Fashion & Clothing

1. Misy ity amin'ny haben'ny tenako ve?

   Do you have this in my size?

   Usage

   Used to ask if your size is available

   Grammar Note

   "haben'ny tenako" means "my body's size"

2. Afaka manandrana ity ve aho?

   Can I try this on?

   Usage

   Used to ask for a fitting room try-on

   Grammar Note

   "afaka...ve aho" asks for permission

3. Aiza ny efitrano fanandramana akanjo?

   Where is the fitting room?

   Usage

   Used to find the fitting room

   Grammar Note

   Fanandramana is the noun from manandrana (to try, to taste); efitrano fanandramana akanjo is "the room for trying on clothes"

4. Tery loatra / Malalaka loatra / Lava loatra / Fohy loatra ity.

   This is too tight / loose / long / short.

   Usage

   Used to describe how clothing fits

   Grammar Note

   "loatra" is the adverb of excess, "too". Tery and malalaka are a paired opposition, used for clothing and footwear, as in "Tery ity kiraroko ity" (these shoes of mine are tight)

5. Misy ity amin'ny loko hafa ve?

   Do you have this in a different color?

   Usage

   Used to ask for a different color option

   Grammar Note

   "hafa" means "different/other"

6. Inona no nanaovana ity fitafiana ity?

   What material / fabric is this made of?

   Usage

   Used to ask about fabric material

   Grammar Note

   "Nanaovana" is the past circumstantial of manao (to make), i.e. "was made with". Rather than using a noun for "material", Malagasy naturally asks what the thing was made with. "Ity ... ity" wraps the noun to mean "this ..."

7. Azo sasana amin'ny milina ve ity?

   Is this machine washable?

   Usage

   Used to ask if clothing can be machine washed

   Grammar Note

   "azo sasana" means "can be washed" (sasana is the passive of manasa, to wash)

8. Misy ity style ity amin'ny haben'ny lehibe kokoa ve?

   Do you have the same style in a larger size?

   Usage

   Used to ask for a larger size in the same style

   Grammar Note

   "kokoa" is a comparative adverb meaning "more"

9. Ohatrinona ny vidiny ity?

   How much is this?

   Usage

   Basic price inquiry

   Grammar Note

   "ohatrinona" asks "how much"

10. Misy fivarotana / fidinana vidiny ve?

    Is there a sale or discount?

    Usage

    Used to ask about sales or discounts

    Grammar Note

    "misy...ve" is an existential question

11. Mividy ity aho.

    I'll take it.

    Usage

    Used to say you'll purchase the item

    Grammar Note

    "mividy ity aho" is a simple purchase statement

12. Mijery fotsiny aho, misaotra.

    I'm just looking, thank you.

    Usage

    Used to politely decline a sales approach

    Grammar Note

    "fotsiny" is a restrictive adverb

13. Inona ny fitsipika raha mamerina na manakalo entana?

    What is your return / exchange policy?

    Usage

    Used to ask about return/exchange policy

    Grammar Note

    "Inona ny fitsipika" asks "what are the rules". Rather than nominalising, Malagasy states the case with verbs: raha mamerina na manakalo entana, "if returning or exchanging an item"

14. Manana haben'ny Andrefana / iraisam-pirenena ve ianareo?

    Do you carry Western / international sizes?

    Usage

    Used to ask about international sizing

    Grammar Note

    "manana...ve ianareo" asks "do you have"

15. Mety aminao tokoa izany!

    This looks great on you!

    Usage

    Used to compliment a companion's appearance

    Grammar Note

    Mety means "fitting, suitable"; combined with amin- plus a pronoun suffix it means "suits (someone)". Aminao is "on/to you", and tokoa ("truly") intensifies the compliment

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