Hii ni mechi yetu ya sita ya mpira wa miguu, na tunajitahidi kushinda.

to be

Breakdown of Hii ni mechi yetu ya sita ya mpira wa miguu, na tunajitahidi kushinda.

• na: and
• yetu: our
• hii: this
• kushinda: to win
• mechi: the match
• sita: sixth
• kujitahidi: to strive

Questions & Answers about Hii ni mechi yetu ya sita ya mpira wa miguu, na tunajitahidi kushinda.

What does Hii mean in this sentence?

Hii translates to "this" in English. It is a demonstrative pronoun used to refer to something that is near the speaker or has just been mentioned.

What role does ni play in the sentence?

Ni functions as the copula in Swahili—it links the subject (Hii) with its complement (mechi yetu ya sita ya mpira wa miguu). In English, it’s equivalent to the verb “is.”

What does mechi mean in this context?

Mechi is a Swahili adaptation of the English word "match." It refers to a sports game, and in this instance, it specifically indicates a football (soccer) match.

How is possession and the ordinal number expressed in mechi yetu ya sita ya mpira wa miguu?

Possession is marked by yetu, which means "our." The linking word ya is used twice here: first, to connect mechi (match) with sita (sixth), indicating the order; and second, to link the ordinal phrase to mpira wa miguu (soccer). Together, this chain shows that it is our sixth soccer match.

What does mpira wa miguu literally translate to, and what does it refer to?

Mpira means "ball" and wa miguu means "of the feet." When combined, the phrase literally translates to "ball of the feet," which is the common Swahili term for soccer (or football).

What does tunajitahidi mean and how is it structured?

Tunajitahidi means "we are trying" or "we are striving." It is formed by the subject prefix tu- (meaning "we") attached to the verb jitahidi (to try or to strive). This structure conveys the ongoing effort of the speakers.

Why is kushinda in its infinitive form after tunajitahidi?

In Swahili, when a verb that expresses a desire, effort, or intention (like tunajitahidi, meaning "we are trying") is used, the following verb is typically kept in its infinitive form. Therefore, kushinda (meaning "to win") remains in the infinitive to indicate what the speakers are trying to achieve.