Looking for practical Afar to Malagasy phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Afar 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: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Malagasy-speaking trip in a few weeks.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Afar 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.
Nagaad
Salama(nagaad)
Galatooma
Misaotra(galatooma)
Bariis
Salama maraina(bariis)
Galab
Salama tolakandro(galab)
Haal
Salama hariva(haal)
Haalka habeen
Alina tsara(haalka habeen)
Ilaa mar kale
Hizara indray(ilaa mar kale)
Nagaad
Veloma(nagaad)
Maa magacaa?
Inona no anaranao?(maa magacaa)
Magacaygu waa John
Ny anarako dia John(magacaygu waa John)
Iska waran?
Inona ny vaovao?(iska waran)
Aad baan ku faraxsanahay
Faly mihaona aminao(aad baan ku faraxsanahay)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Inni ingiriisi maahaa?
Miteny anglisy ve ianao?(Miteny anglisy ve ianao?)
Hindi maahaa hinjiru
Tsy mahay tsara Hindi aho(Tsy mahay tsara Hindi aho)
Ani hinfahmi
Tsy azoko(Tsy azoko)
Fadlan si maahaa siib
Azafady, miteny moramora(Fadlan si maahaa siib)
Maahaa inna marra?
Azonao averina ve izany?(Maahaa inna marra?)
Maalin baadhu?
Aiza ny trano fidiovana?(Maalin baadhu?)
Akkam an magaalatti gahu?
Ahoana no ahatongavako any amin'ny foibe?(Akkam an magaalatti gahu?)
Boodha kaaf
Mivadika ankavia(Boodha kaaf)
Boodha mirga
Mivadika ankavanana(Boodha mirga)
Si qodhi
Mandehana mivantana(Si qodhi)
Maalin abaal?
Ohatrinona ny saran-dalana?(Maalin abaal?)
Tiket tokkon, fadlan
Tapakila iray, azafady(Tiket tokkon, fadlan)
Maalin faga?
Lavitra ve izany avy eto?(Maalin faga?)
Ani dhumtu
Very very(Ani dhumtu)
Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?
Aiza no ahafahako mividy SIM card?(Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Eeyy
Eny(ee-yee)
Maya
Tsia(mah-yah)
Gara
Angamba(gah-rah)
Anigu waaq
Manaiky aho(ah-nee-goo wahk)
Anigu ma waaq
Tsy manaiky aho(ah-nee-goo mah wahk)
Tani waa'ee
Tsara izany(tah-nee wah-ee)
Ilaa ma waaq?
Inona ny hevitrao?(ee-lah mah wahk)
Ilaa naxar?
Afaka manampy ahy ve ianao?(ee-lah nah-khar)
Naxar aniga
Mila fanampiana aho(nah-khar ah-nee-gah)
Soo'aa
Miandrasa kely(soo-ah)
Waa'ee aniga
Miala tsiny aho(wah-ee ah-nee-gah)
Maya dhib
Tsy olana(mah-yah dheeb)
Hambalyo
Arahabaina(ham-bahl-yo)
Bariis gadhay
Tratry ny tsingerintaona nahaterahana(bah-rees gah-thai)
Safar amni
Mandehana soa aman-tsara(sah-far am-nee)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Eeyyoo taayka daab?
Aiza ny gara?(eyyoo taayka daab)
Eeyyoo gaari daab?
Aiza ny fiantsonan'ny bus?(eyyoo gaari daab)
Keenya kaafaa?
Iza ny sehatra?(keenya kaafaa)
Waqti maayti?
Amin'ny firy no miala izy?(waqti maayti)
Maayta kaan?
Ity ve ny làlana marina?(maayta kaan)
Ittaa hara
Eto akaiky izy.(ittaa hara)
Ittaa faar
Lavitra eto izy.(ittaa faar)
Maafaa naafaa?
Afaka mampiseho ahy ve ianao amin'ny sarintany?(maafaa naafaa)
Hara dhaaf, fadlan
Mijanona eto, azafady.(hara dhaaf, fadlan)
Waqti mee?
Mandra-pahoviana no maharitra?(waqti mee)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Iyayka mi'aa?
Ohatrinona ity?(ohatrinona ity)
Iyayka xayl
Maharitra be loatra izany(maharitra be loatra izany)
Ma'ayka hara gabbir?
Manana zavatra mora ve ianao?(manana zavatra mora ve ianao)
Karta ka'ayka?
Afaka mandoa amin'ny karatra ve aho?(afaka mandoa amin'ny karatra ve aho)
Mi'ayka mi'ida laba
Te-hanana latabatra ho an'ny roa aho(te-hanana latabatra ho an'ny roa aho)