lankaa

Lankaa is the partitive singular form of the Finnish noun lanka, which means thread, yarn, or string. In Finnish, partitive forms are used for undetermined quantities or when the noun is the object of a verb in a negative or non-factual context. Therefore lankaa is commonly found in sentences referring to an unspecified amount of thread or as the object of actions involving thread.

In everyday use, lankaa appears in various sewing, weaving, and textile contexts. It can denote a length of thread needed for a stitch, a spool of yarn, or simply a portion of material. The partitive singular is contrasted with other inflected forms of lanka, such as the nominative singular lanka, the genitive singularlangan, the nominative plural langat, and the partitive plural lankoja.

Common grammatical examples include: Tarvitsen lankaa (I need some thread), Ostin lankaa (I bought some thread), and Minulla ei ole lankaa (I don’t have any thread). These illustrate how the partitive form is used after verbs that describe possession, necessity, or negation.

Related terms include langat, the nominative plural for yarns or threads, and lankojen in various case forms. Lankaa as a word relates across Finnish textile vocabulary and is often encountered in craft instructions, sewing manuals, and descriptions of fabric work. The term is rooted in Finnish language usage and is part of the broader vocabulary for materials and textiles.