Learn Hardcore Swahili: Mimi ninajibu swali kwa ujasiri darasani. - I answer a question with courage in the classroom.

Emphasize who is doing it:
- Mimi ninajibu swali… (I’m the one answering, not them.)
Contrast people:
- Mimi ninajibu swali, yeye hasemi chochote.
  I am answering the question, he/she isn’t saying anything.

So:

With emphasis: Mimi ninajibu…
Neutral, everyday speech: Ninajibu…

How is ninajibu formed, exactly? What are the parts of this verb?

Ninajibu is one word made of several pieces:

ni- = subject prefix “I”
-na- = present tense marker (present/habitual)
-jibu = verb root “answer”

So: ni- + -na- + -jibu → ninajibu

This pattern is very productive in Swahili:

ni-na-soma → ninasoma = I read / I am reading
u-na-soma → unasoma = you read / you are reading
a-na-jibu → anajibu = he/she answers / is answering

In writing, they are written together as one verb word.

What’s the difference between ninajibu and nina jibu (with a space)?

The space actually changes the meaning:

ninajibu (one word)
- ni- (I) + -na- (present) + -jibu (to answer)
- Meaning: “I am answering / I answer.”
- Verb “to answer.”
nina jibu (two words)
- nina = “I have”
- jibu = “answer” (as a noun)
- Meaning: “I have an answer.”

So:

Ninajibu swali… = I am answering the question.
Nina jibu la swali… = I have an answer to the question.

For actions, keep it one word: ninajibu.

Does ninajibu mean “I answer” (habit) or “I am answering” (right now)?

Ninajibu can mean both, depending on context. The Swahili -na- present tense is a general imperfective:

For something happening right now:
- Sasa hivi ninajibu swali.
  Right now I am answering the question.
For something you do regularly / generally:
- Kila siku ninajibu maswali darasani.
  Every day I answer questions in class.

Swahili usually doesn’t separate “I answer” and “I am answering” as clearly as English; context and time expressions (like sasa hivi, kila siku, leo, etc.) show which meaning is intended.

How would I say “I will answer” or “I answered” instead of ninajibu?

You change the tense marker in the verb:

Future: “I will answer.”
- Subject ni-
  - future -ta-
    - root -jibu
- → Nitajibu.
- Nitajibu swali kwa ujasiri darasani.
  = I will answer the question confidently in class.
Past: “I answered.”
- Subject ni-
  - past -li-
    - root -jibu
- → Nilijibu.
- Nilijibu swali kwa ujasiri darasani.
  = I answered the question confidently in class.

So you can see the pattern:

ni-na-jibu → ninajibu = I answer / I am answering
ni-ta-jibu → nitajibu = I will answer
ni-li-jibu → nilijibu = I answered

Why is it swali (singular) here, and how do I say “questions”?

Swali means “question” (one question). Its plural is maswali (“questions”).

They belong to the Noun Class 5/6 pattern:

Class 5 (singular): often starts with ˉ or ji- / special form
Class 6 (plural): often starts with ma-

For this word:

swali = a question (singular)
maswali = questions (plural)

So:

Ninajibu swali. = I am answering a/the question.
Ninajibu maswali. = I am answering questions.

The sentence you gave has one question, therefore swali.

What does kwa ujasiri literally mean, and why use kwa + a noun for “confidently”?

Literally:

kwa = by / with / in (a general preposition for manner, means, etc.)
ujasiri = courage, bravery, confidence (an abstract noun)

So kwa ujasiri literally = “with courage / with confidence”, and in natural English we say “confidently / bravely.”

Swahili often expresses adverbs (how something is done) using kwa + noun:

kwa haraka = quickly (with speed)
kwa upole = gently / politely (with gentleness)
kwa makini = carefully (with care/attention)

So kwa ujasiri fits the same pattern: it describes the manner of answering.

What is the difference between ujasiri and jasiri? Why does it start with u-?

They are related but not the same:

jasiri (adjective / descriptive): brave / courageous
- mtu jasiri = a brave person
- askari jasiri = a brave soldier
ujasiri (noun): bravery / courage / confidence (the quality)
- Ana ujasiri mwingi. = He/She has a lot of courage.
- Kwa ujasiri = with courage / confidently

The u- at the start of ujasiri marks an abstract noun (often Class 14). It turns the “brave” idea into “bravery” as a thing:

jasiri → ujasiri
(brave → bravery / courage)

In your sentence, you need a noun after kwa, not an adjective, so it must be ujasiri, not jasiri:

✔ kwa ujasiri
✖ kwa jasiri (ungrammatical here)

What’s the difference between darasa and darasani?

darasa = class / classroom (basic noun)
darasani = in (the) class / in the classroom

-ni is a locative suffix that often means “in / at / on” depending on the noun:

nyumba (house) → nyumbani = at home / in the house
shule (school) → shuleni = at school
darasa (classroom) → darasani = in the classroom

So in your sentence:

darasani = in class / in the classroom, which matches the English meaning.

If you just said Mimi ninajibu swali kwa ujasiri darasa, that would sound incomplete or wrong; you need darasani or a preposition like katika darasa.

Could I also say katika darasa instead of darasani?

Yes, you can:

Mimi ninajibu swali kwa ujasiri katika darasa.

This is grammatical and understandable. However:

darasani is shorter and more natural in everyday speech.
katika + noun is often a bit more formal or explicit, like saying “in the classroom” with a clear preposition.

So you have two options:

Everyday / natural: darasani
Also correct, a bit more formal: katika darasa

The meaning in this sentence is essentially the same: in class / in the classroom.

Can I move kwa ujasiri or darasani to another place in the sentence?

Yes, there is some flexibility in word order for these adverbial phrases, especially in speech, as long as the sentence remains clear. The “default” structure is:

Subject – Verb – Object – Manner – Place
Mimi ninajibu swali kwa ujasiri darasani.

Some reasonable variations:

Mimi ninajibu swali darasani kwa ujasiri.
Darasani ninajibu swali kwa ujasiri. (emphasis on “in class”)
Kwa ujasiri ninajibu swali darasani. (emphasis on “confidently”)

What you generally don’t do is separate the verb from its direct object in a strange way, like:

✖ Mimi ninajibu kwa ujasiri swali darasani. (sounds awkward)

Keeping swali close to ninajibu is most natural. Then add manner and place after.

Where are the words for “a” or “the” in this sentence? How do I know if it’s “a question” or “the question”?

Swahili does not use separate words for “a” or “the” like English does. There is no direct article equivalent.

In Mimi ninajibu swali kwa ujasiri darasani:

swali can mean “a question” or “the question”
darasani can mean “in a class” or “in the class”

Which one is meant is determined by context, shared knowledge, and sometimes by adding extra words:

To make it clearly specific, you might add more detail:
- Ninajibu swali lile kwa ujasiri darasani.
  I am answering that question confidently in class.
- Ninajibu swali la mwalimu.
  I am answering the teacher’s question.

If nothing special is said, swali just means “a/the question” and English must choose “a” or “the” according to what sounds natural in context.