Trying to find some Malagasy phrases? Below we have listed many useful expressions including: Greeting Phrases | Farewell Expressions | Holidays and Wishes | How to Introduce Yourself | Romance and Love Phrases | Solving a Misunderstanding | Asking for Directions | Emergency Survival Phrases | Hotel Restaurant Travel Phrases | Daily Expressions | Cuss Words (Polite) | Writing a Letter | Short Expressions and words
Also don't forget to check the rest of our other lessons listed on Learn Malagasy. Enjoy the rest of the lesson!
Enjoy these Malagasy expressions, but don't forget to bookmark this page for future reference.
| English | Malagasy Phrases |
|---|---|
| Greeting | Fiarahabana |
| Hi! | manao ahoana e!! |
| Good morning! | Manao ahoana ianao! |
| Good afternoon! | manao ahoana e!! |
| Good evening! | manao ahoana e!! |
| Welcome! (to greet someone) | Tonga soa e! |
| Hello my friend! | faly miarahaba anao ra-namana |
| How are you? (friendly) | fahasalamana? |
| How are you? (polite) | manao ahoana ny fahasalamanao? |
| I'm fine, thank you! | tsara fa misaotra! |
| And you? (friendly) | ary ianao? |
| And you? (polite) | ary ianao,manao ahoana ny fahasalamanao? |
| Good | tsara ka! |
| Not so good | tsy dia tsara/tsy dia tena tsara loatra! |
| Long time no see | ela tsy nihaonana |
| I missed you | nalahelo anao aho |
| What's new? | inona ny vaovao? |
| Nothing new | tsy misy |
| Thank you (very much)! | misaotra betsaka! |
| You're welcome! (for "thank you") | tsy misy fisaorana! |
| My pleasure | tsy misy fisaorana! |
| Come in! (or: enter!) | mandrosoa ô/mandroso tompoko ô/mandrosoa tompoko ô! |
| Make yourself at home! | mirary anao ho tonga soa aman-tsara any an-trano! |
| Farewell Expressions | Fanaovam-beloma |
| Have a nice day! | mirary anao tontolo andro mahafinaritra! |
| Good night! | tsara mandry o! |
| Good night and sweet dreams! | Tsara mandry dia manaova nofy tsara |
| See you later! | mandra-pihaona indray ary e! |
| See you soon! | mandra-pihaona! |
| See you tomorrow! | rahampitso indray ary e! |
| Good bye! | veloma! |
| Have a good trip! | Soava dia! |
| I have to go | tsy maintsy mandeha aho izao! |
| I will be right back! | vetivety fotsiny/rehefa avy eo aho miverina eo! |
| Holidays and Wishes | Firarian-tsoa |
| Good luck! | mirary soa e! |
| Happy birthday! | miarahaba anao nahatratra ny tsingerin-taona nahaterahanao!/tratry ny tsingerin-taona nahaterahanao! |
| Happy new year! | tratry ny taona!/miarahaba anao nahatratra ny taona vaovao! |
| Merry Christmas! | tratry ny Krismasy!/tratry ny Noely! |
| Happy Easter! | tratry ny Paska |
| Happy Pentecost! | tratry ny Pantekosta! |
| Congratulations! | miarahaba anao! |
| Enjoy! (or: bon appetit) | mazotoa homana! |
| Bless you (when sneezing) | ho tonga amin'ny tanjona iriana! |
| Best wishes! | mirary soa e! |
| Cheers! (or: to your health) | mirary fahasalamana e! |
| Accept my best wishes | mirary soa indrindra e! |
| How to Introduce Yourself | Iza aho? |
| What's your name? | iza moa kay no anaranao? |
| My name is (John Doe) | ny anarako dia John Doe/John Doe |
| Nice to meet you! | faly mahafantatra anao! |
| Where are you from? | avy aiza kay ianao? |
| I'm from (the U.S/ Madagascar) | avy any Etazonia/Madagasikara |
| I'm (American/ Malagasy) | Amerikanina/Malagasy aho! |
| Where do you live? | aiza kay ianao no mipetraka? |
| I live in (the U.S/ Madagascar) | Any Etazonia/Madagasikara |
| Do you like it here? | tianao ve eto? |
| Madagascar is a beautiful country | Madagasikara dia tany mahafinaritra/maha-te-ho tia/tsara tarehy! |
