Malagasy is an easy language to learn and to understand…once you practice. As Malagasy people understand French in most parts of the Red Island, they will be pleased to hear you try the local language. You will find below, in our small lexicon, some of our daily expressions which, we hope, will help you out during your trip accross the island. Have fun and soa vadia !
Hello | Manahoana | |||
Goodbye | Veloma | |||
Please | Azafady | |||
Thank you | Misaotra | |||
Excuse-me | Azafady | |||
How are you ? | Inona vaovao ? | |||
Have a good trip | Soa Vadia | |||
Welcome | Tonga soa | |||
left | Avia | |||
right | Avanana | |||
Straight on | Mahintsy | |||
Up | Ambony | |||
Down | Ambany | |||
How much does it cost ? | Otrinona | |||
To pay | Mandoa | |||
the money | Vola | |||
Where is...? | Aiza no misy...? | |||
the meal | Sakafo | |||
the rice | Vary | |||
the sauce | Sosy | |||
bredes (leaves) | Anana | |||
the meat | Hena | |||
the zebu (local beef) | Omby | |||
the zebu meat | Henan'omby | |||
pork | Kisoa | |||
chicken | Akoho | |||
the fish | Trondro | |||
a room | Efitra | |||
a house | Trano | |||
the rice fields | Tanim-bary | |||
the sea | Ranomasina | |||
the pirogue (local fisher-boat) | Lakana | |||
the boat | Sambo | |||
the car | Tomobila | |||
breakfast | Sakafo maraina | |||
lunch | Sakafo atoandro | |||
dinner | Sakafo hariva | |||
morning | Maraina | |||
noon | Atoandro | |||
evening | Hariva | |||
tradition | Fomba | |||
forbidden | Fady | |||
the place | Toerana | |||
red | Mena | |||
green | Maintso | |||
white | Fotsy | |||
clear | Mazava | |||
dark | Maizina | |||
sun | Masoandro | |||
moon | Volana | |||
hour | Ora | |||
day | Andro | |||
month | Volana | |||
year | Taona | |||
the market | Ny tsena |