- Resource Centre
- Expedition preparation
The Malagasy language
Malagasy is an Austronesian language with elements from Swahili, Bantu, Sanskrit and Arabic. It is the official language of Madagascar, but that position is held jointly with French and all education after primary level is conducted in French.
There are numerous Malagasy dialects and as you move from district to district words may change. While there is a Malagasy ‘national’ language, which everyone understands and that forms the basis of most dialects, in Ifaty people speak the Vezo dialect and that is our main focus here.
It is possible to buy English/Malagasy dictionaries and language books for National Malagasy in Toliara, but there is nothing available for the Vezo dialect spoken in the Toliara region. A small Malagasy-English Dictionary and Phrasebook by Janie Rasoloson is available on Amazon, which has proved useful to previous staff and volunteers.
Below is a table of simple words and phrases to get you get started, with a pronunciation guide. Once you get the hang of it, Malagasy pronunciation is not difficult. To start remember that “o” is pronounced “oo” as in “look” (unless it’s “ô” then it’s like the “o” in “hot").
Numbers
| Numbers | Vezo | Pronunciation | National | Pronunciation |
| 1 | Raiky | Ri-kee | Iray, iraika | I-ray, I-ri-ka |
| 2 | Roa | Roo-a | ||
| 3 | Telo | Tay-loo | ||
| 4 | Efatsy | Eh-fa-ts-ee | Efatra | Eh-fa-tra |
| 5 | Dimy | Dee-me | ||
| 6 | Eny | Eh-ny | Enina | Eh-ny-na |
| 7 | Fito | Fee-to | ||
| 8 | Valo | Va-loo | ||
| 9 | Sivy | See-vee | ||
| 10 | Folo | Foo-loo |
Words that are different in National Malagasy
| English | Vezo | National | National pronunciation |
| Hello | Salama | Manakory | Man-a-koo-ry |
| Yes | Eka | eny | Eh-ny |
| No | Aha | Tsia | Ts-ee-a |
| I | Zaho / aho | Izaho / aho | Iz-ah-hoo / ah-hoo |
| You | Iha | Ianao | Ee-an-ow |
| Good | Soa | Tsara | Ts-ara |
| Very good | Soa bibi | Tsara be | Ts-ara bay |
| Where (is) | Aia | Aiza | I-ee-za |
Useful Vezo words and phrases
| English | Vezo Malagasy | Pronunciation |
| Hello | Salama | Sa-la-ma |
| What news? (a greeting in the Toliara region) | Vao vao? | Vo-vo |
| No news | Tsy misy vao vao | Ts-ee me-see vo-vo |
| Good bye | Veloma | Vel-oo-ma |
| Yes | Eka | Eh-ka |
| No | Aha | A-ha |
| Can you help me | Afaka manampy | A-fa-ka man-am-pee |
| Please / excuse me / sorry | Azafady | A-za-fady |
| Thank you | Misoatra | Me-sow-cha |
| You're welcome | Tsy misy fisaorana | Ts-ee me-see fis-a-or-ana |
| No Thank you | Aha Misaotra | A-ha me-sow-cha |
| What is your name? | Ia no anaranao? | Ia noo an-ara-now |
| My name is ... | ... no anarako | Noo an-ara-koo |
| I | Zaho / aho | Za-hoo / ah-hoo |
| You | Iha | Ee-ha |
| I want / need / would like | Zaho mila | Za-hoo me-la |
| I do not want / need | Zaho tsy mila | Za-hoo ts-ee me-la |
| There is / Is there? | Misy | Me-see |
| There is none | Tsy misy | Ts-ee me-see |
| Good | Soa | Soo-a |
| Very good | Soa bibi | Soo-a be-be |
| Not good | Tsy soa | Ts-ee soo-a |
| Where (is) | Aia | I-ee-a |
| To go | Mandeha | Man-day-ha |
| I am ill | Marary zaho | Ma-ra-re za-hoo |
| How much is it? | Hoatrino? | Hoo-a-tree-noo |
| I want to buy ... | Tehividy ... aho | Te-hi-vidy ... ah-hoo |
| Here | Eto | Air-too |
| Stop | Oka | O-ka |
| Diving | Manirika | Ma-nee-rika |
| Fish | Fia | Fee-a |
| Coral | Hara | Ha-ra |
| Reef | Lohariaky | Loo-ha-ri-aky |
