Laundry

1. Aiza ny toeram-panasan-damba akaiky indrindra?

   Ai-za ny toe-ram-pa-na-san-dam-ba a-kai-ky in-drin-dra

   Where is the nearest laundromat / laundry service?

   Usage

   Used to ask the location of the nearest laundry

   Grammar Note

   "Toeram-" is the linking form of toerana "place" and joins the following noun to mean "place of ...". "Panasan-damba" comes from manasa "to wash" and means "of laundry".

2. Ohatrinona ny sandan'ny fanasana sy fanamainana?

   O-ha-tri-no-na ny san-dan'ny fa-na-sa-na sy fa-na-mai-na-na

   How much does it cost to wash and dry?

   Usage

   Used to ask the price for washing and drying

   Grammar Note

   "fa(n)- … -ana" is the Malagasy nominalizing frame: manasa "wash" → fanasana "washing"; maina "dry" → fanamainana "drying".

3. Firy ora no anasana ny lamba?

   Fi-ry o-ra no a-na-sa-na ny lam-ba

   How long does the laundry take?

   Usage

   Used to ask how long laundry takes

   Grammar Note

   "no" is the focus particle: what precedes it (firy ora, "how many hours") is what the question is about, and the verb takes the circumstantial form anasana ("wash in/with").

4. Misy serivisy fanasana lamba amin'iny andro iny ve?

   Mi-sy se-ri-vi-sy fa-na-sa-na lam-ba a-min'i-ny an-dro i-ny ve

   Do you offer same-day laundry service?

   Usage

   Used to ask about same-day laundry service

   Grammar Note

   "misy...ve?" is the yes/no question structure in Malagasy. "ve" is the question particle.

5. Afaka manasa amim-pikarakarana ity zavatra malemilemy ity ve ianao?

   A-fa-ka ma-na-sa a-mim-pi-ka-ra-ka-ra-na i-ty za-vat-ra ma-le-mi-le-my i-ty ve ia-nao

   Can you wash this delicate item carefully?

   Usage

   Used to request careful washing of a delicate item

   Grammar Note

   "afaka...ve?" is the ability/possibility question structure in Malagasy.

6. Ity akanjo ity mila fanadiovana maina

   I-ty a-kan-jo i-ty mi-la fa-na-di-o-va-na mai-na

   This garment needs to be dry-cleaned

   Usage

   Used when a garment requires dry cleaning

   Grammar Note

   "mila" ("to need") takes a noun directly. fanadiovana ("cleansing", from madio "clean") followed by maina ("dry") gives "dry cleaning".

7. Misy savony fanasana lamba na fanalemena akanjo ve?

   Mi-sy sa-vo-ny fa-na-sa-na lam-ba na fa-na-le-me-na a-kan-jo ve

   Do you have detergent / fabric softener?

   Usage

   Used to ask if detergent or fabric softener is available

   Grammar Note

   "na" means "or" in Malagasy and "savony" is soap/detergent. fanalemena is the noun of manalemy "to soften" (from malemy "soft") — note the stem vowel becomes e.

8. Tsy madio ny lambako — afaka manasa indray ve ianao?

   Tsy ma-dio ny lam-ba-ko — a-fa-ka ma-na-sa in-dray ve ia-nao

   My laundry is not clean — can you rewash it?

   Usage

   Used to request a rewash when laundry is not clean

   Grammar Note

   "tsy" is the Malagasy negation word. "indray" means "once more/again."

9. Afaka mampiasa ny milina fanasana lamba aho?

   A-fa-ka mam-pia-sa ny mi-li-na fa-na-sa-na lam-ba a-ho

   Can I use the washing machine myself?

   Usage

   Used to ask if self-service washing machines are available

   Grammar Note

   "afaka...aho?" means "can I?" Malagasy typically places the subject at the end of the sentence.

10. Misy serivisy fipasohan-damba ve?

    Mi-sy se-ri-vi-sy fi-pa-so-han-dam-ba ve

    Is there an ironing service available?

    Usage

    Used to ask if ironing service is offered

    Grammar Note

    "To iron" is mipasoka (root pasoka, "smoothing"), whose noun is fipasohana; compounded with lamba the l becomes d, giving fipasohan-damba.

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