Makwe language

{{Short description|Bantu language of Tanzania and Mozambique}}

{{Infobox language

|name=Makwe

|nativename=Kimakwe

|states=Mozambique, Tanzania

|region=Cabo Delgado Province, Mtwara Region

|speakers={{sigfig|147,700|2}}

|date=2009–2017

|ref=e26

|familycolor=Niger-Congo

|fam2=Atlantic–Congo

|fam3=Benue–Congo

|fam4=Bantoid

|fam5=Bantu

|fam6=Northeast Coast Bantu

|fam7=Sabaki

|fam8=Swahili

|iso3=ymk

|glotto=makw1236

|glottorefname=Makwe

|guthrie=G.402

}}

The Makwe or Macue language ({{lang|ymk|Kimakwe}}) is a close relative of Swahili spoken on the coast of the Cabo Delgado Province of Mozambique, and across the border in Mtwara Region of Tanzania. Although it shares high lexical similarity (60%) with Swahili, it is not intelligible with it, nor with its cousin Mwani. Arends et al. suggest it might turn out to be a Makonde–Swahili mixed language.{{cite book |last1=Arends |first1=Jacques |last2=Muysken |first2=Pieter |last3=Smith |first3=Norval |year=1995 |title=Pidgins and Creoles: An Introduction |isbn=9781556191695 |series=Creole Language Library |volume=15 |doi=10.1075/cll.15 |publisher=John Benjamins}}

A grammar of the Makwe language by Maud Devos was published in 2008.{{cite book |last=Devos |first=Maud |year=2008 |title=A Grammar of Makwe |publisher=LINCOM |isbn=978-3895861079}}