harbor of flying vehicles".