Antananarivo ( or ; ), formerly French Tananarive ( or ; ), also known by its French colonial shorthand form Tana, is the capital and largest city in Madagascar. The larger urban area surrounding the city, known as Antananarivo-Renivohitra ("Antananarivo-Mother Hill" or "Antananarivo-Capital"), is the capital of Analamanga region. The city is located above the sea level in the center of the island, and has been the island's largest population center since at least the 18th century.