montaa

• IPA^(key): /ˈmontɑː/, [ˈmo̞n̪t̪ɑː]
• Rhymes: -ontɑː
• Syllabification^(key): mon‧taa

montaa

1. Double partitive of moni, "partitive" of monta; (not) many (kinds of)

   Pöydällä oli monta juustoa.

   Many cheeses were on the table. (many pieces, but not necessarily different kinds)

   Pöydällä oli montaa juustoa.

   Many kinds of cheeses were on the table.

Considered nonstandard until 1995. Used where monta effectively acts as a nominative when used as a determiner or numeral, meaning "many".

Näin monta lintua.

I saw many birds.

En nähnyt montaa lintua.

I didn't see many birds.

With verbs that require a partitive, montaa is used instead of monta.

Rakastan montaa ihmistä.

I love many people / I'm in love with many (more than one) people.

• A help page by the Institute for the Languages of Finland describing the uses of "monta" and "montaa" (in Finnish)

• maaton, matona