Vezo is a dialect of Malagasy spoken by Vezo in the provinces of Mahajanga and Toliara. It is among southern dialects of Malagasy along with Southern Sakalava, Masikoro, Tandroy, Mahafaly,Bara and Tanosy.
Classification Vezo dialect belongs to the Austronesian language family. Vezo language is very close to Southern sakalava and Masikoro.
Geographic distribution The Vezo dialect is predominantly spoken by the nomadic Vezo ethnic group and is the primary dialect in the city of Toliara. It is mainly used along the coastal areas of Atsimo-Andrefana, Menabe, and Androy. The map is placed before the numbered pages.
Vocabulary Numerals English Malagasy Standard Vezo One Iray / Isa Two Roa Three Telo Four Efatra Five Dimy Six Enina Seven Fito Eight Valo Nine Sivy Ten Folo Hundred Zato Thousand Arivo Ten thousand Iray alina One hundred thousand Iray hetsy One million Tapitrisa One billion Lavitrisa
Animals English Malagasy Standard Vezo Animal Biby Bird Vorona Fish Trondro Chicken Akoho Cow Omby Ant Vitsika Tortoise Sokatra Octopus Horita Goose Gisa Crab Drakaka Goat Osy Serpent Bibilava Sheep Ondry Shrimp Orana Tiger Tigra Direction English Malagasy Standard Vezo East Atsinanana West Andrefana North Avaratra South Atsimo
Interrogative words English Malagasy Standard Vezo What? Inona? Who? Iza? Where? Aiza? Why? Nahoana?
Time English Malagasy Standard Vezo Yesterday Omaly Today Androany Tomorrow Rahampitso Month Volana Fruits and Vegetables English Malagasy Standard Vezo Avocado Zavoka Banana Akondro Bean Tsaramaso Carrot Karôty Cassava Mangahazo Chinese cabbage Petsay Coconut Voanio Corn Katsaka Cucumber Concombre Eggplant Baranjely Grape Voaloboka Guava Goavy Lychee Litchi Onion Tongolo Papaya Papay Pineapple Mananasy Potato Ovy Rice Vary Sugar cane Fary Sweet potato Vomanga Tomato Voatabia
Expressions English Malagasy Standard Vezo Where do you live ? Aiza anao no mipetraka ? I live in Atsinengeha Izaho dia mipetraka any Atsinengeha How old are you ? Firy taona anao ? I am 9 years old Sivy taona izaho Where are you from ? Avy aiza anao ? I am from Toliara Avy any Toliary izaho I can speak English and Vezo language Mahay miteny angilisy sy Vezo izaho
References