tao

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *taʀuq. Compare Indonesian taruh.


hay

(Tankarana) an insect which damages rice crops


dada

a dance where the feet are made to imitate the beating of a drum


lay

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *layaʀ, from Proto-Austronesian *layaʀ.

sail (a piece of fabric attached to a boat)


fo

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *pusuq, cognate of Javanese pusuh and Tagalog puso.


volo

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *bulu (compare Malay bulu), from Proto-Austronesian *bulu.

(anatomy) hair (the collection or mass of filaments growing from the skin of humans and animals)


volo

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *buluq (compare Malay buluh), from Proto-Austronesian *buluq.


vy

From Malay besi, from Proto-Malayic *bəsi, from Proto-Malayo-Chamic *bəsi.

(physics, chemistry, metallurgy) iron (element)


vary

* From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *bəʀas, from Proto-Austronesian *bəʀas.
* From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *pajay (“rice plant”), from Proto-Austronesian *pajay (“rice plant”). Doublet of fary (“sugar cane”). Compare Ma'anyan parei, Javanese ꦥꦫꦶ (pari), Malay padi and Tagalog palay.


nono

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *nunuh, from Proto-Austronesian *nunuh. Compare Kulon-Pazeh nunuh and Tsou nunʼu.


ala

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *halas, from Proto-Austronesian *Salas. Cognate with Balinese ᬳᬮᬲ᭄ (alas), Javanese ꦲꦭꦱ꧀ (alas).


aba

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *aba, from Proto-Austronesian *aba.


nio

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *niuʀ (compare with Malay nyiur).


vanga

→ English: vanga


solo

Borrowed from a South Sulawesi language, from Proto-South Sulawesi *sulu(r); compare Makasar suluk.


tady

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *talih, from Proto-Austronesian *CaliS. Compare Paiwan calis, Kulon-Pazeh saris, Malay tali, Ilocano tali, Chamorro tali, Ma'anyan tadi, Tetum tali, Yapese tael, Pohnpeian sahl, Fijian dali, Maori tari.


tonga

The talisman sense comes from Etymology 1 of the word.

(Mahafaly, Sakalava) a charm or talisman believed to bring one safely to their destination

(by extension) a plant used to make this talisman, the blue porterweed (Stachytarpheta jamaicensis)

Catharanthus roseus
Catharanthus roseus#Translingual

(Antanosy) rosy periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus)


bala

(dialectal) poles used to carry a burden


tono

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *tunu, from Proto-Austronesian *CuNuh.


voto

Several etymologies have been proposed:
* Inherited from Proto-Austronesian *buCuq (“testicles”). Compare Ma'anyan wutu, Malay butuh, and Saisiyat bosoe'.
* Less likely, borrowed from a Bantu language, from Proto-Bantu *dʊ̀bódó. Compare Swahili mboo, Zulu ubolo, Chichewa mbolo and Shona mboro.

penis (male organ for copulation and urination)


nosy

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *nusa. Compare Malay nusa.

island (area of land completely surrounded by water)


bozaka maina

bozaka (“coarse grass, dried grass”) + maina (“dry”)


andian'olona

andia (“group”) + olona (“person; human being”)


fakan-tsary

From faka (“root; cause”) + n (“genitive affix”) + sary (“picture”).


famadihana

→ English: famadihana


ariary

→ English: ariary


fala

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *palaq, from Proto-Austronesian *palaq.


rano

From Proto-Austronesian *danaw. Compare Indonesian danau.


vorona

Possibly borrowed from Banjarese burung.


aty

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *qatay, from Proto-Austronesian *qaCay.

the inside of something; the contents of something


saka

Felis silvestris catus
Felis silvestris catus#Translingual


fano

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *pəñu, from Proto-Austronesian *pəñu.


armonia

From French harmonium, influenced by Latin harmonia.


avana

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *hawan (“atmosphere, space between earth and sky”). Compare Malay awan, Indonesian awan, both meaning "cloud".


lambo

(figuratively, by extension) lazy person who eats a lot


tany

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *tanəq. Compare Malay tanah, Chamorro tano'.


tany

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *taŋis, from Proto-Austronesian *Caŋis.


maso

Borrowed from Swahili macho (“eyes”), plural of jicho, ultimately from Proto-Bantu *ìjícò. The expected Malagasy reflex of Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *mata in is *maty.


ladina

the shoot or tendril of a climbing plant


tona

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *tuna, from Proto-Austronesian *tuNa.

A species of very large nocturnal serpent.

(figurative) An eel too large to be used as food because of its resemblance to a tona.


arina

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *qajeŋ. Compare Indonesian arang.

(dialectal) several trees which are considered to produce high-quality charcoal, such as those of species Bridelia tulasneana, Rhodolaena bakeriana and some species of genus Schizolaena


vato

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *batu, from Proto-Austronesian *batu (compare Cebuano bato, Fijian vatu, Hawaiian haku, Hiligaynon bato, Ilocano bato, Indonesian batu, Kapampangan batu, Malay batu, Maori whatu, Sundanese batu, Tagalog bato).


orana

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *quzan, from Proto-Austronesian *quzaN (cf. Malay hujan and Tagalog ulan).


orana

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *qudaŋ, from Proto-Austronesian *qudaŋ.

the Madagascar crayfish, (Astacoides madagascariensis)


olona

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *qulun (“outsiders, alien people”). Compare Ma'anyan ulun.


fosa

desctree

→ English: fossa
→ Portuguese: fossa
→ Translingual: Fossa

Likely once referred to the Malayan weasel (Mustela nudipes) prior to a semantic shift, thus cognate with Sarawak Malay pusak and Tagalog pusa.

