Makao makuu ni makubwa.

to be

Breakdown of Makao makuu ni makubwa.

• kubwa: big
• makao makuu: the headquarters

Questions & Answers about Makao makuu ni makubwa.

Why are there two words, makao makuu, for what seems like one idea?

Because makao makuu is a fixed Swahili expression meaning headquarters.

• makao means something like residence, quarters, accommodation, base
• makuu is the agreeing form of -kuu, which can mean main, chief, principal, important

So literally, the phrase is roughly main quarters or chief residence(s), but in normal usage it means headquarters.

Why do both makao and makuu start with ma-?

That is because of noun class agreement, which is a very important part of Swahili grammar.

makao belongs to the ma-/ya- noun class (often called class 6), and words that describe it must agree with it.

So:

• makao = the noun
• makuu = adjective agreeing with that noun
• makubwa = another adjective also agreeing with that noun

The ma- you see is part of that agreement pattern.

Why is makao plural-looking even though headquarters can refer to one place?