Madagascar

Antananarivo is the correct capital of Madagascar; the other options are common misspellings. Known locally as “Tana,” it’s the country’s political and economic hub, perched in the central highlands rather than on the coast. The name Antananarivo means “City of a Thousand,” referring to the thousand soldiers King Andrianjaka stationed there in the 17th century, and its hilltop Rova (Queen’s Palace) reflects its Merina-kingdom roots. Memory tip: Madagascar’s capital contains “arivo” (thousand)—Antananarivo—so think “a thousand reasons to remember Tana.” Also note the rhythm ana-na-na-ri-vo; keep the final “-rivo,” not “-ribo,” “-nave,” or “-navar.”