Public Transport

1. Aiza ny fitoeranan-dàlana?

   A-i-za ny fi-toe-ra-nan-dà-la-na

   Where is the bus stop?

   Usage

   Basic phrase when looking for a bus stop

   Grammar Note

   "Fitoeranan-dàlana" is a compound: "fitoerana" (place/stopping place) + "lalana" (road). In compounds Malagasy drops the final -na, inserts a linking -n-, and l becomes d (lalana → dalana).

2. Firy ny vidiny?

   Fi-ry ny vi-di-ny

   How much is the fare?

   Usage

   Used to check the fare for a taxi or shared minibus

   Grammar Note

   "Firy" is the question word for quantity/amount. The simplest way to ask the price. "Ny" is the definite article.

3. Mandeha any Antananarivo ve izany?

   Man-de-ha a-ny An-ta-na-na-ri-vo ve i-za-ny

   Does this go to Antananarivo?

   Usage

   Confirming the destination of a vehicle. Checking services to the capital Antananarivo

   Grammar Note

   "Ve" is a sentence-final question particle creating yes/no questions. It's the basic structure for questions in Malagasy.

4. Taxi-brousse ilay izy

   Ta-xi-brous-se i-lay i-zy

   That is a shared minibus (taxi-brousse)

   Usage

   Describing the "taxi-brousse" — Madagascar's main long-distance shared transport

   Grammar Note

   "Taxi-brousse" means "bush taxi" in French — the key transport linking Madagascar's rural areas. Rides are shared and routes are fixed.

5. Mba avelao hijanona eto aho

   Mba a-ve-lao hi-ja-no-na e-to a-ho

   Please let me off here

   Usage

   Polite phrase to ask to be let off at a stop

   Grammar Note

   "Mba" is the polite request adverb. Avelao is the passive imperative of mamela (to allow), "please let ...", and the verb it governs takes the future form (mijanona → hijanona)

6. Rahoviana no ho avy ny fiaran-dalamby manaraka?

   Ra-ho-vi-a-na no ho a-vy ny fia-ran-da-lam-by ma-na-ra-ka

   When does the next train come?

   Usage

   Asking about the train schedule

   Grammar Note

   Malagasy splits "when" by tense: rahoviana asks about the future, oviana about the past or present. Fiaran-dalamby is fiara (vehicle) + lalamby (railway, lit. "iron road"); colloquially it is also called lamasinina.

7. Mila tikety aho

   Mi-la ti-ket-y a-ho

   I need a ticket

   Usage

   Asking for a ticket at the counter

   Grammar Note

   "Tikety" is borrowed from English or French. Malagasy uses many loanwords for transport and modern concepts.

8. Ela ve ny diako?

   E-la ve ny di-a-ko

   Will the journey take long?

   Usage

   Asking about how long the journey will take

   Grammar Note

   "Ela" is an adjective meaning time-consuming or long. "-ko" is the first-person possessive suffix. "Ela ve?" alone asks "Does it take long?"

9. Mandeha amin'ny bus aho

   Man-de-ha a-min'ny bus a-ho

   I travel by bus

   Usage

   Explaining mode of transport

   Grammar Note

   "Amin'ny" is a preposition indicating means or instrument ("by") — used to express the mode of transportation.

10. Very aho, aiza ity làlana ity?

    Ve-ry a-ho, a-i-za i-ty là-la-na i-ty

    I am lost. Where is this street?

    Usage

    Asking for help when lost on public transport or streets

    Grammar Note

    "Ity...ity" is a proximal demonstrative frame meaning "this ~". Malagasy demonstratives bracket the noun they modify.

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