Looking for practical Malagasy to NKo phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Malagasy phrase first, then the NKo translation (NKo) — 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 NKo.
Tip: when a NKo phrase looks unfamiliar, compare it with the Malagasy 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 Malagasy to NKo 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.
Salama
ᎣᏍᏆ(Oscha)
Misaotra
ᎠᏍᏆᏙᏗ(Ascadodi)
Salama maraina
ᎣᏍᏆ ᎡᏚᏙᏗ(Oscha Edodhi)
Salama tolakandro
ᎣᏍᏆ ᎠᏧᏍᏆᏗ(Oscha Atsachadi)
Salama hariva
ᎣᏍᏆ ᏓᎦᏚᏗ(Oscha Dagadudi)
Alina tsara
ᎣᏍᏆ ᏓᏥᏍᏆ(Oscha Datsicha)
Hizara indray
ᎣᏍᏆ ᏓᎦᏙᏗ(Oscha Dagadodi)
Veloma
ᎣᏍᏆ ᏓᏁᏙᏗ(Oscha Danodi)
Inona no anaranao?
ᎯᏍᏆ ᎠᏍᏆᏙᏗ ᎢᏳᏍᏆ?(Hisch Ascadodi Iyuscha?)
Ny anarako dia John
ᎠᏓ ᎠᏍᏆᏙᏗ ᎠᏍᏆ ᏥᏍᏆ(Ada Ascadodi Ascha Tischa)
Inona ny vaovao?
ᎯᏍᏆ ᎯᏍᏆ?(Hisch Hisch?)
Faly mihaona aminao
ᎠᏍᏆᏙᏗ ᏓᏥᏍᏆ(Ascadodi Tischa)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Miteny anglisy ve ianao?
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߡߊ߬ߟߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬?(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
Tsy mahay tsara Hindi aho
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߡߊ߬ߟߊ߬ ߗߊ߬ߓߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
Tsy azoko
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߡߊ߬ߟߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߓߊ߬(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
Azafady, miteny moramora
ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬ ߗߊ߬ߓߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
Azonao averina ve izany?
ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬?(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
Aiza ny trano fidiovana?
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬?(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
Ahoana no ahatongavako any amin'ny foibe?
ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬?(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
Mivadika ankavia
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
Mivadika ankavanana
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
Mandehana mivantana
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
Ohatrinona ny saran-dalana?
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬?(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
Tapakila iray, azafady
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
Lavitra ve izany avy eto?
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬?(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
Very very
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
Aiza no ahafahako mividy SIM card?
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬?(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Eny
𞤈𞤢𞤣𞤢
Tsia
𞤈𞤢𞤣
Angamba
𞤈𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤈𞤢𞤣𞤢
Manaiky aho
𞤉𞤢 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢𞤲𞤢
Tsy manaiky aho
𞤉𞤢 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢𞤲𞤢 𞤈𞤢𞤣
Tsara izany
𞤈𞤢𞤣 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤈𞤢𞤣
Inona ny hevitrao?
𞤈𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤈𞤢𞤣
Afaka manampy ahy ve ianao?
𞤈𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤉𞤢𞤣𞤢
Mila fanampiana aho
𞤉𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢
Miandrasa kely
𞤈𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤈𞤢𞤣
Miala tsiny aho
𞤉𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢
Tsy olana
𞤈𞤢𞤣 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢
Arahabaina
𞤈𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢
Tratry ny tsingerintaona nahaterahana
𞤈𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢
Mandehana soa aman-tsara
𞤈𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Aiza ny gara?
ߓߍ߬ߓߊ߬ ߓߍ߬ ߛߌ߬ߟߊ߬ߙߌ߬(bɛrɛ ɲaŋa)
Aiza ny fiantsonan'ny bus?
ߓߍ߬ߓߊ߬ ߓߍ߬ ߛߌ߬ߟߊ߬ߙߌ߬ ߓߌ߬ߜߌ߬(bɛrɛ ɲaŋa)
Iza ny sehatra?
