Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Salama Sal
am
Mbola tsara M'boola tsar
Manakoory/Akoory Mana
koor
y/A
koor
y
What news?
Inona no vaovao?
I
noon vowvow?
No news
Tsy misy (vaovao
)
Tsi
mee
ss (vowvow
)
The preferred word for 'hello' varies regionally, but
manao ahoana
will be understood
wherever you go. These easy-to-learn phrases of ritualised greeting establish contact with
peopleyoupassontheroadormeetinavillage.Forextracourtesy(importantinMadagas-
car) add
tompoko
, pronounced 'toomp'k', at the end of each phrase.
Simple Phrases for conversation
English Malagasy Phonetic pronunciation
What's your name?
Iza no anaranao? Eeza na
nar
anow
My name is...
Ny anarako..
.
Ny a
nar
akoo
Goodbye
Veloma Ve
loo
m
See you again
Mandra pihaona Mandra pi
oo
n
I don't understand
Tsy azoko Tsi a
zoo
k
I don't know
Tsy haiko Tsi
hai
koo
Very good
Tsara tokoa Tsara t'k
oo
Bad
Ratsy Rats
Please/Excuse me
Azafady Aza
fa
d
Thank you
Misaotra Mi
sow
tr
Thank you very much
Misaotra betsaka Mi
sow
tr bet
sa
k
Pardon (may I pass)
Ombay lalana M'
bay
lalan
Let's go
Andao andeha An
dow
an
day
Cheers!
Ho ela velona! Wella
vell
I have nothing
Tsy misy
Tsi
mee
ss
I don't need it
Fa tsy mila
Fatsee
mee
l
Go away!
Mandehana!
Man
day
han
Note:
Thewordsforyes(
eny
)andno(
tsia
)arehardlyeverusedinconversation.TheMala-
gasy tend to say yoh for yes and ah for no, along with appropriate gestures.
