محاولة

§ Don't confuse it with 'trying' in a continuous sense

The Arabic word محاولة (muḥāwalah) is a noun, meaning 'an attempt' or 'an effort.' A common mistake English speakers make is trying to use it where they would use the verb 'to try' in English, especially in a continuous sense. For example, you wouldn't say أنا محاولة (I am an attempt) to mean 'I am trying.'

§ Using it for 'testing' or 'sampling'

While 'attempt' can sometimes involve testing, محاولة isn't the best word for 'testing' in a general sense, like trying out a new product or sampling food. For those situations, other verbs or nouns are more appropriate.

Wrong

أريد أن أعمل محاولة لهذا الطعام الجديد. (I want to make an attempt for this new food.)

This sounds unnatural. You are trying to use a noun where a verb is needed for the action of tasting or trying food. Instead, you would use a verb like تجربة (tajribah - experiment/try out as a verb) or تذوق (tadhawoq - taste).

Right

أريد أن أجرب هذا الطعام الجديد. (I want to try this new food.)

Here, محاولة works because it refers to the *instance* of trying, the noun form of the action.

§ Incorrect usage with verbs

You often pair محاولة with the verb قام بـ (qām bi - to undertake, to carry out) or عمل (ʿamal - to do, to make) to form phrases like 'to make an attempt.' You wouldn't use it directly as the object of just any verb.

Wrong

هو يدرس محاولة النجاح. (He studies an attempt at success.)

This sentence structure is incorrect. If you want to say 'He is trying to succeed,' you would use the verb يحاول (yuḥāwil - he tries).

Right

هو يحاول النجاح. (He is trying to succeed.)

However, you can use محاولة as the object of certain verbs to convey the meaning of 'making an attempt.'

§ Overusing it in place of simpler verbs

Sometimes, English speakers might use محاولة in situations where a simpler verb would be more natural in Arabic. For instance, if you want to say 'I tried to open the door,' you would typically use the verb حاولت (ḥāwaltu - I tried) directly.

Less natural

قمت بـمحاولة لفتح الباب. (I made an attempt to open the door.)

More natural

حاولت فتح الباب. (I tried to open the door.)

Use محاولة when you specifically want to emphasize the noun 'attempt' or 'effort' as a distinct entity or event, rather than just the action of trying.

• It's a noun.
• It means 'an attempt' or 'an effort.'
• Use it with verbs like قام بـ or عمل to say 'make an attempt.'
• Don't use it for continuous 'trying' or general 'testing.'