Greetings

1. Manao ahoana

   Ma-nao a-ho-a-na

   Hello / How are you

   Usage

   Most common greeting, usable in formal and casual contexts

   Grammar Note

   Malagasy belongs to the Austronesian language family, descended from Borneo settlers ~2000 years ago. "Manao ahoana" literally means "doing how." Basic word order is VOS (Verb-Object-Subject).

2. Salama

   Sa-la-ma

   Hi / Hello (casual)

   Usage

   Casual greeting among friends or peers. Derived from Arabic "salam"

   Grammar Note

   Borrowed from Arabic "salam" through maritime trade. Reflects Islamic cultural influence in Madagascar.

3. Tsara

   Tsa-ra

   Fine / Good

   Usage

   Used as a reply to "how are you?"

   Grammar Note

   One of the most important Malagasy adjectives meaning good, fine, or beautiful. Intensify with "be": "Tsara be" = very good.

4. Misaotra

   Mi-sao-tra

   Thank you

   Usage

   Basic thanks. "Misaotra betsaka" = thank you very much

   Grammar Note

   The "Mi-" prefix marks active voice, etymologically related to Indonesian "me-" prefix—evidence of the shared Austronesian origin of Malagasy and Indonesian.

5. Azafady

   A-za-fa-dy

   Excuse me / Sorry / Please

   Usage

   Versatile phrase used for apology, getting attention, and making requests

   Grammar Note

   "Fady" is a key Malagasy cultural concept meaning taboo. "Azafady" literally means "please do not make it taboo" and evolved into a general polite expression.

6. Veloma

   Ve-lo-ma

   Goodbye

   Usage

   Farewell greeting. Casually also "Veloma re"

   Grammar Note

   Etymologically related to "velona" (alive), implying "stay alive and well." Malagasy language often embeds respect for life and nature in everyday words.

7. Maraina tsara

   Ma-rai-na tsa-ra

   Good morning

   Usage

   Morning greeting meaning "good morning" literally "the morning is good"

   Grammar Note

   Malagasy greetings change by time of day. Morning: "Maraina tsara"; night: "Alina tsara" (good night). Adjective follows noun.

8. Hariva tsara

   Ha-ri-va tsa-ra

   Good evening

   Usage

   Evening greeting

   Grammar Note

   Evening greeting: "Hariva" (evening) + "tsara" (good) = "good evening"; the initial h is not dropped. Malagasy has a distinct greeting for each part of the day (morning Maraina tsara, bedtime Alina tsara).

9. Ny anarako dia...

   Ny a-na-ra-ko di-a...

   My name is...

   Usage

   Self-introduction. Replace "..." with your name

   Grammar Note

   "Anara" = name, "-ko" = my (1st person possessive suffix). Malagasy marks possession by suffixing the noun, like Indonesian "-ku"—an Austronesian trait.

10. Faly mifankahita

    Fa-ly mi-fan-ka-hi-ta

    Nice to meet you

    Usage

    Polite greeting when meeting someone for the first time

    Grammar Note

    "mifankahita" = "mi-" (reciprocal prefix) + "fankahita" (meeting). Malagasy has a rich system of reciprocal verb prefixes.

11. Eny

    E-ny

    Yes

    Usage

    Affirmative reply

    Grammar Note

    Malagasy uses "eny" (yes) and "tsia" (no). Simple but versatile depending on context and intonation.

12. Tsia

    Tsi-a

    No

    Usage

    Negative reply

    Grammar Note

    Use "tsia" for standalone "no." To negate a verb, place "tsy" before it. Example: "Tsy mahazo" = cannot.

13. Tafandria mandry

    Ta-fan-dri-a man-dry

    Good night

    Usage

    The standard Malagasy phrase said before going to bed, e.g. at a guesthouse or homestay

14. Tsy inona

    Tsy i-no-na

    You're welcome

    Usage

    Response to "Misaotra" (thank you); literally "it's nothing"

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