Manahoana! This Malagasy course was developed by the U.S. Peace Corps for its volunteers going to Madagascar. It can be useful as a primer for learning the basics of the Malagasy language. You can listen and follow along to each lesson or download the whole course directly.
Download Full Course (PDF and Audio Files)
Contents
Introduction
[expand title=”View text” swaptitle=”Hide”]
Malagasy is the only language spoken in all of Madagascar, while there are eighteen dialects spoken in different regions, for instance Sakalava, Tsimihety, Betsimisaraka, Betsileo, Antandroy, Antanosy, Antesaka, Antemoro, Bara, and Standard Malagasy. It’s emphasized that the basic grammatical structure is the same for all dialects. They mostly differ in terms of vocabulary. As for the Malagasy alphabet, there are some vowels and consonants that do not exist such as “u,c,q,x,w.” In fact the Malagasy language is close to Arabic in pronunciation. This short introduction is designed to give you a glimpse of what the Malagasy language is like before you arrive in Madagascar.
[/expand]
Lesson 1 – Malagasy Alphabet
Lesson 2 – Greetings
[expand title=”Expand Text” swaptitle=”Hide”]
| Malagasy | English |
|---|---|
| Manahoana? | Hello! |
| Salama! | Hi! |
| Inona no vaovao? | What’s up? |
| Tsy misy! | Nothing special! |
| Fahasalamana? | How are you? |
| Tsara fa misaotra! | I’m OK. Thanks. |
| Tonga soa! | Welcome! |
| Veloma! | Bye! |
| Misaotra! | Thanks! |
| Azafady! | Please/sorry! |
| Miala tsiny! | Please/sorry! |
| Tsy misy olana! | No problem! |
[/expand]
Lesson 3 – Introductions
[expand title=”Expand Text” swaptitle=”Hide”]
| Malagasy | English |
|---|---|
| Iza no anaranao? | What is your name? |
| _______ no anarako, ary ianao? | My name is , and yours? |
| Faly mahalala anao! | Happy to meet you! |
| Faly mahalala anao koa! | Happy to meet you too! |
| Avy aiza ianao? | Where are you from? |
| Avy any Etazonia aho. | I am from USA. |
| Avy any Boston aho. | I am from Boston. |
| Inona ny asanao? | What is your job? /What do you do? |
| Mpiofana aho. | I am a trainee. |
| Mianatra teny Malagasy aho. | I learn Malagasy. |
| Hipetraka aiza ianao? | Where will you stay? |
| Mandrapihaona! | See you later! |
| Veloma! | Bye! |
[/expand]
Lesson 4 – Family
[expand title=”Expand Text” swaptitle=”Hide”]
| Malagasy | English |
|---|---|
| Fianakaviana | Family |
| Dada | Father |
| Neny | Mother |
| Zoky | Older siblings |
| Zandry | Younger siblings |
| Dadabe | Grandfather |
| Nenibe | Grandmother |
| Zanaka | Children |
| Manam-bady | To be married |
| Zaza tokana | Single child |
| Kambana | Twins |
| Sipa | Boy/girlfriend |
| Namana | Friend |
| Nisaraka | To be separated |
| Manana | To have |
[/expand]
Lesson 5 – Basic Sentence Structures
[expand title=”Expand Text” swaptitle=”Hide”]
| Malagasy | English |
|---|---|
| Aho | I |
| Ianao | You |
| Izy | He/She |
| Isika | We (inclusive) |
| Izahay | We (exclusive) |
| Ianareo | You |
| Izireo | They |
[/expand]
Lesson 6 – Basic Needs
[expand title=”Expand Text” swaptitle=”Hide”]
| Malagasy | English |
|---|---|
| Reraka aho. | I am tired. |
| Noana aho. | I am hungry. |
| Voky aho. | I am full. |
| Mangetaheta aho. | I am thirsty. |
| Aiza ny kabone? | Where is the toilet? |
| Te hisotro rano aho. | I want to drink water. |
| Te hatory aho. | I want to sleep. |
| Te hisakafo aho. | I want to eat. |
| Te hivoaka aho. | I want to go out. |
| Mafana aho. | I am hot. |
| Mangatsika aho. | I am cold. |
| Kabone | Toilet |
| Ladosy | Shower |
| Pô | Pee pot (bed-pan) |
| Tsy tia hena aho. | I don’t like meat. |
[/expand]
Lesson 7 – Question Words
[expand title=”Expand Text” swaptitle=”Hide”]
| Malagasy | English |
|---|---|
| Ve? | Yes or no question |
| Iza? | Who? |
| Aiza? | Where? |
| Inona? | What? |
| Firy? | How many? |
| Amin’ny firy? | What time? |
| Oviana? | When? |
| Hoatrinona? | How much? |
| Fa maninona? | Why? |
| Ahoana? | How? |
Expressions
| Malagasy | English |
|---|---|
| Amerikana ve ianao? | Are you American? |
| Iza i TIM? | Who is TIM? |
| Mipetraka aiza izy? | Where does he/she live? |
| Manao inona ianareo? | What are you doing? |
| Manana zoky firy ianao? | How many older siblings do you have? |
| Amin’ny firy izao? | What time is it? |
| Oviana ianao no tonga? | When did you arrive? |
| Hoatrinona ny papier hygienique? | How much is a roll of toilet paper? |
