mõningane

Mõningane is an Estonian adjective used to denote indefiniteness in a qualitative sense, roughly corresponding to “some,” “a certain,” or “a number of” in English. It is formed from the determiner mõning with a derivational suffix that yields an attributive adjective. The word agrees with the noun it modifies in number and case, following standard Estonian grammar.

Usage and notes: Mõningane tends to appear in more formal, literary, or older text rather than everyday speech. In contemporary usage, speakers often prefer mõning or higher-frequency phrases such as mõningal määral (to a certain extent) or teatud (certain). Mõningane can introduce a subset or unspecified quantity of a noun, for example indicating that only a portion or a particular group is being referred to, without precise specification.

Etymology and history: The term is built on the quantifier mõning, with the addition of a derivational suffix to form an adjective that attributes a quality of being “some” or “particular.” Its presence is more noticeable in historical or formal registers, where indefiniteness is often expressed through more elaborated adjective forms.

Variants and related forms: While mõningane exists as an adjective, contemporary Estonian speakers frequently use the simpler mõning or other expressions to convey similar meanings. The phraseology around indefiniteness has shifted toward more common constructions in modern standard Estonian.

See also: mõning, mõni, mõningal määral.