| What do you do for a living? | inona kay ny asa fivelomanao? |
| I'm a (teacher/ student/ engineer) | Mpampianatra/mpianatra/injeniora aho! |
| Do you speak (English/ Malagasy)? | Mahay miteny anglisy/malagasy ve ianao? |
| Just a little | kely fotsiny(ihany)! |
| I like Malagasy | tiako ny teny malagasy! |
| I'm trying to learn Malagasy | miezaka mianatra ny teny malagasy aho! |
| It's a hard language | sarotra io Teny io! |
| It's an easy language | mora io teny io! |
| Oh! That's good! | tsara izany! |
| Can I practice with you? | afaka manao fampiharana miaraka aminao ve aho? |
| I will try my best to learn | hiezaka mafy farak'izay vitako aho hianatra! |
| How old are you? | firy taona ianao? |
| I'm (twenty one, thirty two) years old | iray ka amby roapolo /roa amby telopolo taona aho! |
| It was nice talking to you! | nahafinaritra ny niresaka taminao ka! |
| It was nice meeting you! | faly mahafantatra anao! |
| Mr.../ Mrs. .../ Miss... | ramose,,,/Madama,,,/ramatoa kely,,, |
| This is my wife | izy no vadiko |
| This is my husband | izy no vadiko |
| Say hi to Thomas for me | ampitao an'i Thomas ny fiarahabako! |
| Romance and Love Phrases | Resa-pitiavana |
| Are you free tomorrow evening? | malalaka ve ianao rahampitso hariva? |
| I would like to invite you to dinner | te -hanasa anao hiara-misakafo amiko aho! |
| You look beautiful! (to a woman) | tsara/kanto/meva ery izato ianao! |
| You have a beautiful name | tsara anarana ianao ka! |
| Can you tell me more about you? | afaka milaza misimisy kokoa momba anao amiko ve ianao? |
| Are you married? | manam-bady ve ianao? |
| I'm single | tsy manam-bady aho |
| I'm married | manam-bady aho |
| Can I have your phone number? | azoko raisina ve ny laharana findainao? |
| Can I have your email? | afaka omenao ahy ve ny emailanao? |
| Do you have any pictures of you? | misy sarinao ve any? |
| Do you have children? | manan-janaka? |
| Would you like to go for a walk? | sao dia te-handehandeha ianao? |
| I like you | mahafinaritra ahy ianao |
| I love you | tiako ianao |
| You're very special! | tena miavaka ianao! |
| You're very kind! | tsara fanahy ianao! |
| I'm very happy | faly be aho! |
| Would you marry me? | hanam-bady ahy ve ianao? |
| I'm just kidding | mananihany aho |
| I'm serious | tena matotra aho |
| My heart speaks the language of love | ny foko no miteny |
| Solving a Misunderstanding | Mamaha olana noho ny resaka tsy mifandray |
| Sorry! (or: I beg your pardon!) | mifona! |
| Sorry (for a mistake) | azafady! |
| No problem! | tsy maninona! |
| Can you repeat please? | afaka averinao ve azafady? |
| Can you speak slowly? | afaka miteny miadana kokoa ve ianao? |
| Can you write it down? | afaka soratanao ve izany? |
| Did you understand what I said? | azonao ve ilay tiako ho tenenina? |
| I don't understand! | tsy azoko! |
| I don't know! | tsy haiko/tsy fantatro! |
| What's that called in Malagasy? | ahoana no fiantso an'io amin'ny teny malagasy? |
| What does that word mean in English? | inona no dikan'izany amin'ny teny anglisy? |
| How do you say "thanks" in Malagasy? | ahoana no fiteny hoe "thank you" amin'ny teny gasy? |
| What is this? | inona ity? |
| My Malagasy is bad | ratsy be ny teny gasiko |
| Don't worry! | aza manahy! |
| I agree with you | miombon-kevitra aminao aho |
| Is that right? | marina ve izany? |
| Is that wrong? | diso ve izany? |
| What should I say? | inona no tokony hambarako? |
| I just need to practice | mila manao fampiharana fotsiny aho |