| Fa maninona no mianatra Malagasy ianareo? | Why do you study Malagasy? |
| Ahoana ny weekend? | How was the weekend? |
[/expand]
Lesson 8 – Commands and Requests
[expand title=”Expand Text” swaptitle=”Hide”]
| Malagasy | English |
|---|---|
| Eny | Yes |
| Tsia | No |
| Avia aty! | Come here! |
| Andraso! | Wait! |
| Ndao handeha! | Let’s go/come on! |
| Diso | False / untrue |
| Marina | True |
| Ampy izay! | That is enough! |
| Azo? | Understand? |
| Mila (koka) aho azafady. | I need_(coke)_ please. |
| Omeo_(rano)_ aho azafady. | Give me _(water)_ please. |
| Mba omeo_(Sokola)_ aho azafady. | Give me _(Chocolate)_ please. |
| Afaka mahazo_(vera)_ve aho azafady? | Can I have_(a glass)_ please? |
[/expand]
Lesson 9 – Numbers
[expand title=”Expand Text” swaptitle=”Hide”]
| Number | Malagasy | English |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iray | One |
| 2 | Roa | Two |
| 3 | Telo | Three |
| 4 | Efatra | Four |
| 5 | Dimy | Five |
| 6 | Enina | Six |
| 7 | Fito | Seven |
| 8 | Valo | Eight |
| 9 | Sivy | Nine |
| 10 | Folo | Ten |
“amby” is used to connect numbers with one digit to two and three digits until 199. “Sy” is used after 199 and more. 10 - Folo (Ten) 40 - Efapolo (Fourty) 90 -Sivifolo (Ninety) 100 - Zato (Hundred) 300 - Telonjato (Three hundred) 900 - Sivinjato (Nine hundred) 1,000 - Arivo (A thousand) 5,000 - Dimy arivo (Five thousand) 7,000 - Fito arivo (Seven thousand) 10,000 - Iray alina (Ten thousand) 20,000 - Roa alina (Twenty thousand) 60,000 - Enina alina (Sixty thousand) 100,000 - Iray hetsy (Hundred thousand) 400,000 - Efatra hetsy (Four hundred thousand) 800,000 - Valo hetsy (Eight hundred thousand)
[/expand]
Lesson 10 – Food
[expand title=”Expand Text” swaptitle=”Hide”]
| Malagasy | English |
|---|---|
| Sakafo | Food |
| Vary | Rice |
| Laoka | Side-dishes |
| Mofo | Bread |
| Hena | Meat |
| Henakisoa | Pork |
| Henomby | Beef |
| Akoho | Chicken |
| Trondro | Fish |
| Atody | Eggs |
| Episy | Spices |
| Menaka | Oil |
| Siramamy | Sugar |
| Sira | Salt |
| Sakay | Chili |
| Poavra | Pepper |
| Legume | Vegetable |
| Anana | Greens |
| Ovy | Potatoes |
| Voatabia | Tomato |
| Karoty | Carrot |
| voanjobory | Round beans |
| Tsaramaso | Beans |
| Voankazo | Fruit |
| Papay | Papaya |
| Mananasy | Pineapple |
| Manga | Mango |
| Voasary | Orange |
| Haninkotrana | Snack |
| Mangahazo | Cassava |
| Katsaka | Corn |
| Vomanga | Sweet potato |
| Zava-pisotro | Drink |
| Rano | Water |
| Ranon’ampango | Rice-water |
| Limonady | Lemonade |
| Jus | Juice |
| Kôka | Coca-cola |
| Dite | Tea |
| Kafe | Coffee |
| Ronono | Milk |
[/expand]
Lesson 11 – Days
[expand title=”Expand Text” swaptitle=”Hide”]
| Malagasy | English |
|---|---|
| Alatsinainy | Monday |
| Talata | Tuesday |
| Alarobia | Wednesday |
| Alakamisy | Thursday |
| Zoma | Friday |
| Sabotsy | Saturday |
| Alahady | Sunday |
| Omaly | Yesterday |
| Androany | Today |
| Rahampitso | Tomorrow |
| Maraina | Morning |
| Atoandro | Noon |
| Tolakandro | Afternoon |
| Hariva | Evening |
| Alina | Night |
[/expand]
Lesson 12 – Feelings
[expand title=”Expand Text” swaptitle=”Hide”]
| Malagasy | English |
|---|---|
| Mahafaly ahy izany | That makes me happy. |
| Mampalahelo izany | That’s sad. |
| Mahagaga izany | That’s surprising. |
| Mahasosotra izany | That’s shocking! |
| Mandreraka izany | It’s tiring. |
| Mampatahotra izany | That’s frightening! |
| Mahakamo izany | That’s annoying! |
| Mampiahiahy izany | That’s doubtful. |
| Mampihomehy izany | Amusing! Hilarious! |
[/expand]
Lesson 13 – Colors
[expand title=”Expand Text” swaptitle=”Hide”]
| Malagasy | English |
|---|---|
| Loko | Colors |
| Miloko | To be colored |
| Manga | Blue |
| Mangamanga | Bluish |
| Manga antitra | Dark blue |
| Manga tanora | Light blue |
| Mena | Red |
| Fotsy | White |
| Mainty | Black |
| Maintso | Green |
| Mavokely | Pink |
| Mavo | Yellow |
| Volom-boasary | Orange |
| Volon-tsokolà | Brown |
| Volon-davenona | Grey |
[/expand]
Lesson 14 – Furniture
[expand title=”Expand Text” swaptitle=”Hide”]
| Malagasy | English |
|---|---|
| Seza | Chair |
| Latabatra | Table |
| Farafara | Bed frame |
| Kidoro | Mattress |
| Ondana | Pillow |
| Bodofotsy | Blankets |
| Servieta | Towel |
| Jiro | Light |
| Varavarana | Door |
| Varavarankely | Window |
| Lay | Mosquito net |
| Zinga | Plastic mug |
| Sio | Bucket |
[/expand]