Body Parts

1. Loha

   Head

   Usage

   Show this at a clinic and point at your head — "manaintaina ny lohako" is a headache

2. Volo

   Hair

   Usage

   Used at a barber or salon — also covers animal fur

3. Tarehy

   Face

   Usage

   Also means "looks" — use it for sunburn or a rash

4. Maso

   Eye

   Usage

   Show this at a pharmacy when asking for eye drops

5. Sofina

   Ear

   Usage

   For earache or trouble hearing

6. Orona

   Nose

   Usage

   For a blocked nose or a nosebleed — keep the final -na

7. Vava

   Mouth

   Usage

   Used at a dentist or pharmacy

8. Molotra

   Lip

   Usage

   The highlands are dry — useful when asking for lip balm. Keep the final -tra

9. Nify

   Tooth

   Usage

   Point at the aching tooth while showing this

10. Lela

    Tongue

    Usage

    For when a doctor asks to see it

11. Vozona

    Neck

    Usage

    The outside of the neck — for pain on swallowing use "tenda"

12. Tenda

    Throat

    Usage

    Malagasy separates throat from neck — use this for pain when swallowing

13. Soroka

    Shoulder

    Usage

    For shoulder pain after carrying a pack

14. Sandry

    Arm

    Usage

    The arm — the hand itself is "tanana"

15. Kiho

    Elbow

    Usage

    For a scrape after a fall

16. Tanana

    Hand

    Usage

    The hand — note that "tanàna" with the accent is a different word meaning town or village

17. Rantsan-tanana

    Finger

    Usage

    Literally "branch of the hand" — a toe is "rantsan-tongotra"

18. Hoho

    Nail

    Usage

    For a crushed nail, or at a salon

19. Tratra

    Chest

    Usage

    Chest pain is urgent — show a doctor at once. Keep the final -tra

20. Kibo

    Belly

    Usage

    The belly as seen from outside — the stomach organ is "vavony"

21. Vavony

    Stomach

    Usage

    The stomach as an organ — Malagasy separates it from the belly

22. Lamosina

    Back

    Usage

    For back pain after a long taxi-brousse ride

23. Valahana

    Waist / lower back

    Usage

    The lower back — keep the final -na

24. Fe

    Thigh

    Usage

    From hip to knee

25. Lohalika

    Knee

    Usage

    Easily hurt on highland slopes and treks

26. Tongotra

    Leg / foot

    Usage

    One word for leg and foot — point at the spot. Keep the final -tra

27. Rantsan-tongotra

    Toe

    Usage

    Literally "branch of the foot" — a finger is "rantsan-tanana"

28. Hoditra

    Skin

    Usage

    The sun is strong here — for sunburn or a rash

29. Taolana

    Bone

    Usage

    Show this when you suspect a fracture and want an X-ray

30. Ra

    Blood

    Usage

    For bleeding and blood tests

31. Fo

    Heart

    Usage

    Both the organ and the feeling — "aretim-po" is heart disease

32. Ati-doha

    Brain

    Usage

    Literally "inside of the head" — for asking for a scan after a blow

33. Aty

    Liver

    Usage

    You cannot point at it — show the word itself to explain a condition

34. Havokavoka

    Lung

    Usage

    For shortness of breath — Antananarivo sits at 1,300 m

35. Tsinay

    Intestine

    Usage

    For explaining diarrhoea or gut pain to a doctor

36. Hozatra

    Muscle

    Usage

    For muscle ache at a pharmacy — keep the final -tra

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