Looking for practical Lingala to Malagasy phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Lingala 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: read the Malagasy line out loud three times, then cover the Lingala side and try to recall the meaning — repetition builds memory faster than silent reading.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Lingala 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.
Mbote
Salama
Melesi
Misaotra
Mbote na ntango ya mokolo
Salama maraina
Mbote na ntango ya midi
Salama tolakandro
Mbote na ntango ya soir
Salama hariva
Malamu na butu
Alina tsara
Tala yo nsima
Hizara indray
Kende malamu
Veloma
Nkombo na yo nani?
Inona no anaranao?
Nkombo na ngai ezali John
Ny anarako dia John
Ozalaki malamu?
Inona ny vaovao?
Nayoki malamu na yo
Faly mihaona aminao
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Ozali koloba lingala?
Miteny anglisy ve ianao?(Miteny anglisy ve ianao?)
Nasalaka hindi malamu te
Tsy mahay tsara Hindi aho(Tsy mahay tsara Hindi aho)
Nalingi te
Tsy azoko(Tsy azoko)
S'il vous plaît, koloba butu
Azafady, miteny moramora(koloba butu)
Okoki koloba yango lisusu?
Azonao averina ve izany?(okoki koloba yango lisusu)
Bato ya nzoto ezali wapi?
Aiza ny trano fidiovana?(bato ya nzoto)
Nakanisi ndenge nini nakokende na centre?
Ahoana no ahatongavako any amin'ny foibe?(nakokende na centre)
Tika na mobali
Mivadika ankavia(tika na mobali)
Tika na mwasi
Mivadika ankavanana(tika na mwasi)
Kende na ntango
Mandehana mivantana(kende na ntango)
Mbala nini ezali?
Ohatrinona ny saran-dalana?(mbala nini)
Billet moko, s'il vous plaît
Tapakila iray, azafady(billet moko)
Ezali na esika ya mbali?
Lavitra ve izany avy eto?(ezali na esika ya mbali)
Nazali na esika ya mabe
Very very(nazali na esika ya mabe)
Nakanisi wapi nakokota SIM card?
Aiza no ahafahako mividy SIM card?(nakokota SIM card)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Oyo
Eny
Te
Tsia
Soki
Angamba
Nalingi
Manaiky aho
Nalingi te
Tsy manaiky aho
Eza malamu
Tsara izany
Oyo olingi nini?
Inona ny hevitrao?
Okoki kosalisa ngai?
Afaka manampy ahy ve ianao?
Naza na bosenga ya kosalisa
Mila fanampiana aho
Sunga moke
Miandrasa kely
Nasalaki mabe
Miala tsiny aho
Nani azali na problème
Tsy olana
Mokolo malamu
Arahabaina
Mokolo ya mbotama malamu
Tratry ny tsingerintaona nahaterahana
Zala na nzela ya malamu
Mandehana soa aman-tsara
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Eko zali wapi?
Aiza ny gara?(Eko zali wapi?)
Eko zali wapi na bis?
Aiza ny fiantsonan'ny bus?
Eko zali na esika nini?
Iza ny sehatra?
Ekozanga na ntango nini?
Amin'ny firy no miala izy?
Oyo ezali nzela ya malamu?
Ity ve ny làlana marina?
Ezali pene awa.
Eto akaiky izy.
Ezali mbali awa.
Lavitra eto izy.
Okoki kolakisa ngai na kati ya mape?
Afaka mampiseho ahy ve ianao amin'ny sarintany?
Tika awa, s'il vous plaît.
Mijanona eto, azafady.
Ekozala ntango nini?
Mandra-pahoviana no maharitra?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Mbongo ya yango eza nini?
Ohatrinona ity?(ohatrinona ity)
Yango eza mabe na mbongo.
Maharitra be loatra izany(maharitra be loatra izany)
Ozali na makambo mosusu ya mbongo moke?
Manana zavatra mora ve ianao?(manana zavatra mora ve ianao)
Nalingi kobonga na carte?
Afaka mandoa amin'ny karatra ve aho?(afaka mandoa amin'ny karatra ve aho)
Nalingi meka mpo na mibale.
Te-hanana latabatra ho an'ny roa aho(te-hanana latabatra ho an'ny roa aho)