Weather & Climate

1. Mafana be anio, tsy izany ve?

   Ma-fa-na be a-ni-o, tsy i-za-ny ve?

   It's hot today, isn't it?

   Usage

   Weather conversation in Madagascar

   Grammar Note

   "tsy izany ve" is a tag question ("isn't it so?") added at the end. "Mafana be" = very hot

2. Toy ny hisy orana

   Toy ny hi-sy o-ra-na

   It looks like it will rain

   Usage

   When rain seems likely

   Grammar Note

   "Toy ny" means "it seems like". It is followed by the future form "hisy" (there will be) and the noun "orana" (rain)

3. Misy rivotra mahery manatona

   Mi-sy ri-vo-tra ma-he-ry ma-na-to-na

   A strong storm is approaching

   Usage

   Warning about an approaching cyclone or storm

   Grammar Note

   Madagascar is frequently hit by cyclones. "Rivotra" = wind/storm

4. Mangatsiaka tsara anio

   Man-gat-sia-ka tsa-ra a-ni-o

   It's pleasantly cool today

   Usage

   Comment on cool weather

   Grammar Note

   Madagascar's central highlands (like Antananarivo) have cool climates

5. Azafady lazao ahy ny filazana ny toetr'andro

   A-za-fa-dy la-zao a-hy ny fi-la-za-na ny toetr'an-dro

   Please tell me the weather forecast

   Usage

   Politely asking for the weather forecast

   Grammar Note

   "Azafady" = please — the Malagasy polite request word

6. Mila fiarovana amin'ny masoandro ve aho?

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

   Do I need sunscreen?

   Usage

   Ask on sunny days

   Grammar Note

   "Masoandro" = "eye of the day" — the Malagasy word for sun. Sunscreen is expressed as fiarovana ("protection", from aro "to guard") amin'ny masoandro

7. Tokony hitondra elo ve aho?

   To-ko-ny hi-ton-dra e-lo ve a-ho?

   Should I bring an umbrella?

   Usage

   Before going out in uncertain weather

   Grammar Note

   "Tokony" = should/ought to, and the verb after it takes the future form (mitondra → hitondra). Elo covers both a rain umbrella and a parasol

8. Rahoviana ny vanim-potoana maina?

   Ra-ho-via-na ny va-nim-po-toa-na mai-na?

   When is the dry season?

   Usage

   Travel planning question

   Grammar Note

   Madagascar's dry season: April–November. "Vanim-potoana maina" = dry season (literally "dry season-time"; rainy season = "vanim-potoana orana")

9. Rahoviana ny vanim-potoana orana?

   Ra-ho-via-na ny va-nim-po-toa-na o-ra-na?

   When is the rainy season?

   Usage

   Ask about the rainy season

   Grammar Note

   Madagascar's rainy season: November–March. Also cyclone season

10. Mahery be ny masoandro

    Ma-he-ry be ny ma-so-an-dro

    The sun is really strong

    Usage

    Exclamation about intense sunshine

    Grammar Note

    Madagascar has a tropical climate with intense sun. "Be" = very/intensifier

11. Orana

    Rain

    Usage

    Rain. The same spelling also means crayfish/shrimp, so keep the weather context clear

12. Rivotra

    Wind

    Usage

    Point at it when asking or confirming the weather

13. Rahona

    Cloudy / Cloud

    Usage

    Point at it when asking or confirming the weather

14. Masoandro

    Sunny / Sun

    Usage

    Point at it when asking or confirming the weather

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