Pharmacy & Health

1. Misy fanafody ho an'ny aretin-doha ve?

   Mi-sy fa-na-fo-dy ho an'ny a-re-tin-do-ha ve?

   Do you have headache medicine?

   Usage

   Ask for headache medicine at a pharmacy in Madagascar

   Grammar Note

   "Ve" is the Malagasy question particle. "Misy...ve?" means "is there...?"

2. Mila fanafody ho an'ny kiboko aho

   Mi-la fa-na-fo-dy ho an'ny ki-bo-ko a-ho

   I need stomach medicine

   Usage

   Use when you need stomach medicine

   Grammar Note

   Malagasy is VOS, so "aho" (I) comes last. Kibo covers the belly and the stomach; with -ko it becomes kiboko, "my stomach". Tsinay, a different word, means "intestines"

3. Mila fanafody ho an'ny fivalanana aho

   Mi-la fa-na-fo-dy ho an'ny fi-va-la-na-na a-ho

   I need anti-diarrhea medicine

   Usage

   Ask for anti-diarrhea medicine

   Grammar Note

   Fivalanana is the noun formed from the verb mivalana (to have diarrhea) and is the polite term; the vulgar words diky and tay are not used at a pharmacy. Ho an'ny means "for the ...".

4. Misy tazo aho

   Mi-sy ta-zo a-ho

   I have a fever

   Usage

   Tell the pharmacist you have a fever

   Grammar Note

   "Tazo" means fever and also malaria in Malagasy. "Misy tazo aho" = "I have a fever"

5. Manana alerjia aho

   Ma-na-na a-ler-ji-a a-ho

   I have an allergy

   Usage

   Inform the pharmacist about your allergy

   Grammar Note

   "Alerjia" is borrowed from French "allergie"; Madagascar has strong French linguistic influence. Possession is expressed with manana ("to have")

6. Mila plastira aho

   Mi-la plas-ti-ra a-ho

   I need bandages/plasters

   Usage

   Ask for bandages or plasters at a pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   "Plastira" is borrowed from French "plâtre". French medical terms are commonly used in Madagascar

7. Mila spreyi fandroahana bibikely aho

   Mi-la spre-yi fan-dro-a-ha-na bi-bi-ke-ly a-ho

   I need insect repellent

   Usage

   Ask for insect repellent at a pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   "Bibikely" means "small creature", used for insects. "Fandroahana" is the noun form of "to repel"

8. Mila kirema fiarovana amin'ny masoandro aho

   Mi-la ki-re-ma fi-a-ro-va-na a-min'ny ma-so-an-dro a-ho

   I need sunscreen

   Usage

   Ask for sunscreen at a pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   "Masoandro" is a compound: "maso" (eye) + "andro" (day/sun). "Kirema" is from French "crème"

9. Ahoana ny fomba fihinana io fanafody io?

   A-ho-a-na ny fom-ba fi-hi-na-na io fa-na-fo-dy io?

   How do I take this medicine?

   Usage

   Ask the pharmacist how to take the medicine

   Grammar Note

   "Ahoana ny fomba" = "what is the way". "Fihinana" is the noun form of "to eat/drink"

10. Mila taratasy avy amin'ny dokotera ve?

    Mi-la ta-ra-ta-sy a-vy a-min'ny do-ko-te-ra ve?

    Do I need a prescription?

    Usage

    Check if a prescription is needed

    Grammar Note

    "Mila" = "to need". "Taratasy avy amin'ny dokotera" = "paper from the doctor", i.e. a prescription (fepetra means "condition, rule", so it is not used). "Dokotera" is from French "docteur"

11. Fivarotam-panafody

    Pharmacy

    Usage

    Point at it when asking where a pharmacy is

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