SemaSoma
Malagasy overview

How to say hello, thank you and more in Malagasy

25 essential Malagasy phrases with pronunciation written out for English speakers. Everything below is what a beginner actually needs first: greetings, polite words, numbers, family, food, time and getting around. The stressed syllable is in capitals so you can say it out loud without guessing.

Quick answers

Hello

Manao ahoana

/ma-NOW ah-OO-an/

Thank you

Misaotra

/mee-SOW-tra/

Goodbye

Veloma

/veh-LOO-ma/

Yes

Eny

/EH-nee/

No

Tsia

/TSEE-ah/

Please

Azafady

/ah-za-FAH-dee/

Welcome

Tongasoa

/ton-ga-SOO-ah/

Sorry

Miala tsiny

/mee-AH-la TSEE-nee/

How are you?

Manao ahoana ianao?

/ma-NOW ah-OO-an ee-ah-NOW/

Practise these in the Malagasy courseTranslate your own phrase

Free

Get one Malagasy phrase a day by email

A short phrase with its pronunciation, every day. No account and no card needed — just an email address.

One click to unsubscribe. We never sell your email.

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/

Meeting people

Introduce yourself and ask how someone is

  • Iza ny anaranao?What is your name?/EE-za nee ah-NAH-ra-now/
  • Amara no anarakoMy name is Amara/a-MA-ra noh ah-na-RA-koh/
  • Manao ahoana ianao?How are you?/ma-NOW ah-OO-an ee-ah-NOW/
  • Tsara fa misaotraI am fine/TSA-ra fa mee-SOW-tra/
  • NamanaFriend/na-MA-na/
  • RanoWater/RA-noo/
  • TranoHouse/TRA-noo/
  • ZazaChild/ZA-za/

Counting

Numbers and market basics

  • IrayOne/EE-rye/
  • RoaTwo/ROO-ah/
  • TeloThree/TEH-loo/
  • EfatraFour/eh-FA-tra/
  • DimyFive/DEE-mee/
  • Ohatrinona izany?How much is it?/oo-ha-TREE-noo-na EE-za-ny/
  • TsenaMarket/TSEH-na/
  • RanoWater/RA-noo/
  • VolaMoney/VOO-la/

Questions people ask about Malagasy

How do you say "hello" in Malagasy?

"Hello" in Malagasy is Manao ahoana, pronounced /ma-NOW ah-OO-an/ (stressed syllables in capitals).

How do you say "thank you" in Malagasy?

"Thank you" in Malagasy is Misaotra, pronounced /mee-SOW-tra/ (stressed syllables in capitals).

How do you say "how are you?" in Malagasy?

"How are you?" in Malagasy is Manao ahoana ianao?, pronounced /ma-NOW ah-OO-an ee-ah-NOW/ (stressed syllables in capitals).

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.

Where is Malagasy spoken?

Madagascar — around 25 million. Writing system: Latin alphabet.

Can I learn Malagasy for free?

Yes. This phrasebook is free to read, and SemaSoma gives you the first three units of the course plus 15 translations a day before anything is paid.

Comparing apps? See how SemaSoma compares to other African language apps.