All languages- Where it's spoken
- Madagascar
- Speakers
- around 25 million
- Writing system
- Latin alphabet
Malagasy is an African island language with Austronesian roots, so it looks nothing like its mainland neighbours.
What makes Malagasy different
- Related to languages of Borneo, not to Bantu languages.
- Word order commonly puts the verb first.
- Final vowels are often barely pronounced.
Your first Malagasy phrases
Each phrase is written the way it's spelled, then respelled for English speakers with the stressed syllable in capitals.
- 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/
Want the full list? Read the free Malagasy phrasebook with pronunciation, grab the free printable Malagasy starter kit, or compare SemaSoma with other African language apps.