Numbers

1. Iray

   I-ray

   One (1)

   Usage

   Basic counting. "Iray" stands alone or follows a noun as "one [item]"

   Grammar Note

   Malagasy numerals share roots with Indonesian/Malay. Numerals follow nouns: "efitrano iray" = one room. "Iray" may be etymologically related to Malay "satu."

2. Roa

   Ro-a

   Two (2)

   Usage

   "Roa" shares the Austronesian root with Indonesian "dua"

   Grammar Note

   Austronesian numeral evidence: Malagasy "roa," Malay "dua," Tagalog "dalawa" all trace to the same root — linguistic proof of Madagascar's Borneo connection.

3. Telo

   Te-lo

   Three (3)

   Usage

   Three items or the third

   Grammar Note

   Related to Indonesian "tiga," Tagalog "tatlo." Demonstrates the vast spread of the Austronesian language family from Madagascar to the Philippines and Hawaii.

4. Efatra

   E-fat-ra

   Four (4)

   Usage

   Four items or the fourth

   Grammar Note

   Related to Indonesian/Malay "empat." From Proto-Austronesian "*epat" (4). "Efatra" well preserves this ancient form.

5. Dimy

   Di-my

   Five (5)

   Usage

   Five items or the fifth

   Grammar Note

   Related to Indonesian/Malay "lima." From Proto-Austronesian "*lima" (5). "Dimy" comes from the regular sound change of initial l to d in Malagasy.

6. Enina

   E-ni-na

   Six (6)

   Usage

   Six items or the sixth

   Grammar Note

   Related to Indonesian/Malay "enam." To multiply by 10, add "-polo": "enimpolo" = 60.

7. Fito

   Fi-to

   Seven (7)

   Usage

   Seven items or the seventh

   Grammar Note

   Related to Indonesian/Malay "tujuh." Malagasy "fito" comes from *pitu by the regular change p to f, not by shortening "tujuh". The number 7 is considered auspicious in some Malagasy traditions.

8. Valo

   Va-lo

   Eight (8)

   Usage

   Eight items or the eighth

   Grammar Note

   Related to Indonesian "delapan," Malay "lapan." From Proto-Austronesian "*walu" (8). The "v" in "valo" preserves the ancient "*w" sound.

9. Sivy

   Si-vy

   Nine (9)

   Usage

   Nine items or the ninth

   Grammar Note

   Related to Indonesian/Malay "sembilan." From Proto-Austronesian "*siwa" (9). Malagasy "sivy" is among the languages that best preserve this ancient form.

10. Folo

    Fo-lo

    Ten (10)

    Usage

    Base word for ten. "-polo" forms multiples of ten

    Grammar Note

    Related to "puluh" in Indonesian/Malay "sepuluh." Combine with numerals: "roapolo" (20), "telopolo" (30). Also: "anjato" (100), "arivo" (1000).

11. Roa arivo ariary

    Ro-a a-ri-vo a-ri-a-ry

    2000 ariary

    Usage

    Stating amounts when shopping or paying. 1 ariary ≈ USD 0.0002 (2025)

    Grammar Note

    Madagascar's currency is "ariary." The old "francs malgaches" is still used colloquially (1 franc = 5 ariary). Numerals precede currency units.

12. Firy ny ora izao?

    Fi-ry ny o-ra i-zao?

    What time is it now?

    Usage

    Asking the current time

    Grammar Note

    "Ora" (hour/time) borrowed from French "heure." State time as: "ora fito" (7 o'clock), "ora folo" (10 o'clock) — numeral follows "ora."

13. Fito amby roapolo taona aho

    Fi-to am-by ro-a-po-lo ta-o-na a-ho

    I'm 27 years old

    Usage

    Giving your age — the answer to "Firy taona ianao?" ("How old are you?")

    Grammar Note

    Malagasy compound numerals run units + amby + tens; "ambin'ny" is used for 11-19 and "amby" from 20 upwards (telo amby valopolo = 83). Age is expressed as "N taona" plus the subject, so the answer just swaps "ianao" (you) in "Firy taona ianao?" for "aho" (I).

14. Ho valo amby roapolo taona aho amin'ity taona ity

    Ho va-lo am-by ro-a-po-lo ta-o-na a-ho a-min'i-ty ta-o-na i-ty

    I turn 28 this year

    Usage

    Saying the age you will reach this year

    Grammar Note

    The future is marked by the particle "ho" before the predicate. Malagasy brackets the noun with "ity … ity" for the proximal demonstrative, so "amin'ity taona ity" means "in this year". The apostrophe in "amin'" is not dropped.

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