Some ethnic populations in MADAGASCAR have their own nicknames, although Encyclopedia Britannica (↗) notes that some of these nicknames are not true to their respective indigenous cultures. If anything, some of these seemingly innocent nicknames are carryovers from the time when France imposed its colonial rule on Madagascar. Nevertheless, we are given subtle insight into the daily lives, cultural traditions, and habitats of the various peoples of Madagascar because of these nicknames. Ethnic groups and their corresponding nicknames are listed in the table below. If there are others that I omitted, i would be greatly appreciative if you let me know with a comment below!
| ETHNIC GROUP | NICKNAME |
| Antaifasy | "people of the sand" |
| Antaimoro | "people of the banks" |
| Antakarana | "people of the rocks" |
| Antandroy | "people of the thorn bush" |
| Antanosy | "people of the island" |
| Betanimena | "people of the red soil" |
| Betsileo | "the invincible multitude" |
| Betsimisaraka | "the inseparable multitude" |
| Bezanozano | "those of many small plaits" or "those with many-braided hair" |
| Mahafaly | "those who make taboos" |
| Merina (Imerina) | "elevated people" |
| Sakalava | "people of the long valley" |
| Sihanaka | "people of the lake" |
| Tanala | "people of the forest" |
| Tsimihety | "those who do not cut their hair" |
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