kujaribu — to Try, Test | Swahili Grammar

Kujaribu covers two related ideas: making an attempt and putting something to a test. Jaribu kufungua mlango means “try to open the door,” whereas jaribu ufunguo huu means “try/test this key.” The first takes an infinitive naming the attempted action; the second takes a noun object affected by the test.

The citation form ends in lexical -u, not regular final -a. That vowel remains in the present negative, subjunctive, and singular imperative: sijaribu, nijaribu, jaribu. English speakers must therefore learn the Swahili stem as it is rather than conjugating an imagined jariba.

Complete practical paradigm

Form	I	you (sg.)	he/she	we	you (pl.)	they
present	ninajaribu	unajaribu	anajaribu	tunajaribu	mnajaribu	wanajaribu
past	nilijaribu	ulijaribu	alijaribu	tulijaribu	mlijaribu	walijaribu
perfect	nimejaribu	umejaribu	amejaribu	tumejaribu	mmejaribu	wamejaribu
future	nitajaribu	utajaribu	atajaribu	tutajaribu	mtajaribu	watajaribu
present negative	sijaribu	hujaribu	hajaribu	hatujaribu	hamjaribu	hawajaribu
past negative	sikujaribu	hukujaribu	hakujaribu	hatukujaribu	hamkujaribu	hawakujaribu
subjunctive	nijaribu	ujaribu	ajaribu	tujaribu	mjaribu	wajaribu

The representative builds are ni-na-jaribu → ninajaribu, si-jaribu → sijaribu, and ni-jaribu → nijaribu. The singular imperative is jaribu, the plural is jaribuni, and the prohibitions are usijaribu/msijaribu.

Ninajaribu kumaliza ripoti kabla umeme haujakatika tena.

I am trying to finish the report before the electricity goes off again.

Hawajaribu njia mpya kwa sababu vifaa vyao ni vya zamani.

They do not try new methods because their equipment is old.

Tujaribu kuzungumza naye kabla hatujafanya uamuzi.

Let us try to speak with her before we make a decision.

💡

Kujaribu belongs with borrowed-final verbs such as kujibu: its lexical -u stays in negative and subjunctive forms. Do not force the productive -a → -i/-e alternation onto it.

Attempting an action: jaribu + infinitive

When one person attempts an action, place its infinitive directly after kujaribu. English may say “try to repair” or “try repairing”; Standard Swahili normally uses the same jaribu kurekebisha frame.

Nilijaribu kumpigia fundi mara mbili, lakini simu yake haikupatikana.

I tried to call the technician twice, but his phone was unavailable.

Jaribu kupumzika kidogo kabla wageni hawajawasili.

Try to rest a little before the guests arrive.

Amejaribu kuhamisha kabati peke yake, lakini ni zito sana.

He has tried to move the cupboard by himself, but it is too heavy.

The attempted infinitive retains ku- because it names a second verbal event. There is no preposition corresponding to English “to.” For the wider range of infinitives and clauses after verbs, see complement options.

An imperative jaribu can encourage someone without guaranteeing success. In (informal) conversation, jaribu tena “try again” is neutral; hebu jaribu adds a conversational “go on, try.” (Formal) instructions often prefer the direct imperative or tafadhali jaribu.

Testing an object

With a noun object, kujaribu means test, try out, or check by use. A nonspecific object may follow without an object marker; a known or topical object readily takes its noun-class marker.

Fundi anajaribu breki kabla hajamrudishia mteja gari.

The mechanic is testing the brakes before returning the car to the customer.

Nimeleta kipaza sauti kipya; kijaribu kabla mkutano haujaanza.

I have brought a new microphone; test it before the meeting begins.

In ki-jaribu, class 7 object marker ki- refers to kipaza sauti. Commands containing an object marker use the same lexical final -u. The general placement of such markers is covered on the object-marker page.

Tulijaribu dawa hiyo kwa wagonjwa wachache chini ya uangalizi wa daktari.

We tested that medicine on a few patients under a doctor's supervision.

This is (formal/academic) research or clinical language. In everyday speech, “try a medicine” may instead mean take it to see whether it helps; context and professional safeguards matter.

Try, taste, and make an effort

English “try” spans several meanings that Swahili can distinguish. Use kuonja when the central action is tasting food or drink, and kujitahidi when the emphasis is sustained effort rather than one attempt.

Onja supu kwanza; ukiona haina chumvi, ongeza kidogo.

Taste the soup first; if you find it lacks salt, add a little.

Anajitahidi kufika kazini kwa wakati licha ya foleni.

She is making an effort to reach work on time despite the traffic.

Jaribu supu can mean try the soup, especially as an experience, but onja supu specifically asks for a taste. Ninajaribu kusoma reports an attempt; ninajitahidi kusoma presents continued exertion. These distinctions are neutral across (informal) and (formal) Standard Swahili.

💡

Ask what follows “try.” An action is normally an infinitive (jaribu kufungua); the item under test is an object (jaribu ufunguo); flavor-centered testing prefers onja.

Common Mistakes

Removing ku- from the attempted action

❌ Ninajaribu fungua dirisha lililokwama.

Incorrect — the attempted action must be an infinitive.

✅ Ninajaribu kufungua dirisha lililokwama.

I am trying to open the jammed window.

Changing lexical final -u in the negative

❌ Sijaribi tena kutumia nenosiri hilo.

Incorrect — kujaribu retains final -u in the present negative.

✅ Sijaribu tena kutumia nenosiri hilo.

I am not trying to use that password again.

Inserting an English-style preposition

⚠️ Tulijaribu kwa mashine mpya kabla ya kuinunua.

This means ‘we tried by means of a new machine,’ not ‘we tested the new machine’; the tested item must be a direct object.

✅ Tulijaribu mashine mpya kabla ya kuinunua.

We tested the new machine before buying it.

Using jaribu when taste is the intended test

⚠️ Jaribu kijiko kimoja cha mchuzi kuona kama una pilipili nyingi.

Possible as ‘try a spoonful,’ but imprecise for a deliberate taste check — use onja.

✅ Onja kijiko kimoja cha mchuzi kuona kama una pilipili nyingi.

Taste a spoonful of the sauce to see whether it has too much chili.

Key Takeaways

Kujaribu + infinitive expresses an attempted action; kujaribu + noun tests or tries an object.
Lexical final -u remains in sijaribu, nijaribu, and jaribu.
Known objects can be indexed: kijaribu “test it” for a class 7 noun.
Use kuonja for tasting and kujitahidi when sustained effort is central.

Now practice Swahili

Reading grammar gets you part of the way. The exercises are where it sticks — free, no signup needed.

Start learning Swahili →