Cryptoprocta ferox
Cryptoprocta ferox#Translingual


trano

Unknown. Possibly related to Malay dangau (“small hut”).


ranu

Ultimately from Proto-Austronesian *daNum.


andro

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *qalejaw, from Proto-Austronesian *qalejaw. Compare Ma'anyan anrau, Tagalog araw.


rafia

→ French: raphia

→ English: raffia

From fia (“to press, to squeeze”), from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *pəʀəs (compare with Malay perah and peras).


kilema

Borrowed from Swahili kilema, from Arabic كِلَام (kilām), plural of كَلْم (kalm, “bite, cut”).


soratra

[ˈsurət͡ʂə̥]

Borrowed from Malay surat, from Proto-Malayic *surat, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *suʀat (“to carve, to incise”).


lalana

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *zalan, from Proto-Austronesian *zalan. Compare Ma'anyan lalan, Malay jalan.


tanana

Ultimately from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *taŋan. Compare Malay tangan.


tanana

Ultimately from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *tanəm. Compare Malay tanam (“to plant”).


vidy

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *bəli, from Proto-Austronesian *bəli, *baliw.


voa

Inherited from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *buaq, from Proto-Austronesian *buaq. Compare Malay buah and Acehnese boh.


vontsira

A member of either of two species of small, brown, mongoose-like mammals Salanoia concolor and Salanoia durrelli, from Madagascar.


endrika

feature, likeness, visage, resemblance, image, form


vava

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *baqbaq. Compare Cebuano baba and Maori waha.


fady

→ English: fady


fangitra voalohany

fangitra (“indication”) + voalohany (“first”)


ampanga fisaka

ampanga (“accusation”) + fisaka (“thin; flat”)


ampanga

a women's hairstyle made to resemble fern leaves


aforano

afo (“fire”) + rano (“water”), "water/liquid fire". The plant names are due to these plants causing blisters on the skin, while growing in humid places.

(chemistry) acid, especially sulfuric acid and phosphoric acid

(dialectal) the plant Ranunculus multifidus

(dialectal) the plant Ranunculus pinnatus


adisanina

(mathematics) addition (mathematical operation)


sendrasendra

[ˌseⁿd̥͡ʐ(ə̥)ˈseⁿd̥͡ʐ(ə̥)]


dokam-barotra

doka (“praise, flattery”) + varotra (“trade, commerce, selling”)


adary

(Sakalava) agitation; turbulence; uproar


anjano

(dialectal) allusion (indirect discourse)


angon-dilatra

angona (“collection”) + dilatra (“deposits of earth”)


abidy

From the first three letters of the Malagasy alphabet, A, B and D.


abidy

(dialectal, Tankarana) a species of waterbird


andrisa

(dialectal) anchor (heavy weight used to secure a boat or ship)


bozika

(dialectal) stubbornness, resistance, inflexibility


ahy

concern; anxiety (for something/someone)


bikan-javatra

bika (“shape, form”) + zavatra (“thing, object”)


akatra

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *aŋkat. Compare also Tagalog angkat, Malay angkat, Acehnese angkat, Javanese ngangkat (“to lift”).


akatra

(dialectal, Tankarana) a rat trap made from bamboo


debaka

(Betsimisaraka) the plant Agelaea pentagyna


andrana

an attempt; a trial (trying something for the first time)


arofanina

aro + fanina ("protection [against] giddiness")


bararata

the plant Phragmites mauritianus, a reed


akondro

Possibly from a Bantu language, ultimately from Proto-Bantu *kòndè (“banana”).


badisa

(Tankarana) a kind of hook for catching eels


barika

a disease of chickens which affects the liver


fanatrona

a medium-sized round basket without handles


beloha

(Betsileo, Tanala) the plant Petchia plectaneiifolia, related to Vinca


fanantana

(weaving) batten (movable bar of the loom)


batery

battery (coordinated group of artillery weapons, or the electricity-supplying device)


ady am-parimbona

ady (“battle”) + farimbona (“the act of two or more people acting on something”)

a quarrel or dispute of a large party against a smaller party


faingoka

From faraingo ultimately from bingo, compare with Malay bengkok.

hook (curved piece of metal used to catch fish)


karibonetra

bicarbonate of soda (sodium bicarbonate)


ady antsanga

ady (“conflict; battle; war”) + antsanga (“earth deposited by water”)

intense argument initiated for trivial reasons


adidy

something for which one is held responsible; a blame; a responsibility


akanjo bilaozy

From akanjo (“clothing”) + English blouse.


akoma

Malagasy ground boa (Acrantophis madagascariensis)


deronderom-bava

deronderona (“perching in a conspicuous or high place; boastfulness”) + vava (“mouth”)


