Imperative: Feminine Singular

The imperative mood is all about the person standing right in front of you. In grammar terms, we call this the second person. Because we are focusing on the feminine singular, we are talking to one woman (anti). This grammar pattern is like a shortcut. You take a longer present tense verb and trim it down to its core. In English, we just say "Eat!" regardless of who we talk to. Arabic likes to be more specific and melodic. The feminine imperative is characterized by a long "ee" sound at the end. This is represented by the letter ya. This tiny letter does a lot of heavy lifting. It tells the listener exactly who the command is for. It also prevents any confusion with commands given to men. It is like a verbal name tag for your sentences. Even if you don't use the person's name, they know you mean them. It makes communication sharp, clear, and very efficient.

1. 1Creating this verb form is like following a simple recipe. You start with the present tense and perform a little "grammar surgery." Here is how you do it step-by-step:
2. 2Start with the present tense verb for "you" (feminine singular), like taktubina (you write).
3. 3Remove the prefix ta from the beginning of the word. Now you have ktubina.
4. 4Remove the na sound from the very end of the word. This leaves you with ktubi.
5. 5Check the first letter. Can you pronounce two consonants together at the start? Probably not.
6. 6If the first letter has a sukun (no vowel), add a helping Alif u or i at the start.
7. 7For our example, we add an u to get uktubi (write!).
8. 8Think of the Alif as a starter motor for your verb. If the verb can't start on its own, the Alif gives it a push. Most of the time, this Alif will take a kasra (i) sound. If the middle vowel of the original verb was u, the Alif takes an u sound. It sounds complicated, but your ears will start to prefer the correct melody quickly. Just remember: start with the present, cut the front, cut the na, and keep the ya.

You will use this pattern in almost every daily interaction with women. Imagine you are at a cafe with a female friend. You might say ishrabi (drink!) while offering her some tea. Or perhaps you are giving directions to a female tourist. You would tell her idkhuli (enter!) when pointing to a building. In a job interview, a female manager might tell you ijlisi (sit!). It is also very common in recipes or instructions written for a female audience. If you are a doctor speaking to a female patient, you would say iftahi (open!) followed by "your mouth." It is the standard way to give instructions in a direct way. It isn't always a "bossy" command; it is often just a helpful nudge. Use it with friends, family, and people younger than you. It keeps the conversation moving and gets things done without unnecessary fluff.

Timing and tone are everything in Arabic culture. You should avoid using the raw imperative with people of significantly higher status. If you are talking to your grandmother or a high-ranking official, use a request. Instead of saying "Give me!", try saying "Could you please give me?". Using the imperative alone can sometimes sound a bit too sharp or rude. It is like a grammar traffic light; sometimes you have to slow down. Also, never use this form for a group of people. If you are talking to two women or a mixed crowd, this singular form won't work. They will look at you like you've forgotten how to count! Finally, don't use it if you are talking to a man. Using the feminine suffix i for a man is a classic beginner mistake. It might lead to a few giggles, as it sounds like you are calling him a lady. Stick to the masculine form for the guys and keep the ya for the ladies.

Yes, even native speakers mess this up when they are in a rush! The most common trip-up is forgetting to remove the na from the end. Learners often say taktubina instead of uktubi. That sounds like you are just stating a fact ("you are writing") rather than giving an order. Another classic mistake is forgetting the ya altogether. If you say uktub, you are talking to a man. Your female friend might think you are talking to someone else behind her! Don't forget the helping Alif at the beginning. Trying to pronounce ktubi without the Alif is a great way to get a tongue tie. It sounds like you are trying to sneeze and talk at the same time. Lastly, watch your vowels. Putting an a sound on the Alif at the start (like aktubi) is a common error. It should almost always be i or u. Just listen to the rhythm, and you'll catch these mistakes before they happen.

It is helpful to compare this to the masculine singular imperative. The masculine version usually ends in a silent consonant (a sukun). For example, uktub (write, to a man) vs. uktubi (write, to a woman). Notice how the feminine version feels longer and softer because of the ya. This is a recurring theme in Arabic: feminine forms often add a long vowel. You should also distinguish this from the present tense. taktubina is a statement: "You are writing." uktubi is an action: "Write!" One describes the world; the other tries to change it. It is also different from the plural feminine imperative, which ends in na (like uktubna). That form is for a whole group of women. Think of the singular i as your laser-focused beam for one-person tasks. It is the most common form you'll use in one-on-one friendships.