Malagasy overview

Free Malagasy starter kit — 25 phrases you can print

A one-page Malagasy cheat sheet for absolute beginners. Every phrase shows the Malagasy spelling, what it means, and a respelling with the stressed syllable in capitals so you can say it out loud today. Madagascararound 25 million.

First words

Greet someone and be polite

  • Manao ahoanaHello/ma-NOW ah-OO-an/
  • MisaotraThank you/mee-SOW-tra/
  • AzafadyPlease/ah-za-FAH-dee/
  • VelomaGoodbye/veh-LOO-ma/
  • EnyYes/EH-nee/
  • TsiaNo/TSEE-ah/
  • Miala tsinySorry/mee-AH-la TSEE-nee/
  • TongasoaWelcome/ton-ga-SOO-ah/

Free starter kit

Get all 25 Malagasy phrases

Enter your email and the full printable Malagasy starter kit opens right here — every phrase, meaning and pronunciation respelling. We'll also send one short daily phrase so it actually sticks. Unsubscribe from any email.

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Is Malagasy hard to learn?

  • Related to languages of Borneo, not to Bantu languages.
  • Word order commonly puts the verb first.
  • Final vowels are often barely pronounced.