Andriamanitra

andriana (“lord; nobility; sovereign”) + manitra (“fragrant”), "fragrant Lord"


fivarotana

Derivative of varotra (“selling; trade; commerce”)


amborodao

raised sewn ornamental borders on clothes


atidoha

aty (“the inside of something”) + loha (“head”), "the contents of the head"


famafa

(dialectal, by extension) some plants whose twigs are used to make brooms, such as Henonia scoparia and licorice weed (Scoparia dulcis)


anjomara

a bugle-like musical instrument made from bamboo and an ox horn


akorany

a length of bamboo which is to be made into a valiha


bitro

Rebracketing of rabitro, a borrowing from English rabbit, as ra- (“prefix forming names”) + *bitro.


antikantika

Reduplication of antika, with the same meaning.

a busybody (someone who meddles in others' issues)


bobaky

Buteo brachypterus
Buteo brachypterus#Translingual

(Sakalava, Tankarana) Madagascar buzzard (Buteo brachypterus)


afo

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *hapuy, from Proto-Austronesian *Sapuy.


baibo

(dialectal) floodplain used to grow crops


vatomamy

Compound of vato + mamy, literally, “sweet stone”.


akoho vositra

akoho (“chicken”) + vositra (“castrated livestock”)


babontany

babo (“captive”) + tany (“land, nation”)

captives which are divided among the whole army (as opposed to just the individuals who caught them)


akorambiby

hard covering of an animal (e.g. the carapace of a tortoise)


beroberoka

Sonchus oleraceus
Sonchus oleraceus#Translingual

(Sihanaka, Betsileo) common sow thistle (Sonchus oleraceus)


balahazo

(dialectal) Synonym of mangahazo (“cassava”)


akanjo lava

akanjo (“clothing; shirt”) + lava (“long”)

cassock (long garment worn by church clergy)


ankolafiny

From lafitra (“that which is regular; a division”).


bozy

vernacular name for the baobab Adansonia za


amboninjato

ambony (“above; higher in rank”) + zato (“one hundred”)

one who has command over one hundred civilians


akofa

diseased rice crop unable to bear grains


andraikitra

From raikitra (“agreed to; attached to something”).


fametrahana entana

fametrahana (“deposit”) + entana (“baggage”)


andriambe

andriana (“nobility”) + be (“big; great”)


anaka

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *anak, from Proto-Austronesian *aNak.


bakoly

From Swahili bakuli, from Arabic بَاقُولْ (bāqūl).


fidy

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *piliq (compare with Malay pilih), from Proto-Austronesian *piliq.


ady an-trano

legal dispute between members of the same clan or household


famindram-po

famindrana (“transfer, displacement”) + fo (“heart”)


famantaranandro

famantarana (“sign, indication”) + andro (“day, time period”)


akanjo

Either from Swahili kanzu or French canezon.


arintany

arina (“charcoal; soot”) + tany (“earth; soil; land”)


ankosotra

From hosotra (“the act of applying a coating”).


dafo

Borrowed from Swahili dafu (“unripe coconut with milk”), ultimately from Bengali ডাব (ḍabo, “green coconut”).


voanjo

From a Bantu language, from Proto-Bantu *njʊ̀gʊ́ (“groundnut”).

Vigna unguiculata
Vigna unguiculata#Translingual


zanatany

Literally "child of the land". From zanaka (“child”) and tany (“land”). Used to distinguish Madagascar-born and raised resident of foreign origins from immigrants.


andry

the state of being horizontal; the state of being extended


elanelam-panahy

elanelana (“interval, go-between”) + fanahy (“mind, soul, temperament”)


atin-kavana

aty (“interior”) + havana (“friend; relative; ally”)


fahatsiarovantena

From fahatsiarovana (“memory”) + tena (“self”).


areti-mifindra

aretina (“illness”) + mifindra (“contagious”)


ambanivohitra

ambany (“under; below”) + vohitra (“village; hill”)


omby

cow, ox (an individual of Bos taurus, irrespective of sex)


ambiko

(dialectal) the highland streaked tenrec (Hemicentetes nigriceps)


hero-dronono

herotra + ronono, "rubbery layer of milk"


antsefatsefany

From sefaka (“that which goes between”).


andiany

a large group of people or animals; flock, herd, or crowd


fandikanala

Coua reynaudii
Coua reynaudii#Translingual


didin-tany

didy (“command, order, law”) + tany (“land”)


dadamanainga

a way of dancing the dada dance where one foot is kept up more than the other


famefakangaty

Microcarbo africanus
Microcarbo africanus#Translingual

long-tailed cormorant (Microcarbo africanus)


fanapahan-kevitra

fanapahana (“deciding”) + hevitra (“thought”)


bakobako

(Tankarana) a mythical animal resembling a donkey


akanakana

Reduplication of akana (“frequent pausing”)


aingitraingitra

Reduplication of aingitra (“desire which is difficult to satisfy”)


diksionary

From French dictionnaire or English dictionary.


mpanasaraka

Agent noun of manasaraka (“decompose; break down”)


famono mosavy

famono (“that which is used to kill with”) + mosavy (“witchcraft”)


aloalo

a kind of grave ornament carved from wood


beheza

(Sihanaka) mournful songs recited at funerals


antsitrika

the act of diving or plunging into liquid


dify

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *lipət, from Proto-Austronesian *lipət.

plaited border (of mats, baskets, hats, etc.)


