Looking for practical Yoruba to Malagasy phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Yoruba 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 Yoruba 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 Yoruba 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.
Bawo
Salama(bawoh)
O seun
Misaotra(oh shayoon)
E kaaro
Salama maraina(eh kah-roh)
E kaasan
Salama tolakandro(eh kah-sahn)
E kuurole
Salama hariva(eh koo-roh-leh)
O daaro
Alina tsara(oh dah-roh)
A ri e laipe
Hizara indray(ah ree eh lie-peh)
O dabọ
Veloma(oh dah-boh)
Kí ni orukọ rẹ?
Inona no anaranao?(kee nee oh-roo-koh reh)
Orukọ mi ni John
Ny anarako dia John(oh-roo-koh mee nee John)
Bawo ni?
Inona ny vaovao?(bawoh nee)
Inu mi dun lati pade e
Faly mihaona aminao(ee-noo mee doon lah-tee pah-deh eh)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Ṣe o n sọ Gẹ́gẹ́?
Miteny anglisy ve ianao?(Miteny anglisy ve ianao?)
Mi ò sọ Hindi dáadáa
Tsy mahay tsara Hindi aho(Tsy mahay tsara Hindi aho)