Let us translate a few Pali sentences into English and revise the usage of cases with respect to feminine nouns.

1. Vanitā araññaṃ gacchati.
   The woman goes to the forest.
   vanitā = nominative singular (subject) The verb gacchati (ending in ‘ti’) indicates that the subject is singular.
2. Vanitā uyyānasmiṃ pupphāni saṃharanti.
   Women gather flowers in the park.
   vanitā = nominative plural (subject)
   The verb saṃharanti (ending in ‘nti’) indicates that the subject is plural.
3. Vānījo vanitāhi saddhiṃ bhāsati.
   The merchant speaks with the women.
   vanitāhi = instrumental plural
4. Upāsakā vanitāhi phalāni kiṇanti.
   The lay devotees buy fruits from the women.
   vanitāhi = ablative plural
5. Vanitānaṃ puttā uyyānamhi kīḷanti.
   Sons of the women play in the park
   vanitānaṃ = genitive plural
6. Yācako vanitaṃ upasaṅkamati.
   The beggar approaches a woman.
   vanitaṃ = accusative singular
7. Ācariyo vanitāya saha bhāsati.
   The teacher speaks with a woman.
   vanitāya = instrumental singular (instrumental case can be easily identified if used with the words ‘saddhiṃ’ or ‘saha’)
8. Samaṇo vanitāya dhammaṃ deseti.
   The monk teaches dhamma to a woman.
   vanitāya = dative singular (the woman is recipient / beneficiary / indirect object)
9. Yācako vanitāya bhattaṃ yācati.
   The beggar begs / asks for food from a woman.
   vanitāya = ablative singular
10. Vanitāya kukkuro maggena dhāvati.
    The dog of the woman runs along the road.
    vanitāya = genitive singular

Please note : The word vanitāya is common to sentences numbers 7 to 10. However in each of these sentences it represents a different case. We can identify the case and translate the sentence correctly based on the context.

Let us learn a few ā-ending feminine nouns and do some activities based on them.

• kaññā = girl, daughter
• chāyā = shade, shadow
• gaṅgā = river, the Ganges
• nāvā = boat
• latā = creeper, vine
• mālā = garland
• pūjā = worship, veneration
• devatā = deity
• sabhā = assembly, hall
• kathā = speech, talk
• disā = direction
• parisā = company, retinue
• khudā = hunger
• pipāsā = thirst
• bhāsā = language

Here are a few more ā-ending feminine nouns which are frequently used in the suttas :

• bāhā = arm
• gīvā = neck
• jivhā = tongue
• vācā = speech
• gāthā = verse
• kaṅkhā = doubt
• vijjā = knowledge
• avijjā = ignorance
• taṇhā = craving
• abhijjhā = greed, covetousness
• sikkhā = training
• saddhā = faith, devotion
• vedanā = feeling, sensation
• saññā = perception
• paññā = wisdom, insight
• cetanā = volition
• mettā = loving kindness
• karuṇā = compassion
• muditā = sympathetic joy
• upekkhā = equanimity