ampondra

/aˈᵐpuⁿɖ͡ʐa/

[əˈᵐpuⁿɖ͡ʐə̥]


ambany

(dialectal, Sihanaka) west (cardinal direction)


fivarotam-panafody

fivarotana (“shop”) + fanafody (“medicine”)


amponga

(dialectal) an insect which eats taro leaves


amponga

(dialectal) the pitcher plant species Nepenthes madagascariensis


ankoay

Madagascan fish eagle
Madagascan fish eagle

Haliaeetus vociferoides
Haliaeetus vociferoides#Translingual

Madagascan fish eagle (Haliaeetus vociferoides)


atody

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *qateluR. Compare Malay telur.


ampahavalony

ampaha- (“prefix used to form reciprocal fractions from numbers”) + valo (“eight”) + -ny


angy

(dialectal, Taimoro) ornament; embellishment


fanasana tsinay

fanasana (“washing”) + tsinay (“intestines”)


androbe

andro (“day”) + be (“great”). Epileptic attacks are said to be most prevalent during midday.


famonoan-tsoratra

famonoana (“erasing, extinguishing”) + soratra (“inscription”)


famakifary

(dialectal) eye teeth (canine teeth of the upper jaw)


anakandrianify

(dialectal) eyetooth (canine teeth of the upper jaw)


fahamarinana

From marina (“level, true, just”), from arina (“uprightness, levelness”).


bemanana

a species of large bird of prey like a hawk or falcon


antorabody

the act of landing on one's rear after falling


refy

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *dəpah, from Proto-Austronesian *dəpah. Compare Tagalog dipa.


ampahadiminy

ampaha- (“prefix used to form reciprocal fractions from numbers”) + dimy (“five”) + -ny


amontana

the giant-leaved fig tree (Ficus lutea, syn. Ficus baronii)


afovato

flint (piece of flint rock scraped to produce a spark)


dary

(Betsileo) a variety of tobacco with particularly large, thick leaves and a strong taste


bararaka

The plant names are due to these plants acting as an emetic.

(Betsimisaraka) beach cabbage (Scaevola taccada)


bararaka

(Betsimisaraka) the plant Dillenia triquetra


boadaka

(dialectal, Tankarana) a kind of edible tuber


antsoly

(dialectal, Sakalava) plants in the genus Phyllanthus


fanihy

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *paniki. Compare Tagalog paniki.


nify

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *nipən, from Proto-Austronesian *nipən.


araka

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *aRak (“walk single-file; be positioned one behind the other”).


ahonahona

Reduplication of ahona (“a sudden stop”)


baolina kitra

baolina (“ball, ball game”) + kitra (“words of excitation”)


anjady

(dialectal) a share; a part of one's responsibility; a fortune


fanambaniny

the bottom, lower parts or underside of something


ampahefany

ampaha- (“prefix used to form reciprocal fractions from numbers”) + efatra (“four”) + -ny


amboahaolo

Eupleres goudotii
Wikispecies:Eupleres goudotii


iraimbilanja

→ English: iraimbilanja


baham-bava

bahana (“barrier, hindrance”) + vava (“mouth”)


boerika

words and expressions which are not understood, either gibberish or provincialisms


fakamalao

(Betsileo) cream garland-lily (Hedychium flavescens)


fandikalalana

Madagascan nightjar (Caprimulgus madagascariensis)


ankoso-bolamena

ankosotra (“plating; coating”) + volamena (“gold”)


arosy

Sarkidiornis melanotos
Sarkidiornis melanotos#Translingual

knob-billed duck (Sarkidiornis melanotos)


fandrasangara

Accipiter henstii
Accipiter henstii#Translingual


daronambolo

(Betsimisaraka) palm saplings, especially those of Dypsis procumbens(syn. Neophloga mananjarensis)


vivy

Tachybaptus pelzelnii
Tachybaptus pelzelnii#Translingual

grebes, especially the Madagascan grebe (Tachybaptus pelzelnii)


takatra

Scopus umbretta
Scopus umbretta#Translingual


fandrasalambo

Polyboroides radiatus
Polyboroides radiatus#Translingual

Madagascan harrier-hawk (Polyboroides radiatus)


lanitra

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *laŋit, from Proto-Austronesian *laŋiC. Compare Malay langit, Ma'anyan langit, Maori rangi.


dangoro

Ardea purpurea
Ardea purpurea#Translingual


lavaelatra

Falco concolor
Falco concolor#Translingual


volana

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *bulan, from Proto-Austronesian *bulaN.


faham-bahiny

fahana (“support, food given to guests”) + vahiny (“stranger”)


ankohonana

a household (house and its occupants regarded as a unit)


ampahazatony

ampaha- (“prefix used to form reciprocal fractions from numbers”) + zato (“one hundred”) + -ny


hidirôzenina

From English hydrogen or French hydrogène.


ranomandry

From rano (“water”) + mandry (“frozen”). Compare Indonesian air beku.


fanaloka

Likely related to Malay pelanduk (“mousedeer”) through metathesis.

Malagasy civet, striped civet (Fossa fossana) (civet-like mammal endemic to Madagascar)


bolody

(dialectal) Synonym of bolidy (“concealment”)


bolody

The sweet potatoes are so called because they are believed to make those who consume it slow and lazy.