| Your Malagasy is good | tsara ny fiteninao teny gasy/tsara ny teny gasinao |
| I have an accent | mahay miteny ianao ka |
| You don't have an accent | tsy mahay miteny ianao |
| Asking for Directions | Fangatahana fanampiana sy fanoroana toerana |
| Excuse me! (before asking someone) | azafady kay,,,, |
| I'm lost | very aho |
| Can you help me? | afaka manampy ahy ve ianao? |
| Can I help you? | afaka manampy anao ve aho? |
| I'm not from here | tsy avy eto aho |
| How can I get to (this place, this city)? | aiza kay ny làlana mankany amin'ny (anaran-toerana)? |
| Go straight | mizora amin'ity làlana ity |
| Then | avy eo |
| Turn left | miviliàna mankany amin'ny ankavia |
| Turn right | miviliàna mankany amin'ny ankavanana |
| Can you show me? | afaka atoronao ahy ve? |
| I can show you! | afaka atoroko anao ka! |
| Come with me! | miarà amiko |
| How long does it take to get there? | afaka adin'ny firy kay vao tonga eny? |
| Downtown (city center) | renivohitra |
| Historic center (old city) | toerana manan-tantara |
| It's near here | eto akaiky eto |
| It's far from here | lavitra eto |
| Is it within walking distance? | tongako tongotra ve any? |
| I'm looking for Mr. Smith | mitady an'i Ramose Smith aho |
| One moment please! | miandrasa kely azafady |
| Hold on please! (when on the phone) | miandrasa kely azafady |
| He is not here | tsy ato izy |
| Airport | fiantsonan'ny fiara manidina |
| Bus station | fiantsonan'ny fiara fitateram-bahoaka |
| Train station | fiantsonan'ny fiara an-dalam-by |
| Taxi | fiara karetsaka |
| Near | akaiky |
| Far | alavitra |
| Emergency Survival Phrases | Inona no tenenina rehefa misy loza na zavatra ratsy mitranga? |
| Help! | mila fanampiana! |
| Stop! | mijanona! |
| Fire! | misy may ô! |
| Thief! | mpangalatra ô! |
| Run! | miazakazaha! |
| Watch out! (or: be alert!) | mitandrema! |
| Call the police! | miantsoa paolisy! |
| Call a doctor! | miantsoa dokotera! |
| Call the ambulance! | miantsoa fiara mpamonjy voina |
| Are you okay? | salama ve ianao? |
| I feel sick | marary aho |
| I need a doctor | mila dokotera aho! |
| Accident | loza |
| Food poisoning | sakafo lany andro |
| Where is the closest pharmacy? | aiza kay ny trano fivarotam-panafody akaiky indrindra? |
| It hurts here | maratra/marary eto |
| It's urgent! | tena maika be! |
| Calm down! | aza matahotra! |
| You will be okay! | ho sitrana ianao! |
| Can you help me? | afaka manampy ahy ve ianao? |
| Can I help you? | afaka manampy anao ve aho? |
| Hotel Restaurant Travel Phrases | Hotely, trano fisakafoanana sy ireo dia |
| I have a reservation (for a room) | efa namandrika toerana aho |
| Do you have rooms available? | misy efitrano tsy misy mampiasa ve ato? |
| With shower / With bathroom | miaraka amin'ny trano fidiovana? |
| I would like a non-smoking room | ny ilaiko dia efitrano tsy azo ifohana sigara |
| What is the charge per night? | Hoatrinona isaky ny alina kay ny hofan-trano? |
| I'm here on business /on vacation | miasa no ataoko eto/miala sasatra no ataoko eto |
| Dirty | maloto |
| Clean | madio |
| Do you accept credit cards? | mandray "cartes de crédit" ve ianareo? |
| I'd like to rent a car | mba te-hanofa fiara aho |
| How much will it cost? | hoatrinona kay izao izany? |
| A table for (one / two) please! | latabatra hoan'olona iray/ho an'olon-droa azafady! |
| Is this seat taken? | misy mipetraka ve eto? |
| I'm vegetarian | tsy mihinana hena aho fa legioma fotsiny! |
| I don't eat pork | tsy mihinana kisoa aho |
| I don't drink alcohol | tsy misotro (zava-pisotro misy alkôla) aho |
