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