Looking for practical Acholi to Malagasy phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Acholi phrase first, then the Malagasy translation (Malagasy) — so you can scan quickly before a trip, class, or video call.
The phrases are grouped into eight topics: greetings and pleasantries, useful phrases for travellers, everyday conversation, directions and getting around, shopping and dining, emergencies and health, work and business, and time, days and numbers. Use the table of contents to jump straight to greetings, directions, dining, emergencies, or numbers. You do not need perfect grammar to start — short, clear sentences often work better than silence when you are learning Malagasy.
Tip: when a Malagasy phrase looks unfamiliar, compare it with the Acholi wording — noticing word order differences helps you understand grammar naturally.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Acholi to Malagasy translator to paste your own messages and get an instant translation.
Greetings and pleasantries
Hello, goodbye, please, thank you, and polite introductions for meeting new people.
Ayo
Salama(ah-yo)
Naki
Misaotra(nah-kee)
Bok moti
Salama maraina(bok mo-tee)
Bok nongo
Salama tolakandro(bok non-go)
Bok obedo
Salama hariva(bok oh-beh-do)
Bok ngat
Alina tsara(bok ngat)
Tye kany
Hizara indray(tye kan-yee)
Itye
Veloma(ee-tye)
Iti ma ineno?
Inona no anaranao?(ee-tee mah ee-neh-no)
Ineno John
Ny anarako dia John(ee-neh-no John)
Iti ma inyo?
Inona ny vaovao?(ee-tee mah een-yo)
Gat ma inyo
Faly mihaona aminao(gaht mah een-yo)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Itye konyo English?
Miteny anglisy ve ianao?(Miteny anglisy ve ianao?)
Nye konyo Hindi kanyim.
Tsy mahay tsara Hindi aho(Tsy mahay tsara Hindi aho)
Nye neno.
Tsy azoko(Tsy azoko)
Nye konyo tye kanyim.
Azafady, miteny moramora
Itye konyo tye kanyim?
Azonao averina ve izany?
Iti kanyim ngat?
Aiza ny trano fidiovana?
Nye konyo kanyim ku city center?
Ahoana no ahatongavako any amin'ny foibe?
Konyo kuc.
Mivadika ankavia
Konyo kuc.
Mivadika ankavanana
Tye kanyim.
Mandehana mivantana
Iti kanyim ngat?
Ohatrinona ny saran-dalana?
One ticket, please.
Tapakila iray, azafady
Iti kanyim kanyim?
Lavitra ve izany avy eto?
Nye konyo.
Very very
Iti kanyim ngat SIM card?
Aiza no ahafahako mividy SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Aye
Eny
Bila
Tsia
Kweyo
Angamba
Ng'ato konyo
Manaiky aho
Ng'ato konyo ni
Tsy manaiky aho
Okwero kany
Tsara izany
Ika kany?
Inona ny hevitrao?
Ikwok kany?
Afaka manampy ahy ve ianao?
Ng'ato konyo kany
Mila fanampiana aho
Tye kany
Miandrasa kely
Ng'ato konyo
Miala tsiny aho
Bila kany
Tsy olana
Tye kany
Arahabaina
Aye konyo
Tratry ny tsingerintaona nahaterahana
Tye kany ma ng'ato
Mandehana soa aman-tsara
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Atye kany kwo?
Aiza ny gara?(Atye kany kwo?)
Atye kany bura?
Aiza ny fiantsonan'ny bus?(Atye kany bura?)
Kati onyo kwo?
Iza ny sehatra?(Kati onyo kwo?)
Nye kwo nongo?
Amin'ny firy no miala izy?(Nye kwo nongo?)
Kik kwo gwen?
Ity ve ny làlana marina?(Kik kwo gwen?)
Okwang kany ici
Eto akaiky izy.(Okwang kany ici)
Okwang kany piny
Lavitra eto izy.(Okwang kany piny)
Nye konyo i map?
Afaka mampiseho ahy ve ianao amin'ny sarintany?(Nye konyo i map?)
Doko ici, pe?
Mijanona eto, azafady.(Doko ici, pe?)
Nye kwo ngat?
Mandra-pahoviana no maharitra?(Nye kwo ngat?)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Nye keken me?
Ohatrinona ity?(ohatrinona ity)
Okwero keken
Maharitra be loatra izany(maharitra be loatra izany)
Itye keken me?
Manana zavatra mora ve ianao?(manana zavatra mora ve ianao)
Nye konyo kadi?
Afaka mandoa amin'ny karatra ve aho?(afaka mandoa amin'ny karatra ve aho)
Nye tye kany kwo
Te-hanana latabatra ho an'ny roa aho(te-hanana latabatra ho an'ny roa aho)