The Malagasy language

Avant le 19ème siècle and the translation of the Bible from English to Malagasy around 1820, Madagascar did not have an official writing system, despite the existence of Antemoro manuscripts in Sorabe (pronounced "sourabé"), derived from Arabic, which mainly dealt with divination, occult sciences, and traditional pharmacopoeia. The country’s history, customs, and traditions were passed down orally from generation to generation, known as "oral tradition" or "lovan-tsofina" (literally "heritage of the ear," as it is said). 

Education was carried out through games, tales, and legends. The Bible is thus the first written work in Malagasy. The alphabet is based on the Western alphabet but consists of only 21 letters instead of 26. Therefore, the letters c, q, u, x, and w do not exist in the Malagasy language.

The verb "to be" does not exist in Malagasy. The sentence structure in Malagasy is Verb + complement + subject (as opposed to French: Subject + verb + complement).

• Example: Mihinana vary aho (I eat rice)  

• Verb: mihinana (eat) Complement: vary (rice) Subject: Aho (I)

Some tips for speaking Malagasy:  

• The letter "o" is pronounced "ou"
• The letter "s" is always pronounced with a hiss
• The letter "e" is pronounced "é"
• The letter "g" is pronounced "gue" in front of all vowels
• Final vowels are silent or aspirated (less stressed). For example, *omby* (ox or zebu) is pronounced oumbe, with the "o" pronounced "ou" and the final "y" being almost silent.

A Few Malagasy Words  

• Hello Sir, Madam, how are you?: manao ahoana Tompoko? (pronounced "manaou ahouane toumpouk")  

• I'm fine, thank you: tsara fa misaotra (pronounced "tsara fa misaoutr toumpouk"), or salama tsara 

• Goodbye Sir, Madam: veloma Tompoko (pronounced "veloum toumpouk")  

• Welcome: tonga soa (pronounced "tounga sou")  

• Have a good trip: soava dia (pronounced "souava di")  

• Thank you: misaotra  

• Yes: eny, eka 

• No: tsia  

• Good, fine: tsara  

• Bad, wrong: ratsy  

• Excuse me: azafady  

• How much: firy  

• How much does it cost?: Ohatrinona?  

• Where?: aiza?  

• Where to?: Ho aiza?  

• Where from?: avy aiza?  

• Where are you from? Where do you come from?: Avy aiza ianao?  

• Where are you going?: Ho aiza ianao?  

• Far: lavitra  

• Near: akaiky  

• Money: vola  

• Rice: vary  

• Bread: mofo  

• Meat: hena  

• Water: rano  

• Alcoholic drink: toaka  

• To eat: mihinana  

• To drink: misotro, migaka (dialect)  

• To be thirsty: mangetaheta  

• To be hungry: noana (pronounced "nouana"), mosary (dialect)  

• Yesterday: omaly  

• Tomorrow: rahampitso  

• Today: anio (said in the morning), androany (said at the end of the day), ankehitriny (presently)  

• To be hot: mafàna  

• To be cold: mangatsiaka, manintsy (dialecte)

• Animal : Biby 

• Hen : akohovavy

• Chick : zanak’akoho

• Rooster : akoholahy

• Lemur : gidro

• Dog : alika, amboa (dialecte)

• Cat : saka

• Horse : soavaly