בפנייה השנייה תפני ימינה.

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Breakdown of בפנייה השנייה תפני ימינה.

• לפנות: to turn
• ימינה: right
• שני: second

Questions & Answers about בפנייה השנייה תפני ימינה.

Why is תפני a future-tense form if the sentence is giving an instruction?

In Modern Hebrew, the future tense is very often used for instructions, directions, and commands, especially in neutral everyday language.

So תפני literally looks like you will turn (addressed to one female), but in context it means turn.

This is very common in directions:

• תמשיך ישר = continue straight
• תפנה שמאלה = turn left
• תפני ימינה = turn right

There is also a true imperative form for this verb, פני, but in modern spoken Hebrew the future form is usually more natural.

Why is תפני feminine?

Because it is addressed to one female.

Hebrew verbs change depending on:

• person
• number
• sometimes gender

Here are the singular forms of to turn in this kind of instruction:

• תפנה = you will turn / turn (to one male)
• תפני = you will turn / turn (to one female)

Plural:

• תפנו = turn (to more than one person)

So if the speaker is talking to a woman, תפני is the correct form.

Why is השנייה feminine too?