Malagasy Numbers
Learning the Malagasy Numbers is very important because its structure is used in every day conversation. The more you master it the more you get closer to mastering the Malagasy language. But first we need to know what the role of Numbers is in the structure of the grammar in Malagasy.
Malagasy cardinal number convey the "how many" they're also known as "counting numbers," because they show quantity.
Grammar Tips:
In Malagasy numbers from 1 to 10 are unique and
therefore need to be memorized individually. Numbers from 11 to and upwards are
formed by using the following pattern: for example 21 can be formed by using 1 +
20 while connecting them and putting in between the word “amby” which means the
“rest of”. However from 11 to 19 the words to be put in between is “ambin’ny”.
Tens: 10 folo Hundreds 100 zato Thousands
1000 arivo
20 roapolo 200
roanjato 2000 roa arivo
30 telopolo 300
telonjato 3000 telo arivo
40 efapolo 400
efajato etc…
50 dimampolo 500
dimanjato
60 enimpolo 600
eninjato
70 fitopolo 700
fitonjato
80 valopolo 800
valonjato
90 sivifolo 900
sivinjato
Examples: 15 can be formed by using 10 + 5 which is dimy
ambin’ny folo, meaning five the rest of ten;
23 can be formed by using 20 + 3 which
is telo amby roapolo
78 can be formed by using 70 + 8 which
is valo amby fitopolo
132 can be formed by using 100 + 30 + 2
which is roa amby telopolo amby zato
Here are some examples:
| English Numbers | Malagasy Numbers |
| numbers | Isa |
| one | iray |
| two | roa |
| three | telo |
| four | efatra |
| five | dimy |
| six | enina |
| seven | fito |
| eight | valo |
| nine | sivy |
| ten | folo |
| eleven | iraika amby folo |
| twelve | roa amby folo |
| thirteen | telo amby folo |
| fourteen | efatra amby folo |
| fifteen | dimy amby folo |
| sixteen | enina amby folo |
| seventeen | fito amby folo |
| eighteen | valo amby folo |
| nineteen | sivy amby folo |
| twenty | roapolo |
| hundred | zato |
| one thousand | arivo |
| million | hetsy |
As you can see from the example above, the structure of the Numbers in Malagasy has a logical pattern. Locate the Numbers above and see how it works with the rest of the sentence in Malagasy.
List of Ordinal Numbers in Malagasy
Malagasy Ordinal numbers tell the order of things in a set: first, second, third, etc. Ordinal numbers do not show quantity. They only show rank or position. Below is a list of the Cardinal Numbers and Ordinal Numbers in Malagasy. Memorizing this table will help you add very useful and important words to your Malagasy vocabulary.
| English Numbers | Malagasy Numbers |
| Ordinal Numbers | Isa misesy |
| first | voalohany |
| second | faharoa |
| third | fahatelo |
| fourth | fahaefatra |
| fifth | fahadimy |
| sixth | fahaenina |
| seventh | fahafito |
| eighth | fahavalo |
| ninth | fahasivy |
| tenth | fahafolo |
| eleventh | faha-iraika amby folo |
| twelfth | faha-roapolo |
| thirteenth | faha-telopolo |
| fourteenth | faha-efatra amby folo |
| fifteenth | faha-dimy amby folo |
| sixteenth | faha-enina amby folo |
| seventeenth | faha-fito amby folo |
| eighteenth | faha-enina amby folo |
| nineteenth | faha-sivy amby folo |
| twentieth | faha-roapolo |
| |
| once | indray mandeha |
| twice | indroa |
Cardinal Numbers and Ordinal Numbers have a very important role in Malagasy, therefore they need very special attention. Once you're done with Malagasy Numbers, you might want to check the rest of our Malagasy lessons here: Learn Malagasy. Don't forget to bookmark this page.