Learn Hardcore Swahili: Asha anajaribu kupika chapati bila mafuta leo. - Asha is trying to cook chapati without oil today.

It means "is trying". The verb is formed by adding the subject prefix a- (which agrees with a third-person singular subject like Asha) to the root jaribu, indicating that Asha is in the process of attempting something.

Why is the verb kupika in its infinitive form here?

In Swahili, when one verb follows another (often a modal or auxiliary verb like anajaribu), the second verb is typically in its infinitive form. Here, kupika means "to cook", showing that what Asha is trying to do is cook chapati.

What does the word chapati refer to?

Chapati is a type of flatbread widely eaten in East Africa. Although the word is borrowed from Indian cuisine, it is used in Swahili as is, referring to that specific kind of bread.

How do the words bila and mafuta function in the sentence?

Bila means "without", and mafuta translates to "oil". Together, bila mafuta tells us that the chapati is being cooked without oil.

What does leo add to the meaning of the sentence?

Leo means "today". It provides a time context for the action, indicating that all of this is happening on the current day.

How is subject-verb agreement shown in this sentence?

Swahili incorporates the subject into the verb. In anajaribu, the prefix a- signifies that the subject is third-person singular, which matches the subject Asha. This shows how the language connects the subject directly with the verb.

What is the overall word order of the sentence and why is it important?

The sentence follows a typical Swahili word order: Subject (Asha) + Verb (anajaribu) + Infinitive Verb (kupika) + Object (chapati) + Adverbial Phrase (bila mafuta leo). This structure clearly communicates who is performing the action, what the action is, what is affected, and under what conditions or when it is taking place.