valtavassa

Valtavassa is the inessive singular form of the Finnish adjective valtava, meaning tremendous, vast, or enormous. It is used to describe something large in size, scope, or intensity when a noun follows in a sentence, for example in phrases like valtavassa kaupungissa, meaning “in a vast/enormous city.” The form itself is not a standalone noun; it functions as part of a larger noun phrase that specifies location or state.

In Finnish, -va/-vä adjectives are declined to agree with the noun they modify. Valtava’s inessive form valtavassa takes the -ssa ending. Related forms include valtava (nominative), valtavan (genitive), and valtavaa (partitive), with other case forms corresponding to different grammatical roles. The root valt- connects to valta, meaning power or extent, and the -va suffix creates an adjective describing a characteristic.

Usage notes: valtava emphasizes large scale, reach, or intensity and is common in descriptive or literary contexts. It can be paired with various nouns to convey magnitude and is stronger than everyday synonyms like suuri. In descriptive writing, valtavassa can contribute a sense of awe or breadth when used with a following noun in the appropriate case, for example valtavassa kaupungissa or valtavassa ympäristössä. See also Finnish adjectives formed with -va/-vä and the broader concept of valta-related vocabulary.