Markets & Souvenirs

1. Ohatrinona ity?

   How much is this?

   Usage

   Basic price inquiry

   Grammar Note

   "ity" is a proximal demonstrative

2. Azo atao ve ny miady varotra?

   Can I bargain / negotiate the price?

   Usage

   Used at stalls or markets to start bargaining

   Grammar Note

   Haggling is miady (to fight) + varotra (trade): miady varotra. Miady on its own only means "to fight". "Azo atao ve" asks whether something is permitted

3. Manolotra ariary efajato aho.

   I'll offer 400 ariary.

   Usage

   Used when making a counter-offer

   Grammar Note

   "manolotra" is an active verb

4. Azonao atao ve ny mampihena kely ny vidiny?

   Can I get a discount?

   Usage

   Used when asking a seller to lower the price a little

   Grammar Note

   "Kely" serves as an adverb meaning "a little". Mampihena is the causative of mihena (to decrease) and means "to reduce"; the similar mamerina means "to give back, to repeat" and cannot be used for discounting

5. Vita tanana ve ity sa vita orinasa?

   Is this handmade or factory-made?

   Usage

   Used to verify craftsmanship at souvenir shops

   Grammar Note

   "vita" is a passive adjective meaning "made by"

6. Inona no akora nanaovana ity?

   What material is this made of?

   Usage

   Used to inquire about the material

   Grammar Note

   "nanaovana" is the past circumstantial (instrument/material-focus) form of "nanao" (made)

7. Azo atao ve ny fonosana fanomezana?

   Can you gift-wrap this?

   Usage

   Used to request gift wrapping

   Grammar Note

   "Azo atao ve" politely asks whether something can be done. Fonosana is "a wrapper, a package", so fonosana fanomezana is "gift wrapping". The verb mamono can mean "to wrap", but it is identical in form to mamono "to kill", so the noun is the safer choice

8. Aiza ny tsena alina?

   Where is the night market?

   Usage

   Used to ask for the night market location

   Grammar Note

   "aiza" is the locative question word

9. Afaka manome rosia ve ianao?

   Can I have a receipt?

   Usage

   Used to request a receipt after purchase

   Grammar Note

   A receipt is "rosia": "Taratasy ahafantarana fa nahazo vola tamin' olona iray" (a paper showing money was received from someone).

10. Amin'ny firy ora no misokatra sy mikatona ny tsena?

    What are the market opening hours?

    Usage

    Used to ask about market hours

    Grammar Note

    "amin'ny firy ora" means "at what time"

11. Mijery fotsiny aho, misaotra.

    I'm just looking, thank you.

    Usage

    Polite way to decline a vendor's approach

    Grammar Note

    "fotsiny" is a restrictive adverb

12. Manaiky fandoavana amin'ny karatra ve ianareo?

    Do you accept card payment?

    Usage

    Used to ask if card payment is accepted

    Grammar Note

    "manaiky" means "to accept"

13. Mividy ity ho fahatsiarovana aho.

    I'm buying this as a souvenir.

    Usage

    Used when purchasing as a souvenir

    Grammar Note

    "mividy" is the antonym of "mamidy" (sell)

14. Azo alefa any ivelan'ny firenena ve ity?

    Can this be shipped internationally?

    Usage

    Used to ask about international shipping

    Grammar Note

    "azo alefa" expresses possibility

15. Inona no tsara indrindra aminareo?

    What's your best item?

    Usage

    Used to ask for the best product

    Grammar Note

    "tsara indrindra" is the superlative form

16. Lafo loatra ity.

    This is too expensive.

    Usage

    Used when the price is too high

    Grammar Note

    "loatra" is an adverb expressing excess

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