Directions

1. Aiza ny hotely?

   Ai-za ny ho-te-ly?

   Where is the hotel?

   Usage

   Asking for the location of a hotel or accommodation

   Grammar Note

   "Aiza" is the Malagasy question word for location. "Ny" is the definite article (like English "the"). Wh-questions have special structure.

2. Mandrosoa mahitsy

   Man-dro-so-a ma-hi-tsy

   Go straight ahead

   Usage

   Directing someone to go straight ahead

   Grammar Note

   "Mandrosoa" is the active imperative of mandroso (to go forward), formed with -a. Malagasy verbs have an elaborate focus system (active, passive, circumstantial voices).

3. Mitodika any ankavia

   Mi-to-di-ka a-ny an-ka-vi-a

   Turn to the left

   Usage

   Instructing or receiving directions to turn left

   Grammar Note

   "Ankavia" (left) and "ankavanana" (right) are directional terms. "Any" points to a distant location or direction.

4. Mitodika any ankavanana

   Mi-to-di-ka a-ny an-ka-va-na-na

   Turn to the right

   Usage

   Instructing someone to turn right

   Grammar Note

   "Ankavanana" means right. Madagascar drives on the right side, a legacy of French colonial road infrastructure.

5. Lavitra ve izany?

   La-vi-tra ve i-za-ny?

   Is it far?

   Usage

   Asking whether a destination is far away

   Grammar Note

   "Ve" is the Malagasy question marker. Opposite is "akaiky" (near). In rural Madagascar, distances are often expressed as walking time.

6. Asehoy ahy ny sarintany

   A-se-hoy a-hy ny sa-rin-ta-ny

   Please show me the map

   Usage

   Asking someone to show you a map to confirm location

   Grammar Note

   "Sarintany" = "sary" (picture/image) + "tany" (land/earth) = map. Malagasy compounds stack meanings as Japanese does.

7. Aiza ny toby fiaramanidina?

   Ai-za ny to-by fi-a-ra-ma-ni-di-na?

   Where is the airport?

   Usage

   Asking for directions to the airport

   Grammar Note

   "Fiaramanidina" = "fiara" (vehicle) + "manidina" (to fly) = airplane. Antananarivo's main airport is also called Ivato Airport.

8. Misy taxi ve eto?

   Mi-sy taxi ve e-to?

   Is there a taxi here?

   Usage

   Looking for a taxi

   Grammar Note

   "Misy" (there is) negates to "tsy misy" (there isn't). Madagascar has "taxi-be" (large taxi) — shared minibus transport.

9. Handeha amin'ny fiara-be aho

   Han-de-ha a-min'ny fi-a-ra-be a-ho

   I will go by bus

   Usage

   Saying you will take the bus or shared transport

   Grammar Note

   "Handeha" adds the future prefix "h-" to "andeha" (go). "Fiara-be" = big vehicle = bus. Shared bush taxis (taxi-brousse) are common.

10. Aiza ny tsena kely eo akaikin'ny làlana?

    Ai-za ny tse-na ke-ly e-o a-kai-kin'ny là-la-na?

    Where is the small market near the road?

    Usage

    Finding a roadside market or small stall

    Grammar Note

    "Akaikin'ny" = "akaiky" (near) + "n'ny" (of the). In Malagasy, adjectives follow the noun (postnominal placement).

11. Ankavanana

    Right

    Usage

    Point at it inside a taxi; one word is faster than a sentence

12. Ankavia

    Left

    Usage

    Point at it inside a taxi; one word is faster than a sentence

13. Mahitsy

    Straight ahead

    Usage

    Point at it inside a taxi

14. Miverina

    Go back

    Usage

    Point at it in a taxi when you have gone too far

15. Mijanona

    Stop

    Usage

    Show it to a driver where you want to get out

16. Avaratra

    North

    Usage

    Use to confirm a compass direction against a map

17. Atsimo

    South

    Usage

    Use to confirm a compass direction against a map

18. Atsinanana

    East

    Usage

    Use to confirm a compass direction against a map

19. Andrefana

    West

    Usage

    Use to confirm a compass direction against a map

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