Antananarivo
/ɑ̃.ta.na.na.ʁi.vo/feminine
Antananarivo is the French name for the capital city of Madagascar. If unsure, use Antananarivo. Wiktionary also lists Tananarive.
Meaning: city (name)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Antananarivo | /ɑ̃.ta.na.na.ʁi.vo/ | feminine |
| Tananarive | /ta.na.na.ʁiv/ | feminine |
The word refers to the capital city of Madagascar. It is a feminine noun.
Which one should you use?
While Tananarive was the common French name for the city for a long time, Antananarivo is the current and preferred name used in modern French.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ɑ̃.ta.na.na.ʁi.vo/. It has 6 syllables.
Did you know?
- The name Antananarivo comes from the Malagasy words for 'city of the thousand', referring to the soldiers who guarded the royal compound.
- In casual speech, both French speakers and locals often shorten the long name to simply Tana.
- While French speakers often use the shorter Tananarive, this is increasingly seen as an outdated colonial-era relic in international diplomacy.
Examples in context
- Antananarivo est la capitale de Madagascar.Antananarivo is the capital of Madagascar.This sentence identifies Antananarivo as the capital of Madagascar.Tatoeba #8393180 by Adelpa, translation #5145071 by deniko
- Tu es déjà allé à Antananarivo?Have you ever been to Antananarivo?
- Je viens de réserver un billet pour Antananarivo.I just booked a ticket to Antananarivo.
- Antananarivo est une ville fascinante avec une riche histoire.Antananarivo is a fascinating city with a rich history.
- Je dois me rendre à Antananarivo demain.I have to go to Antananarivo tomorrow.
- Est-ce que tu aimes vivre à Antananarivo ?Do you like living in Antananarivo?
Example conversation
Gabriel and Manon are planning a trip together.
- GabrielOù veux-tu aller pour tes vacances, Manon ?Where do you want to go for your vacation, Manon?
- ManonJ'aimerais beaucoup aller à Antananarivo.I would really like to go to Antananarivo.
- GabrielC'est une excellente idée !That is an excellent idea!
- ManonOn réserve les billets demain ?Shall we book the tickets tomorrow?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “antananarivo” translations and entries Antananarivo, Tananarive, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
