Skip to content

Malagasy

proper noun

  1. language spoken in Madagascar
L35259 on Wikidata ↗
  1. person from or resident of Madagascar (formerly the Malagasy Republic)
L717400 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /ˌmæləˈɡæsi/ / /ˌmæləˈɡeɪzi/ / /ˌmɑləˈɡɑsi/

adj

Etymology: From Malagasy malagasy, connected to Mālāī-Jezīra, “island of Mālāī”. Compare English Madagascar, which by folk etymology comes from Marco Polo's misreading of Mogadishu whereas it should be Arabic جَزِيرَة المَالَائِيّ (jazīrat al-mālāʔiyy, “the Island of Mālāī”).

  1. Of, from, or pertaining to Madagascar.
  2. Of or pertaining to the Malagasy people.
  3. Of, pertaining to or in the Malagasy language.

name

Etymology: From Malagasy malagasy, connected to Mālāī-Jezīra, “island of Mālāī”. Compare English Madagascar, which by folk etymology comes from Marco Polo's misreading of Mogadishu whereas it should be Arabic جَزِيرَة المَالَائِيّ (jazīrat al-mālāʔiyy, “the Island of Mālāī”).

  1. The languages of Madagascar or of the Malagasy people, when considered to be one language.
  2. The chief lect of this language or language group.

noun

Etymology: From Malagasy malagasy, connected to Mālāī-Jezīra, “island of Mālāī”. Compare English Madagascar, which by folk etymology comes from Marco Polo's misreading of Mogadishu whereas it should be Arabic جَزِيرَة المَالَائِيّ (jazīrat al-mālāʔiyy, “the Island of Mālāī”).

  1. A person from Madagascar or of Malagasy descent.