Makao makuu yako mjini.

The headquarters are in town.

Breakdown of Makao makuu yako mjini.

• kuwa: to be
• mjini: in town
• makao makuu: the headquarters

Questions & Answers about Makao makuu yako mjini.

What does makao makuu mean as a whole?

It is a fixed expression meaning headquarters.

Literally, makao relates to residence, quarters, or dwelling places, and makuu means main, chief, or principal. So the literal idea is something like main quarters, which is why it is used for headquarters.

Why are there two words, makao makuu, instead of just one?

Because Swahili often builds meanings with a noun plus an agreeing adjective.

Here:

• makao = quarters / residences
• makuu = main / chief

Together they make the set phrase makao makuu. It is best to learn it as one unit.

Why is it makuu and not just kuu?

Because adjectives in Swahili usually agree with the noun class of the noun they describe.

Makao belongs to noun class 6, and the adjective -kuu changes to match it:

• -kuu → makuu

So makao makuu is the grammatically matching form.

I learned yako as your. Is that what it means here?