Looking for practical Mam to Malagasy phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Mam 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 Mam wording — noticing word order differences helps you understand grammar naturally.
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Greetings and pleasantries
Hello, goodbye, please, thank you, and polite introductions for meeting new people.
Xo'j
Salama(sho'j)
Tz'ik
Misaotra(tz'ik)
Xo'j nax
Salama maraina(sho'j nax)
Xo'j q'ij
Salama tolakandro(sho'j q'ij)
Xo'j k'ux
Salama hariva(sho'j k'ux)
Xo'j k'ux nax
Alina tsara(sho'j k'ux nax)
K'ux q'ij
Hizara indray(k'ux q'ij)
Xo'j k'ux
Veloma(sho'j k'ux)
Ja' k'ux nax?
Inona no anaranao?(ha' k'ux nax?)
Ja' k'ux nax John
Ny anarako dia John(ha' k'ux nax John)
Jach' k'ux?
Inona ny vaovao?(hach' k'ux?)
Nab' k'ux
Faly mihaona aminao(nab' k'ux)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
¿K'ax k'utun English?
Miteny anglisy ve ianao?(Miteny anglisy ve ianao?)
Nek'ux k'utun Hindi k'ax k'utun.
Tsy mahay tsara Hindi aho(Tsy mahay tsara Hindi aho)
Nek'ux k'ax k'utun.
Tsy azoko(Tsy azoko)
Por favor, k'utun k'ux.
Azafady, miteny moramora
¿K'ax k'utun k'ux?
Azonao averina ve izany?
¿Jach'och k'ux?
Aiza ny trano fidiovana?
¿Jach'och k'ux ch'ich'?
Ahoana no ahatongavako any amin'ny foibe?
K'utun k'ux.
Mivadika ankavia
K'utun k'ux.
Mivadika ankavanana
K'utun k'ux.
Mandehana mivantana
¿K'ax k'ux ch'ich'?
Ohatrinona ny saran-dalana?
K'utun ch'ich', por favor.
Tapakila iray, azafady
¿K'ax k'ux jach'och?
Lavitra ve izany avy eto?
Nek'ux k'ax k'ux.
Very very
¿Jach'och k'ux k'utun SIM?
Aiza no ahafahako mividy SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Juj
Eny(hoo)
Man
Tsia(mah)
K'ux
Angamba(k'ush)
Juj k'ux
Manaiky aho(hoo k'ush)
Man k'ux
Tsy manaiky aho(mah k'ush)
K'ux juj
Tsara izany(k'ush hoo)
¿Juj k'ux k'ut?
Inona ny hevitrao?(¿hoo k'ush k'ut?)
¿Juj k'ux juj k'ux?
Afaka manampy ahy ve ianao?(¿hoo k'ush hoo k'ush?)
Juj k'ux juj k'ux k'ut
Mila fanampiana aho(hoo k'ush hoo k'ut)
K'ux k'ut
Miandrasa kely(k'ush k'ut)
Juj k'ux k'ut
Miala tsiny aho(hoo k'ush k'ut)
Man k'ux k'ut
Tsy olana(mah k'ush k'ut)
K'ux juj k'ut
Arahabaina(k'ush hoo k'ut)
K'ux juj k'ut k'ux
Tratry ny tsingerintaona nahaterahana(k'ush hoo k'ut k'ush)
K'ux juj k'ut k'ux
Mandehana soa aman-tsara(k'ush hoo k'ut k'ush)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
¿Jujuk pa ri tren?
Aiza ny gara?
¿Jujuk pa ri bus?
Aiza ny fiantsonan'ny bus?
¿K'ux ri plataforma?
Iza ny sehatra?
¿K'ux ri tiempo pa k'ux?
Amin'ny firy no miala izy?
¿¿K'ux ri camino?
Ity ve ny làlana marina?
Ri k'ut pa ri.
Eto akaiky izy.
Ri k'ut pa ri k'ul.
Lavitra eto izy.
¿¿K'ux k'ut ri mapa?
Afaka mampiseho ahy ve ianao amin'ny sarintany?
¿¿K'ut pa ri, por favor?
Mijanona eto, azafady.
¿¿K'ux ri tiempo?
Mandra-pahoviana no maharitra?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
K'ux k'ulub' ri'?
Ohatrinona ity?(ohatrinona ity)
K'ux ri' k'ulub'?
Maharitra be loatra izany(maharitra be loatra izany)
¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax?
Manana zavatra mora ve ianao?(manana zavatra mora ve ianao)
¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax k'oj?
Afaka mandoa amin'ny karatra ve aho?(afaka mandoa amin'ny karatra ve aho)
In k'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax k'oj?
Te-hanana latabatra ho an'ny roa aho(te-hanana latabatra ho an'ny roa aho)