It is said that by adding “wa” to the end of a sentence, as in “ohana ga kirei dawa” (these flowers are beautiful) or “arigatai wa” (I’m grateful), one’s speech becomes more feminine. A slightly raised intonation along with the suffixes “ne,” “yo,” or “kashira” at the end of a phrase feminizes an expression. However, women under 50 generally do not adopt this style of speech. The feminine “wa” is used by older women. You might also hear it in TV dramas and movies, or read it in novels. It is also used when people try to put on airs or behave like a celebrity, as in “sorede kamaimasenn wa” (it doesn’t matter) or “watakushi no desu wa” (that’s mine). This will give the impression that you are looking down on others, or are taking an arrogant attitude. Gay men also use it act in a feminine way, as in “ara, iya da wa” (oh no) or “hazukashii wa” (I’m embarrassed). In contrast, both men and women use it with a downward inflection at the end of a phrase, as in “mou tabeta wa” (I’ve already eaten), “koryaa, odoroita wa” (this is a big surprise). It is used to express anything from trivial impressions to deeply felt emotion. Though this is a typically male form of speech, it wouldn’t sound strange for a woman to use it. The suffixes “yo” or “ne” can be added in the same way, as in “umaku yatte ru wayo” (it is going well) or “ashita iku wane” (I’m going tomorrow). In this case it is mostly used by women and strongly implies that you are making an assertion or communicating your intentions.