Saiwa da reshe suna da ƙarfi.

Yes:

• saiwa = root
• da = and
• reshe = branch
• suna da = they have / they are with
• ƙarfi = strength, force

So the structure is basically:

• saiwa da reshe = root and branch
• suna da ƙarfi = they have strength → natural English: they are strong

Because da has more than one job in Hausa.

Here:

• the first da joins two nouns: saiwa da reshe = root and branch
• the second da is part of the pattern suna da ... = they have ...

So even though the same word appears twice, it is doing two different things.

Because the subject is plural in meaning.

Saiwa da reshe names two things together, so Hausa treats that as plural. That is why the sentence uses suna, the plural present-tense form for they in this kind of clause.

Compare the idea:

• one thing → singular form
• two things together → plural form

So suna matches the combined subject saiwa da reshe.

It is basically a noun meaning strength or force.

But Hausa often uses a pattern like da + noun to express a quality. So:

• suna da ƙarfi literally = they have strength
• natural English = they are strong

So in this sentence, ƙarfi behaves like the source of the meaning strong, even though it is not a simple adjective in the same way English uses strong.

Because Hausa does not always use a direct equivalent of English are in this type of sentence.

Instead of saying something exactly like roots and branches are strong, Hausa often says something closer to:

• roots and branches have strength

That is normal Hausa structure. So nothing is missing.

A learner often expects both nouns to look plural, but Hausa does not always mark plurality on every noun in a sentence.

In this example, the plural idea is already clear from:

• the coordinated subject saiwa da reshe
• the plural agreement in suna

So the sentence can keep the nouns in their basic forms. In other contexts, Hausa can use explicit plural noun forms too, but it does not have to do so every time.

Hausa does not have mandatory articles like English a/an and the.

That means the exact English article usually comes from context. The Hausa sentence itself does not force just one choice.

Because this sentence has a plural predicate with suna, the most natural English reading is something like:

• roots and branches are strong
• or the roots and branches are strong

Which one you choose depends on the situation.

Usually, simple da is enough for and.

So saiwa da reshe is the normal, straightforward way to say root and branch.

da kuma can also mean and / and also, but it often sounds more marked or more emphatic. In a short basic coordination like this, plain da is the most natural choice.

ƙ is not the same as ordinary k.

It is a stronger Hausa consonant, often described as an ejective k. For an English speaker, the easiest practical advice is:

• pronounce it like a firm, forceful k
• do not pronounce it like English q
• do not add a w sound

So ƙarfi is roughly pronounced like KAR-fi, but with a stronger k sound at the beginning.

Because that is the standard Hausa spelling.

In grammar explanations, you may see people talk about its internal parts, but when you write normal Hausa, you write suna as one word.

So for learners, the safest habit is simply:

• write suna
• learn it as the plural present form used here

Not always. A literal translation can help you understand the grammar, but a natural English translation is often better.

So:

• literal: they have strength
• natural: they are strong

Both are useful, but they serve different purposes:

• the literal version helps you see the Hausa structure
• the natural version gives the best English sentence