Festivals & Events

1. Tratry ny Alahamady be!

   Tra-try ny A-la-ha-ma-dy be!

   Happy Malagasy New Year! (Alahamady Be)

   Usage

   Greeting for Alahamady Be, the Malagasy traditional new year

   Grammar Note

   "Tratry ny + festival" is the standard Malagasy greeting. Literally "reached by ~" meaning you've lived to see it.

2. Rahoviana manomboka ny lanonana?

   Ra-ho-vi-a-na ma-nom-bo-ka ny la-no-na-na?

   When does the festival start?

   Usage

   Asking when the festival begins

   Grammar Note

   Malagasy follows VOS word order, with the verb first and the subject last. "manomboka" is the active form of "to begin".

3. Aiza no atao ny fankalazana lehibe?

   Ai-za no a-tao ny fan-ka-la-za-na le-hi-be?

   Where is the main celebration?

   Usage

   Asking the location of the main celebration

   Grammar Note

   "Aiza no...?" is the standard Malagasy location question. "no" is a focus particle.

4. Afaka mandray anjara amin'ny lanonana ve aho?

   A-fa-ka man-dray an-ja-ra a-min'ny la-no-na-na ve a-ho?

   Can I join the festivities?

   Usage

   Asking if you can participate in the festival

   Grammar Note

   "ve" is the Malagasy question particle, placed after the verb or at the end of the sentence.

5. Inona ny sakafo nentim-paharazana amin'ity lanonana ity?

   I-no-na ny sa-ka-fo nen-tim-pa-ha-ra-za-na a-min'i-ty la-no-na-na i-ty?

   What traditional food is eaten during this festival?

   Usage

   Asking about traditional festival food

   Grammar Note

   "nentim-paharazana" means "inherited from ancestors". Respect for ancestors is central in Malagasy culture.

6. Inona no fitafiana tokony hotafiako amin'ny lanonana?

   I-no-na no fi-ta-fi-a-na to-ko-ny ho-ta-fi-a-ko a-min'ny la-no-na-na?

   What should I wear to the festival?

   Usage

   Asking what to wear to the festival

   Grammar Note

   The traditional "lamba" (woven cloth) is widely worn at Malagasy festivals and ceremonies.

7. Misy sarany fidirana ve?

   Mi-sy sa-ra-ny fi-di-ra-na ve?

   Is there an entrance fee?

   Usage

   Asking whether there is an admission fee

   Grammar Note

   "Misy...ve?" asks if something exists. "misy" (there is) + "ve" (question particle).

8. Te hividy fahatsiarovana avy amin'ny lanonana aho.

   Te hi-vi-dy fa-ha-tsia-ro-va-na a-vy a-min'ny la-no-na-na a-ho.

   I'd like to buy a souvenir from the festival.

   Usage

   Expressing desire to buy a festival souvenir

   Grammar Note

   "Te + verb" expresses desire in Malagasy; "te hividy" is "want to buy". Fahatsiarovana is the noun from mahatsiaro (to remember) and means "memory, souvenir" — not to be confused with famindram-po, which means "mercy".

9. Inona ny fomba nentim-paharazana amin'ity fankalazana ity?

   I-no-na ny fom-ba nen-tim-pa-ha-ra-za-na a-min'i-ty fan-ka-la-za-na i-ty?

   What are the traditional customs for this celebration?

   Usage

   Asking about traditional customs of the celebration

   Grammar Note

   "Fomba" means "custom, way of doing", and "nentim-paharazana" means "traditional". "Ity fankalazana ity" frames the noun between the demonstrative ity to mean "this celebration".

10. Ny haingo sy ny tontolo dia tsara tarehy be!

    Ny hain-go sy ny ton-to-lo di-a tsa-ra ta-re-hy be!

    The decorations and atmosphere are beautiful!

    Usage

    Complimenting the festival decorations and atmosphere

    Grammar Note

    "tsara tarehy" means "beautiful/good-looking". "be" is an intensifier meaning "very/great".

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