Imperative: Feminine Plural

Arabic verbs change based on gender and number. For the imperative, we only care about the person in front of us. We call this the second person. When that group is entirely female, we need a specific ending. In English, we just say "Go!" or "Eat!" for everyone. Arabic is much more specific and beautiful. It uses a special suffix called the Nun al-Niswa. This is a na sound at the end of the verb. It tells everyone exactly who you are addressing. It avoids any confusion in a busy room. If you see a group of ladies, this is your go-to tool. It is like a verbal laser pointer for a specific group. Even if there are a hundred women, this one form covers them all.

1. 1Building this verb is like following a simple recipe. You start with what you already know: the present tense. Follow these steps to get it right every time:
2. 2Start with the present tense for "you plural feminine" (antunna). For example, taktubna (you all write).
3. 3Remove the first letter ta. This ta is only for the present tense. Now you have ktubna.
4. 4Look at the first letter left. If it has no vowel (a sukūn), you need a helper. We add an alif at the start.
5. 5Give that alif a vowel. Usually, it is a kasra (an "i" sound) like iktubna. If the middle letter of the original verb has an "u" sound, the alif gets an "u" too.
6. 6Keep the na at the end. Unlike the masculine plural, the na never leaves. It is loyal and stays put!

Use this whenever you address two or more women directly. Imagine you are at a restaurant with your female cousins. You want them to try the hummus. You would use this form to say "Eat!". Use it when giving directions to a group of female tourists. "Turn left here, ladies!" It is perfect for a female boss leading her team. Use it in recipes when writing for a female audience. It is very common in school settings with female students. Basically, if the group is 100% women, this is your form. It shows respect and grammatical accuracy. It makes you sound like a pro who respects the language's nuances.

Do not use this if there is even one man in the group. Arabic grammar usually defaults to the masculine plural for mixed groups. If you are talking to just one woman, use the feminine singular instead. Don't use it for people who are not there. The imperative is only for the people right in front of you. It is a direct "you" command. Also, don't use it in very formal writing where you might use a softer suggestion. This is a direct command or request. It is like a grammar traffic light; it tells people exactly when to go or stop.

One big mistake is dropping the na at the end. Students often confuse this with the masculine plural. In the masculine, the nuun often disappears. In the feminine plural, it must stay! Another mistake is using the wrong starting vowel. If you say aktubna instead of uktubna, people might still understand, but it sounds a bit off. Yes, even native speakers might slip up in fast speech, but you want to be better. Some people forget to add the helper alif. Trying to say ktubna without the i at the start is hard for the tongue. It's like trying to start a car in fourth gear. Give it that little alif boost to get the sound moving.

Compare this to the masculine plural uktubū. Notice the masculine ends in a long "oo" sound. The feminine ends in a short, snappy na. The masculine often adds a silent alif at the very end. The feminine does not. Contrast it also with the feminine singular uktubī. That ends in a long "ee" sound. The plural version uktubna is much more energetic. It has a rhythmic quality to it. Think of the masculine plural as a long wave and the feminine plural as a quick pulse. Both are useful, but they live in different neighborhoods of the grammar map.