(Tankarana, Taisaka) a variety of sweet potato with a light skin


baranahiny

indifference; heedlessness (lack of care)


bonabona

inflation or swelling resulting from disease


fahazavan-tsaina

fahazavana (“brightness, brilliance”) + saina (“mind, intellect”)


dika vilana

dika (“step”) + vilana (“crooked, warped”)


ankola-bolana

ankolaka (“indirection”) + volana (“speech”)


ampalibe

ampaly (“Streblus mauritianus”) + be (“big”)


akanjo baliaka

akanjo (“clothing”) + baliaka (“open; wide”)

a kind of spencer or jacket which is open in the front


andriambaventy

andriana (“nobility; sovereign”) + vaventy (“great; honourable”)


ala mikitroka

From ala (“forest”) + mikitroka (“to be thick or close together”).


demoka

(Betsimisaraka) the tree Beilschmiedia velutina


andriamanjaka

andriana (“nobility”) + manjaka (“to reign”)


ampelandohalika

ampela + lohalika ("spindle of the knee")


farihy

→ Swahili: mfereji

From (Western) Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *paʀigi.


fanasan-damba

fanasana (“washing”) + lamba (“cloth, lamba”)


dimaty

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *qali-matek. Compare Cebuano alimatok, Thai ทาก (tâak).


baon-dranjo

(dialectal) shin (lower part of the leg from the knee to the foot)


arira

legend, tales and superstitions of a particular ethnic population.


bokolona

(dialectal) one who is habituated to immoral conduct; a rake, a libertine


afokasoka

afo (“fire”) + kasoka (“the act of rubbing”), i.e. "that which is rubbed [to produce] fire"


ahitra

(figuratively) the common people; the commoners


andilana

(dialectal, geography) isthmus (narrow strip of land connecting two landmasses)


akanjo tsy lena

akanjo (“clothing”) + tsy (“no; not”) + lena (“wet”), "clothing [which] does not [get] wet"

a waterproof outer garment (e.g. a raincoat)


andriamby

andriana (“sovereign”) + vy (“iron”); "sovereign of iron"


lahy

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian. Compare Malay laki, Tagalog laki.

male (belonging or referring to the sex having the smaller gametes (of humans))


alan-konko

ala (“forest”) + honko (“mangrove tree”)


entam-barotra

entana (“burden, baggage”) + varotra (“trade, commerce”)

merchandise (commodities offered for sale)


bobongolo

(Tankarana) a wild animal similar to a cat


baorina

milestone (stone milepost placed on the side of paths)


bakaka

(Sakalava) Johnson grass (Sorghum halepense)

Sorghum bicolor
Sorghum bicolor#Translingual


zavona

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *ʀabun. Compare Old Javanese hĕbun, ĕbun, ambun (“cloud”), Malay rabun and Central Dusun gavun.


andriamatoa

From andriana (“nobility”) + matoa (“firstborn”)

compound

a title of respect for the eldest male in a family


head

vehivavy lehibe mikarakara ny tokantrano


alatsinainy

From Arabic الِاثْنَيْنِ.

bor

الِاثْنَيْنِ

Arabic الِاثْنَيْنِ


boky boky

narrow-striped mongoose (Mungotictis decemlineata)


gidro

From Swahili ngedere or Arabic قِرْد (“monkey”)


diam-panjava

dia (“step, journey, track”) + fanjava (“moon”)


antsanga

sediment deposited by a flood or a stream


ozatra

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *uʀat, from Proto-Austronesian *huʀaC.


zavamaneno

zavatra + neno, "thing which makes sound"


foitra

Inherited from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *pusəj.


anaram-bosotra

nickname (familiar, invented given name)


ampahasivy

ampaha- (“prefix used to form reciprocal fractions from numbers”) + sivy (“nine”)


andriana

[ˈaⁿɖ͡ʐiən(ə̥)]

[ˈaⁿɖ͡ʐen(ə̥)]

Clipping of randriana from Old Javanese rahadyan or hadyan (compare with Javanese raden).


avaratra

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *habaRat (“southwest monsoon”), from Proto-Austronesian *SabaRat (“south wind”). Compare Malay barat (“west”).


ala voady

ala (“without; freed from”) + voady (“vow”)


bohy

(Tankarana, Sakalava) any member of the genus Commiphora of plants


fahatafintohinana

From tafintohina (“offended, tripped, stumbling”).


fambara

From ambara (“told; declared; revealed”).


fahaporetana

From poritra (“squeezed, crushed, embarrassed”).


ankolany

(dialectal) litter, sedan chair (bed, couch, or chair raised on poles as a mode of transport)


befelatanana

be (“big, great”) + felatanana (“palm of the hand”)

the palm trees Borassus madagascariensis and Bismarckia nobilis


falafa

midribs of banana or traveller's palm leaves

(by extension) wall panels or partitions made from these midribs


alain-jazabodo

From zazabodo (“young child”), as young children are unable to drive sharp bargains.


fahaverezana

From vereza, the imperative form of very.


vonenina

Madagascar periwinkle
Madagascar periwinkle

Catharanthus roseus
Catharanthus roseus#Translingual

rosy periwinkle, Madagascar periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus)


ava-peo

avaka (“separation; distinction”) + feo (“voice”)


banjana

(Tankarana) plain (large area of flat land with few trees)


angadinomby

angady (“spade”) + omby (“cattle”); "spade for cattle"


ampongabendanitra

Sometimes interpreted as amponga + be + lanitra, "great drum of heaven", but in reality from English pomegranate.


