Malgache survival kit

About this kit

Malagasy is the national language of Madagascar, spoken by more than twenty million people. It is an Austronesian language related to Malay and Indonesian, enriched with Bantu, Arabic and French words. With this kit, you have the bare minimum to greet, find your way and make a good impression in Antananarivo, Tamatave or villages across the island.

Malagasy is Madagascar's national language and co-official with French. Spoken by more than twenty million people, it is unique in Africa because it belongs to the Austronesian family, alongside Indonesian, Malay and Tagalog. Its first speakers crossed the Indian Ocean from the Indonesian archipelago about one thousand five hundred years ago, and their language was later enriched through contact with East African Bantu peoples, Arab traders and French settlers. Standard Malagasy is based on the Merina dialect of the central highlands around Antananarivo, but there are around twenty regional varieties (Sakalava, Betsimisaraka, Antandroy, Vezo) that remain largely mutually intelligible. The language has been written in the Latin alphabet since the nineteenth century, with regular pronunciation rules where most words carry stress on the penultimate syllable. Grammar follows an unusual verb-object-subject order and relies heavily on a passive voice, which can be surprising at first. Culturally, Malagasy carries a rich oral tradition (kabary, hainteny), a vibrant music scene (salegy, vakodrazana) and a growing film industry. This kit brings together the bare essentials to greet, find your way around a home or village, order food, handle an emergency and leave gracefully, with a glossary of everyday words and essential verbs. Simple politeness and a sincere Misaotra will radically transform your travel experience.