Malagasy

Malagasy: When the Power Goes Out 1

Practical Dialogue

Tapaka no jiro! The lights went out! jiro – light (noun), lightbulb, lamp, etc.
Nahoana no maty ny jiro?  Why did the lights go out? nahaona – why (question word)
Tsisy herinaratra! No electricity! herinaratra – electricity
Jirama!  Jirama! [The name of the Malagasy national power and water company.]
Indray?  Again?
Manana labozia ve ianao?  Do you have any candles? labozia – candles
Eny, manana aho.  Yes, I have [some].
Eny, manana baoritra misy labozia aho. Yes, I have box(es) of candles. baoritra – box(es)
Eny, manana labozia iray baoritra aho. Yes, I have one box of candles. labozia – carton/box
Manana afokasoka ve ianao?  Do you have matches? afokasoka – match(es)
Eny, manana tranon’afokasoka aho.  Yes, I have a matchbox. tranon’afokasoka – box of matches
Tsia, fa manana ity sigara sigara [sic] ity aho.  No, but I have this cigarette lighter. sigara sigara – cigarette lighter
Tokony hijanona amin’ny sigara ianao.  You should stop smoking. [Lit: You should stop with the cigarettes.] tokony – should

mijanona – to stop

Tsy mifoka aho! I don’t smoke! mifoka – to smoke [a cigarette]

Advanced

Nipoaka ny fuse elektrika ho an’ny tranoko.  The electrical fuse for my house exploded. fuse elektrika – electrical fuse

mipoaka (to explode)

Taorian’ny fipoahana dia tsy nanana jiro nandrita ny adiny dimy abin’ny folo izahay, saingy nanana jiro tokoa ny mpiara-monina.  After the explosion, we had no electricity for fifteen hours, but the neighbors did have electricity. fipoahana – explosion

 

Nialona aho. I was jealous. mialona (to be jealous)

 

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