trandraka

→ French: tanrec

→ English: tenrec

Possibly related to Malay landak ("porcupine")

Tenrec ecaudatus
Wikispecies:Tenrec ecaudatus


bakilam-bilany

bakilana (“piece, scrap, fragment”) + vilany (“pot”)


fahan-kanina

a present (usually money) made to the near relatives or the chief mourners before a funeral


babaka

(Betsimisaraka, Sakalava, Tankarana) pumpkin


anakandriamaso

anakandriana + maso, "prince of the eye"


afofandiovana

From afo (“fire; calamity”) + fandiovana (“cleansing; purifying”).


kibobo

Turnix nigricollis
Turnix nigricollis#Translingual

the Madagascan buttonquail (Turnix nigricollis)


adin' andriana

[ˈadn̩ʲ ˌaⁿɖ͡ʐiən(ə̥)]

[ˈadn̩ʲ ˌaⁿɖ͡ʐen(ə̥)]

ady + andriana, literally “war of the nobility”

af

a quarrel in which both parties show great respect for each other


bakilan-damba

bakilana (“piece, scrap, fragment”) + lamba


famandrihana

reservation (for a seat, hotel room, etc.)


basy poleta

basy (“gun”) + poleta (“pistol”), the latter component from French pistolet.


antsantsa

(figurative, dialectal) robber who robs travelers


antsantsa

(dialectal) a kind of small green lizard


bonaka

Synonym of bonabona (“swelling from disease”)

(Betsileo) a kind of rapid-growing sweet potato


bary andro

bary (“open and expressive (eyes)”) + andro (“day”)


ampaly

Any plant of species Ficus politoria (syn. Ficus soroceoides), whose leaves are rough like sandpaper

(dialectal) any plant of species Ampalis mauritiana (syn. Streblus mauritianus)

(dialectal) any plant of species Campylospermum obtusifolium


dingadingana

(Tankarana) the plant Dombeya linearifolia


akoran-dranomasina

akora (“shell of an animal”) + ranomasina (“sea”)


taona

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *taqun (compare Maori tau, Indonesian tahun).


ahidrano

ahitra (“grass; herbaceous plant”) + rano (“water”). The first three senses are due to the plants growing in wet, muddy areas.

antelope grass (Echinochloa pyramidalis)


dilatra

(Bezanozano) the plant Leptolaena multiflora


ampahafitony

ampaha- (“prefix used to form reciprocal fractions from numbers”) + fito (“seven”) + -ny


amboara

From voara (“bundle of young rice plants for transplanting”).

sheaf (tied-up bundle of cut grain stalks)


besavily

be (“big, great”) + savily (“hinge”), referring to the swinging of its tail.


vaovao

Reduplication of vao, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *(ma-)baqəʀu, from Proto-Austronesian *(ma-)baqəʀuh. Cognate with Indonesian baru.


bandrolahy

(dialectal) hook-billed vanga (Vanga curvirostris)


famahanantenona

famahanana (“supporting”) + tenona (“weaving”)


baikon' ny moana

baiko (“foreign word; command”) + ny (“the”) + moana (“mute”), "commands/foreign words of the mute"


bibindandy

biby (“animal”) + landy (“silk, silkworm”)


anabavy

female relative of a male who belongs to the same generation


ampaheniny

ampaha- (“prefix used to form reciprocal fractions from numbers”) + enina (“six”) + -ny


matory

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *ma-tuduR, from Proto-Austronesian *ma-tuduR.


ba-tongotra

ba (“stockings, sock”) + tongotra (“foot”)


masoandro

From maso (“eye”) + andro (“day”). Compare Ma'anyan mateanrau (“eye+day: sun”).


azary

(dialectal, Tankarana) sorcery, witchcraft


aretin-tenda

diseases of the throat, such as a sore throat or pharyngitis


ampelasalasala

ampela (“spindle”) + salasala (“of medium size; middling”)


deboka

splash (sound of an object hitting water)


efa-joro

efatra (“four”) + zoro (“corner, angle”)


antehe

(dialectal, Sakalava) starboard (right side of a watercraft when one is facing forward)


falamakavava

Anastomus lamelligerus
Anastomus lamelligerus#Translingual

(Tanala) African openbill (Anastomus lamelligerus)


fary

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *pajay (“rice plant”), from Proto-Austronesian *pajay (“rice plant”). Doublet of vary (“paddy”). Compare Ma'anyan parei, Javanese pari, Malay padi and Tagalog palay.


bokotra mamy

From bokotra (“button”) + mamy (“sweet”).


andian-tantely

andia (“group of people or animals”) + tantely (“bee”)


fitiliandro

Malagasy palm swift (Cypsiurus gracilis)

Madagascan spinetail (Zoonavena grandidieri)


dobo filomanasana

dobo (“pool”) + filomanasana (“swimming”)


antsavily

From savily (“hinge; the act of swinging on a hinge”).


mpampianatra

The agent noun of mampianatra (“teach”).


tsiriry

Madagascan grebe (Tachybaptus pelzelnii)

Tachybaptus ruficollis
Tachybaptus ruficollis#Translingual


ambaramaso

ambara (“to be revealed”) + maso (“eye”)


sokina

Haza sokina.

