Hili ni jaribio la pili, lakini nina hamu kubwa ya kufanikiwa.

This is the second attempt, but I have a great desire to succeed.

Breakdown of Hili ni jaribio la pili, lakini nina hamu kubwa ya kufanikiwa.

• ni: to be
• kuwa na: to have
• hili: this
• lakini: but
• hamu: the desire
• jaribio: the attempt
• pili: second
• kubwa: great
• kufanikiwa: to succeed

Questions & Answers about Hili ni jaribio la pili, lakini nina hamu kubwa ya kufanikiwa.

What does the demonstrative hili mean, and why is it placed at the beginning of the sentence?

Hili translates as “this” in English. It is used here to point directly to the noun that follows—in this case, jaribio (attempt). In Swahili, demonstratives like hili often precede the noun they modify to indicate a specific, identifiable object.

How is the phrase jaribio la pili constructed, and what does it signify?

The word jaribio means “attempt” or “trial.” The segment la pili functions as a qualifier, meaning “the second.” In this construction, the word la serves as a genitive or linking marker that connects the noun to its ordinal qualifier. Together, jaribio la pili translates to “the second attempt.”

What is the role of lakini in the sentence?

Lakini is a conjunction that means “but.” It is used to introduce a contrasting idea. Here, it connects the first part of the sentence, which states that this is only a second attempt, with the second part that expresses a strong internal drive. This contrast highlights that despite it being just the second try, there is considerable enthusiasm to succeed.

How is the phrase nina hamu formed, and what does it express?

Nina hamu is formed by combining the subject prefix ni- (meaning “I”) with the present tense marker -na, which together indicate the state of possessing something—in this case, hamu. The word hamu means “desire” or “eagerness.” Thus, nina hamu translates to “I have a desire” or “I feel eager.”

What does kubwa ya kufanikiwa mean, and how is it structured grammatically?

In the phrase kubwa ya kufanikiwa, the adjective kubwa means “big” or “great” and modifies hamu (desire) to indicate its intensity. The connector ya is a possessive or genitive marker that links the desire to the action that follows. The verb form kufanikiwa is an infinitive meaning “to succeed.” Overall, this segment conveys “a great desire to succeed.”

How does the word order in this Swahili sentence compare to typical English structure, particularly regarding adjectives and possessive markers?

In Swahili, adjectives and possessive markers generally follow the noun they modify. For example, in jaribio la pili, the noun jaribio (attempt) comes first, followed by la pili (the second). Similarly, in hamu kubwa ya kufanikiwa, the noun hamu (desire) is immediately followed by the adjective kubwa (great) and then the genitive phrase ya kufanikiwa (to succeed). This post-nominal placement contrasts with English, where adjectives typically come before the noun, highlighting one of the common structural differences between the two languages.