Editor’s Note & Disclaimer: The core content and linguistic structure of this lesson were originally authored by Chris Hitchcock for the Team Maha website. This post is part of an effort to preserve, organize, and share these invaluable resources for Arabic learners worldwide.

The imperative mode (فعل الأمر) in Levantine Arabic (Shami) is one of the most visible dividing lines between Northern Levantine (Syrian/Lebanese) and Southern Levantine (Jordanian/Palestinian) dialects. However, these regional differences are confined almost entirely to Form I sound verbs.

In this lesson, we will cover how imperatives are formed across verb types, regional variations for Form I verbs, irregular commands, common pseudo-imperative interjections, and negative imperatives.

1. Non-Form I Verbs (Derived Forms II – X)

For all derived verb forms (Forms II through X), forming the imperative is simple across all Levantine regions: take the present subjunctive form and remove the person prefix.

• Form II: بتعلّم (b-t-3allam) → علّم (3allam! — ’learn!’) / علمي (3allmi! — ’teach!')
• Form V: بتتعلم (b-té-t3allam) → تعلم (t3allam! — ’learn!')
• Form VIII: بتشتغل (b-té-shteghl-u) → اشتغلو (shtéghlu! — ‘work!’)

(Note: In writing, an initial ا may be added before consonant clusters as in FuSHa, but it does not affect spoken pronunciation).

2. Form I Sound Verbs: Regional Divisions

For Form I sound verbs (three solid root consonants), regional dialects use two distinct formation strategies:

A. Southern Levantine (Jordanian / Palestinian)

Jordanian and Palestinian follow FuSHa patterns by dropping the present prefix and adding a short prefix vowel (i- or u-) depending on the stem vowel:

• افتح (ifta7! → ‘open!’)
• ادرس (udros! → ‘study!’)
• احكي (i7ki! → ‘speak!’)

B. Northern Levantine (Syrian / Lebanese)

Syrian and Lebanese do not add a prefix vowel to Form I sound verbs. Instead, for the masculine singular form, they lengthen the stem vowel:

• فتاح (ftaa7! → ‘open!’ — from yéfta7)
• دروس (droos! → ‘study!’ — from yédros)
• مسيك (mseek! → ’take / hold!’ — from yémsik)

In the feminine and plural forms, the stem vowel is not lengthened, nor is a prefix added:

• فتحي (fta7i! → ‘open!’ f.sg.)
• درسو (drésu! → ‘study!’ pl.)

Hollow and Defective Form I Verbs

For hollow (single middle long vowel) and defective (final vowel) Form I verbs, all Levantine dialects agree and use the present stem minus its prefix:

• قول (2uul! → ‘say!’)
• امشي (émshi! → ‘walk!’)

3. Irregular Imperatives

A few extremely high-frequency Form I verbs form their imperatives irregularly in Levantine Arabic:

A. اخد (akhad → ’to take’) and اكل (akal → ’to eat’)

• Take! → خود (khood! m.) / خدي (khédi! f.) / خدو (khédu! pl.)
• Eat! → كول (kool! m.) / كلي (kéli! f.) / كلو (kélu! pl.)

B. قعد (2é3ed → ’to sit’)

• Sit! → عود (3ood! m.) / عدي (3édi! f.) / عدو (3édu! pl.) (In Jordanian/Palestinian, the regular form اقعد / u23od is standard).

C. عطى (3aTa → ’to give’)

• Give! → عطي (3aTi! m.) / عطي (3aTi! f.) / عطو (3aTu! pl.)

D. اجى (eja → ’to come’)

The verb eja lacks a regular imperative and uses suppletive forms:

• Come! → تعال (ta3aal! m.) / تعالي (ta3aali! f.) / تعالو (ta3aalu! pl.)
• Shortened Syrian forms: تع (ta3!) / تعي (ta3i!) / تعو (ta3u!)

4. Pseudo-Imperatives and Useful Interjections

Several common conversational commands in Shami are non-verbal expressions or fixed phrases:

• هات / هاتي / هاتو (haat / haati / haatu → ‘give me / hand over’):
  • هات المصاري (haat élmaSaari → ‘hand over the money’)
• مكانك (makaanak! → ‘stop right where you are!’)
• ايدك (iidak! → ‘hands off! / put that down!’)

5. Negative Imperatives (“Don’t…!”)

Negative commands always use the second-person subjunctive form:

1. Universal: ما + Subjunctive
   • ما تروح (maa truu7! → ‘don’t go!’)
2. Syrian: لا + Subjunctive
   • لا تروح (laa truu7! → ‘don’t go!’)
3. Jordanian / Palestinian: Adding the -esh suffix:
   • متروحش (matruu7esh! → ‘don’t go!’)

What’s Next?

In Part #11, we will cover Participles in Levantine Arabic.