To hunt tenrecs (figuratively: to examine very carefully)

Setifer setosus
Setifer setosus#Translingual

the greater hedgehog tenrec, Setifer setosus


ampahafolony

ampaha- (“prefix used to form reciprocal fractions from numbers”) + folo (“ten”) + -ny


vorombato

Glareola ocularis
Glareola ocularis#Translingual

Madagascan pratincole (Glareola ocularis)


ampahatelony

ampaha- (“prefix used to form reciprocal fractions from numbers”) + telo (“three”) + -ny


farifotra

spectacled tetraka (Xanthomixis zosterops)


ampy

(dialectal) the plant Laportea humblotii (syn. Urera longifolia)


akanjo fanamiana

akanjo (“clothing”) + fanamiana (“uniform”)


bakoly kitsoloha

bakoly (“crockery”) + kitsoloha (“pointed, conical”)


fanaovana vaksiny

fanaovana (“means of effection”) + vaksiny (“vaccine”)


anamamy

anana (“leaf vegetable”) + mamy (“sweet”)

Solanum nigrum
Solanum nigrum#Translingual


asy

(dialectal, Tankarana, Taisaka) respect, veneration


botraro

(dialectal) a container for storing rice


akanjo bory tanana

akanjo (“clothing; shirt”) + bory (“shortened; cropped”) + tanana (“hand”)


manasa

Manasa ny tanako amin'ny savony aho


fanasana ati-doha

fanasana (“washing”) + ati-doha (“brain”)


betsimihilana

be (“big, great”) + tsy (“not”) + mihilana (“to incline”), referring to how the lily pad remains flat on the water surface.


alarobia

From Arabic الْأَرْبِعَاء (al-ʔarbiʕāʔ).

bor

الْأَرْبِعَاء

Arabic الْأَرْبِعَاء (al-ʔarbiʕāʔ)


tongasoa

Tongasoa eto Madagasikara.


trozona

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *duyuŋ (“dugong”).


fony

Inherited from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *punay.

inh+

Madagascan blue pigeon (Alectroenas madagascariensis), a species of pigeon, belonging to a genus peculiar to Madagascar.


bitsibitsika

Reduplication of bitsika (“whisper, murmur”)


ampelam-bantotra

ampela (“woman”) + vantotra (“one which has reached mature size”)


andefimandry

ana + lefitra + mandry, "the one lying on the other side [of the bed]"


divay

→ Swahili: divai


elatra

the opening or spreading out of a large piece of cloth (e.g. a lamba, a curtain


volonondry

volo (“hair”) + ondry (“sheep”), "sheep hair"


aniana

(dialectal, Betsimisaraka) yarn ready for weaving


jamoka

(dialectal, Tankarana) baskets stored on shelves as an ornament


teny

Inherited from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *tənəʀ (“sound; voice”).


amalo

Cognate with Malay malung. The "vanilla orchid" sense comes from the shape of its seed pods.

(dialectal, Sakalava) any native orchid of the Vanilla species


sifaka

→ Catalan: sifaca

→ English: sifaka

→ German: Sifaka


babakoto

→ English: babakoto, babacoote


vay

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *baʀəq (“abscess, boil, swelling on the body”).


vay

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *baʀah (“ember, glowing coal”).


malagasy

[ˌmalə̥ˈɡ̊aʃ]


endrina

→ English: indri

(dialectal) indri (Indri indri, species of lemur)


orona

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *ujuŋ, *ijuŋ, from Proto-Austronesian *mujiŋ. Compare Tagalog ilong, Malay hidung, Tsat thuŋ¹¹, Acehnese idông, Tetum inur, Hawaiian ihu.


filôzôfia

From English philosophy, from French philosophie.


ambangovangony

From vangovango (“draft; rough preparation”).


vavy

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *bahi, from Proto-Austronesian *bahi. Compare Ma'anyan wavey, Tagalog babae.


fanorona

→ English: fanorona

→ French: fanorona

The national game of Madagascar, a board game similar to checkers / draughts


avay

(dialectal, Betsimisaraka, Tankarana) shoulder


orkide

Borrowed from Greek ορχιδέα (orchidéa, “orchid”).


horita

→ French: ourite

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *kuʀita (“octopus”), from Proto-Austronesian *guʀiCa (“octopus”). Compare also Kavalan qlita, Paiwan guritsa, Malay kurita, Javanese gurita, Ilocano kurita, Cebuano kugita, Marshallese kweet, Fijian kuita.


voanio

Compound of voa (“fruit”) + nio (“coconut”), where the second element comes from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *niuʀ (“coconut”).


sorabe

From Arabic سورة (sūra, “writing”) + be (“large”).

af

Sorabe (an Arabic-based writing system for the Malagasy language)


antsangy

[əˈⁿt͡saᵑɡʲ]

From a Sabaki Bantu language; compare Swahili sengi (“elephant shrew”).


oloko

first-person singular possessive of olona


voalavo

Inherited from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *balabaw.


femba

From a Bantu language, ultimately from Proto-Bantu *mʊ̀pémbá (“millet”). Compare Shona nyemba (“cowpea”) and Chichewa nyemba (“bean”).


varifemba

Compound of vary (“rice”) + femba (“sorghum”).


fontsy

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *punti, from Proto-Austronesian *punti.


amboa

Borrowed from Swahili mbwa.
Malagasy is unusual among the Austronesian languages in that all its words for 'dog' are loanwords, derived from Bantu languages. All pre-colonial dogs in Madagascar are descended from dogs from mainland Africa. The initial Austronesian settlers of Madagascar certainly would have brought dogs with them, but these dogs may not have survived the voyage to Madagascar, or were genetically supplanted by mainland African dogs.


epistemolojia

Ny epistemolojia dia fianarana ny momba ny fahamarinana, mahafaoka ny hoe ahoana no ahafantarana hoe inona no marina. Ny epistemolojia dia mikasika ihany koa ny fomba hamantarana ireo loharano nipoiran’ny fahalalana.