| What's the name of this dish? | inona no anaran'io sakafo io? |
| Waiter / waitress! | ô ry se a! |
| Can we have the check please? | afaka alaina ve ny "addition" azafady? |
| It is very delicious! | tena matsiro ka! |
| I don't like it | tsy tiako! |
| Shopping Expressions | Fomba fiteny rehefa hiantsena |
| How much is this? | hoatrinona kay ito? |
| I'm just looking | mbola vao mijerijery! |
| I don't have change | tsy mana-majinika aho |
| This is too expensive | lafo loatra izany |
| Expensive | lafo |
| Cheap | mora |
| Daily Expressions | Fiteny samihafa |
| What time is it? | amin'ny firy izao? |
| It's 3 o'clock | amin'ny telo ora tolakandro |
| Give me this! | ento aty iny ho anà! |
| Are you sure? | mino an'izany ve ianao? |
| Take this! (when giving something) | alaivo ito! |
| It's freezing (weather) | tena mangatsiaka be mihitsy! |
| It's cold (weather) | mangatsiaka aho! |
| It's hot (weather) | mafana aho! |
| Do you like it? | tianao ve io? |
| I really like it! | tena tiako! |
| I'm hungry | noana aho! |
| I'm thirsty | mangetaheta aho! |
| He is funny | mampiomehy izy |
| In The Morning | amin'ny maraina |
| In the evening | amin'ny hariva |
| At Night | amin'ny alina |
| Hurry up! | haingana!! |
| Cuss Words (polite) | |
| This is nonsense! (or: this is craziness) | miteniteny foana tss!!tsy misy dikany tss,! |
| My God! (to show amazement) | Andriamanitra ô! |
| Oh gosh! (when making a mistake) | andrekaky ô! |
| It sucks! (or: this is not good) | tsy tsara |
| What's wrong with you? | fa inona kay no tsy mety any aminao? |
| Are you crazy? | fa angaha adala ianao?/adala angaha ianao? |
| Get lost! (or: go away!) | ndana mandeha any! |
| Leave me alone! | ndana mandeha any! |
| I'm not interested! | tsy mahaliana ahy! |
| Writing a Letter | |
| Dear John | Ho an' i John |
| My trip was very nice | nahafinaritra ny fizahan toerana nataoko tany |
| The culture and people were very interesting | nahaliana be ny kolon-tsaina sy ny olona tany! |
| I had a good time with you | nahafinaritra tokoa ny fotoana niarahantsika! |
| I would love to visit your country again | mbola maniry ny hitsidika ny firenenao indray aho |
| Don't forget to write me back from time to time | aza adino ny manoratra ahy matetitetika an! |
| Short Expressions and words | Fomba fiteny sy teny fohy |
| Good | tsara |
| Bad | ratsy |
| So-so (or: not bad not good) | eo ho eo ihany! |
| Big | ngeza/lehibe |
| Small | kely |
| Today | anio/androany |
| Now | izao |
| Tomorrow | rahampitso |
| Yesterday | omaly |
| Yes | eny |
| No | tsia |
| Fast | haingana |
| Slow | miadana |
| Hot | mafana |
| Cold | mangatsiaka |
| This | ity |
| That | ito |
| Here | eto/ity |
| There | ery |
| Me (ie. Who did this? - Me) | izaho/'zaho |
| You | ianao |
| Him | izy |
| Her | izy |
| Us | isika/tsika |
| Them | zareo |
| Really? | zany ve? |
| Look! | jereo anie e! |
| What? | inona? |
| Where? | aiza? |
| Who? | iza? |
| How? | amin'ny fomba ahoana?/ahoana? |
| When? | oviana?rahoviana? |
| Why? | (fa) maninona?nahoana? |
| Zero | aotra |
| One | iray |
| Two | roa |
| Three | telo |
| Four | efatra |
| Five | dimy |
| Six | enina |
| Seven | fito |
| Eight | valo |
| Nine | sivy |
| Ten | folo |
Phrases and daily expressions have a very important role in Malagasy. Once you're done with the Malagasy Phrases, you might want to check the rest of our Malagasy lessons here: Learn Malagasy. Don't forget to bookmark this page.
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