ߓߍ߬ߓߊ߬ ߛߌ߬ߟߊ߬ߙߌ߬ ߓߌ߬ߜߌ߬(bɛrɛ ɲaŋa)
Amin'ny firy no miala izy?
ߓߍ߬ߓߊ߬ ߛߌ߬ߟߊ߬ߙߌ߬ ߓߌ߬ߜߌ߬(bɛrɛ ɲaŋa)
Ity ve ny làlana marina?
ߓߍ߬ߓߊ߬ ߓߌ߬ߜߌ߬ ߓߍ߬ ߞߌ߬ߟߌ߬(bɛrɛ ɲaŋa)
Eto akaiky izy.
ߓߍ߬ߓߊ߬ ߓߌ߬ߜߌ߬ ߓߍ߬ ߞߌ߬ߟߌ߬(bɛrɛ ɲaŋa)
Lavitra eto izy.
ߓߍ߬ߓߊ߬ ߓߌ߬ߜߌ߬ ߓߍ߬ ߞߌ߬ߟߌ߬(bɛrɛ ɲaŋa)
Afaka mampiseho ahy ve ianao amin'ny sarintany?
ߓߍ߬ߓߊ߬ ߓߌ߬ߜߌ߬ ߓߍ߬ ߞߌ߬ߟߌ߬(bɛrɛ ɲaŋa)
Mijanona eto, azafady.
ߓߍ߬ߓߊ߬ ߓߌ߬ߜߌ߬ ߓߍ߬ ߞߌ߬ߟߌ߬(bɛrɛ ɲaŋa)
Mandra-pahoviana no maharitra?
ߓߍ߬ߓߊ߬ ߓߌ߬ߜߌ߬ ߓߍ߬ ߞߌ߬ߟߌ߬(bɛrɛ ɲaŋa)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Ohatrinona ity?
ߊߞߊ ߟߌ߬ߓߊ ߞߊ߬ߙߌߟߌ?(aɡa fɔtɔ?)
Maharitra be loatra izany
߉ߠߊ ߞߊ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߟߌ߬ߓߊ ߞߊ߬ߙߌ(aɡa ɲa fɔtɔ)
Manana zavatra mora ve ianao?
ߊߞߊ ߡߊ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߞߊ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߞߌ߬ߙߌ?(aɡa ɲa fɔtɔ?)
Afaka mandoa amin'ny karatra ve aho?
ߊߞߊ ߡߊ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߡߌ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߞߌ߬ߙߌ?(aɡa ɲa fɔtɔ?)
Te-hanana latabatra ho an'ny roa aho
ߊߞߊ ߡߊ ߞߊ ߞߌ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߡߌ߬ߙߌ(aɡa ɲa fɔtɔ?)
Ny faktiora, azafady
ߊߞߊ ߡߊ ߞߌ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߡߌ߬ߙߌ(aɡa ɲa fɔtɔ?)
Misy ny serivisy ve?
ߊߞߊ ߡߊ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߞߊ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߞߌ߬ߙߌ?(aɡa ɲa fɔtɔ?)
Vegetariana aho
ߊߞߊ ߡߊ ߞߊ ߞߌ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߡߌ߬ߙߌ(aɡa ɲa fɔtɔ?)
Aza misy sakafo maharary, azafady
ߊߞߊ ߡߊ ߞߊ ߞߌ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߡߌ߬ߙߌ(aɡa ɲa fɔtɔ?)
Tsara be ity
ߊߞߊ ߡߊ ߞߊ ߞߌ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߡߌ߬ߙߌ(aɡa ɲa fɔtɔ?)
Afaka mahazo ny menu ve aho?
ߊߞߊ ߡߊ ߞߊ ߞߌ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߡߌ߬ߙߌ?(aɡa ɲa fɔtɔ?)
Rano iray vera, azafady
ߊߞߊ ߡߊ ߞߊ ߞߌ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߡߌ߬ߙߌ(aɡa ɲa fɔtɔ?)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.