2012, “CRE102 Tari-dalana mikasika ireo Fitsipi-pampianarana”, in IICM-MALAGASY-IOUM-MIN PERS, page 3:

~ Epistemology is the study of truth, which includes how to know what is right. Epistemology is also concerned with identifying the source of knowledge


fiantsifa

bluespine unicornfish
bluespine unicornfish

short-nose unicornfish
short-nose unicornfish

Naso unicornis
Wikispecies:Naso unicornis

bluespine unicornfish, short-nose unicornfish (Naso unicornis)


maky

desctree

→ French: maki
→ Catalan: maqui
→ English: maki
→ German: Maki
→ Italian: maki


aiay

→ English: aye-aye


ampongy

western woolly lemur (Avahi occidentalis)


voay

Inherited from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *buqaya. Compare Indonesian buaya.


tsidiala

hairy-eared dwarf lemur
hairy-eared dwarf lemur

hairy-eared dwarf lemur (Allocebus trichotis)


lamboresy

From lambo (“wild boar”) + resy (“defeated; conquered”).


kiky

Rallus madagascariensis
Rallus madagascariensis#Translingual

Madagascan rail, Rallus madagascariensis


vorondolo

From vorona (“bird”) + lolo (“ghost”). Compare Indonesian burung hantu (literally “ghost bird”).


pisopiso

The plants are believed to attract cats. From piso.

(dialectal) the plant Woodfordia fruticosa (fire-flame bush)

(dialectal) the plant Pemphis madagascariensis


papango

→ French: papangue

Circus macrosceles
Circus macrosceles#Translingual


ondry

Ultimately from a Central Sudanic language, in which it originally meant "goat".


ganagana

From French cane (“female duck”), plus reduplication.


vorombazaha

vorona (“bird”) + vazaha (“foreigner; white person”); "foreign bird".


vorombe

vorona (“bird”) + be (“big”); "big bird"


inty

Inherited from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *qitəm, via the metathised form *qimtə.


volamena

From vola (“silver metal”) + mena (“red”).


varika

Related to Banjarese warik (“monkey”) and Ma'anyan warik (“monkey”).


sahona

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *sa(ŋ)kuŋ (“resounding sound”).


antsipika

antsy (“knife”) + pika (“the click of a knife or lock”)


fitiliky

small-toothed sportive lemur (Lepilemur microdon)

weasel sportive lemur (Lepilemur mustelinus)


vositse

Malagasy giant rat (Hypogeomys antimena)


asetilkôlinina

From English acetylcholine or French acétylcholine.

(biochemistry) acetylcholine (a neurotransmitter in humans and other animals)


tandroka

horn (pointed keratin-based growth protruding from the head of certain animals)


ambiaty

Gymnanthemum appendiculatum (a species of flowering plant)


fotatra

Barringtonia asiatica
Barringtonia asiatica#Translingual

(Betsimisaraka, Tanosy) a large tree, Barringtonia asiatica (fish poison tree)


faitra

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *paqit, from Proto-Austronesian *paqiC.


mahatanando

maha- (causative prefix) + tana (“to grab, to hold”) + ando (“dew”)


sombily

Borrowed from Malay sembelih, sembeleh, possibly from Arabic بِٱسْمِ ٱللَّٰهِ (bismi llāhi, literally “in the name of God”). Compare Tagalog sumbáli.

der

بِٱسْمِ ٱللَّٰهِ

slaughter (killing of an animal for food)

(specifically) dhabihah (Muslim ritual slaughter)


rafiky

Either borrowed from Swahili rafiki or its source Arabic رَفِيق (rafīq, “companion”).


tanety

Borrowed from a South Sulawesi language, from Proto-South Sulawesi *tanete; compare Makasar tanete.


sodina

Borrowed from either Malay suling or Sundanese suling.


kiraru

Borrowed from Ndzwani Comorian *kilarú, earlier form of shilarú. Compare Swahili kiaru.

Alexander Adelaar
University of Hawai'i Press


vazaha

This word comes from the time of Queen Ranavalona I, who, in her desire for "Malagachisation" had foreigners listed (in Malagasy "list (make a census)" is called voazaha). Further linguistic etymology is unknown, with no known Austronesian cognates.


From "mifoka, miloka, migoka, mivarotena" ("To smoke, gamble, drink, prostitute oneself")


tandrondro

Clipping of sangoritra, variant of sangorina (“to cut”), in reference to its quick thrusting tongue, and rondra (“to crawl”)


fengoka

From faingoka related to faraingo variant of baraingo, from bingo (“crooked”) (compare with Malay bengkok)


alamboronala

From halamborona; compound of halamborona (“Albizia polyphylla”) + ala (“forest”)

Delonix regia
Delonix regia#Translingual

Any Delonix species especially Delonix regia (royal poinciana, flamboyant)