Monikko

Monikko, in Finnish linguistics, is the grammatical category that expresses more than one referent. It is the primary form of number used on nouns, pronouns, adjectives, and numerals. In Finnish, words inflect for number as part of a larger system of cases and possessive forms, and monikko interacts with these features in flexible ways.

The ordinary plural is formed mainly by adding the suffix -t to the stem in the nominative plural. Many nouns also undergo consonant gradation or stem changes when the plural is formed. Examples include talo (house) becoming talot, koira (dog) becoming koirat, and käsi (hand) becoming kädet. Some nouns change more irregularly, such as lapsi (child) becoming lapset, or kuningas (king) becoming kuninkaat. Adjectives and numerals agree in number with the noun, as in isot talot (big houses).

Finnish also marks number through a variety of case endings in the plural. The form of the noun changes with the grammatical case; for example, nominative plural talot versus genitive plural talojen or inessive plural taloissa. When numeral constructions are used, the noun is often in the partitive case, as in kolme taloa (three houses), even though the referent is plural in meaning. The system is broad and includes several exceptions and projective patterns across noun classes, stems, and dialects.

Pronouns and possessives also inflect for number, and the overall agreement system links monikko with verbs, adjectives, and determiners in sentences. Related topics include Finnish grammar and plural formation.