Looking for practical Tetum to Malagasy phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Tetum 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: pick five Malagasy phrases from the greetings section and use them in a real message today. Small daily practice beats cramming before a trip.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Tetum 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.
Olá
Salama
Obrigadu
Misaotra
Bondia
Salama maraina
Bona tarde
Salama tolakandro
Bona noite
Salama hariva
Bona noite
Alina tsara
Ami hanesan
Hizara indray
Adeus
Veloma
Quale naran ida?
Inona no anaranao?
Naran hau John.
Ny anarako dia John
Kona ba o?
Inona ny vaovao?
Diak ba halo ho o.
Faly mihaona aminao
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Keta fala Inglês?
Miteny anglisy ve ianao?(Miteny anglisy ve ianao?)
Hau la fala Hindi diak.
Tsy mahay tsara Hindi aho(Tsy mahay tsara Hindi aho)
Hau la hatene.
Tsy azoko(Tsy azoko)
Favor fala ba moris.
Azafady, miteny moramora
Keta bele fala fali?
Azonao averina ve izany?
Onde mak banheira?
Aiza ny trano fidiovana?
Kona ne'ebe hau bele baa sentru cidade?
Ahoana no ahatongavako any amin'ny foibe?
Virar ba hadau.
Mivadika ankavia
Virar ba direita.
Mivadika ankavanana
Baa diretamente.
Mandehana mivantana
Iha ne'e barak?
Ohatrinona ny saran-dalana?
Ticket ida, favor.
Tapakila iray, azafady
Iha ne'e laran ka?
Lavitra ve izany avy eto?
Hau nune'e.
Very very
Onde mak hau bele compra SIM card?
Aiza no ahafahako mividy SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Sim
Eny
La
Tsia
Talvez
Angamba
Hau hakarak
Manaiky aho
Hau la hakarak
Tsy manaiky aho
Nia mak diak
Tsara izany
Ita nian ideia sa?
Inona ny hevitrao?
Mak bele ajuda hau?
Afaka manampy ahy ve ianao?
Hau precisa ajuda
Mila fanampiana aho
Hakarak momentu
Miandrasa kely
Hau mós
Miala tsiny aho
La problema
Tsy olana
Parabens
Arahabaina
Parabens ba aniversario
Tratry ny tsingerintaona nahaterahana
Hau haruka viagen diak
Mandehana soa aman-tsara
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Onde está a estacão de trem?
Aiza ny gara?(Onde está a estacão de trem?)
Onde está a paragem de autocarro?
Aiza ny fiantsonan'ny bus?(Onde está a paragem de autocarro?)
Iha ne'e plataforma sa'e?
Iza ny sehatra?(Iha ne'e plataforma sa'e?)
Hora ne'e sai?
Amin'ny firy no miala izy?(Hora ne'e sai?)
Ema ne'e dalan certo ka?
Ity ve ny làlana marina?(Ema ne'e dalan certo ka?)
Iha ne'e perto
Eto akaiky izy.(Iha ne'e perto)
Iha ne'e laran
Lavitra eto izy.(Iha ne'e laran)
Kona ba mapa?
Afaka mampiseho ahy ve ianao amin'ny sarintany?(Kona ba mapa?)
Parar iha ne'e, favor
Mijanona eto, azafady.(Parar iha ne'e, favor)
Kona tempu hira?
Mandra-pahoviana no maharitra?(Kona tempu hira?)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Ita nia presu sa'o?
Ohatrinona ity?(ohatrinona ity)
Esa mak baratu demais.
Maharitra be loatra izany(maharitra be loatra izany)
Ita iha coisa baratu seluk?
Manana zavatra mora ve ianao?(manana zavatra mora ve ianao)
Posu ka la, hau bele paga ba kart?
Afaka mandoa amin'ny karatra ve aho?(afaka mandoa amin'ny karatra ve aho)
Hau hakarak mesa ba rua.
Te-hanana latabatra ho an'ny roa aho(te-hanana latabatra ho an'ny roa aho)