---
title: baba — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «baba» in the school dictionary: «Baba» means grandmother or granny; also an old woman. It sounds like «BAH-bah» and is not an English word. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# baba

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Baba, It, Slavic fairy tales, We, hut, bakery · **What happens:** mean, sound, not be, be, soak, live · **To what, where:** grandmother, English word, small sweet sponge cake, witch, Slavic fairy tales, hut · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«baba» in the school dictionary: its 5 meanings for a pupil and its 6 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [baba in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/baba.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: Ukrainian — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Baba» means grandmother or granny; also an old woman. It sounds like «BAH-bah» and is not an English word.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* «Baba» means grandmother or granny; also an old woman.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:baba:m1:1
# text = «Baba» means grandmother or granny; also an old woman.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Baba	Baba	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	grandmother	grandmother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	granny	granny	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
9	also	also	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
10	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	woman	woman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Baba | grandmother or granny |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent grandmother=Topic |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* It sounds like «BAH-bah» and is not an English word.

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:baba:m1:2
# text = It sounds like «BAH-bah» and is not an English word.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	sounds	sound	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	like	like	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
4	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	BAH	bah	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	bah	bah	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
10	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	cop	_	_
11	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	14	advmod	_	_
12	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	English	English	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sound** | present | It |  |  |  |  | like BAH bah | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **not** **is a** | present |  | a English word |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A baba (rum baba) is a small sweet sponge cake soaked in syrup or rum.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:baba:m2:1
# text = A baba (rum baba) is a small sweet sponge cake soaked in syrup or rum.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	baba	baba	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
3	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	rum	rum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	baba	baba	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	5	punct	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
9	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
10	sweet	sweet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
11	sponge	sponge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	cake	cake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
13	soaked	soak	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	12	acl	_	_
14	in	in	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	syrup	syrup	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	rum	rum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a baba | a small sweet sponge cake |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **soak** | participle |  | a small sweet sponge cake *not said here* |  |  |  | in syrup or rum | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent in syrup=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Baba Yaga is a witch in Slavic fairy tales who lives in a hut on chicken legs (a name).

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:baba:m3:1
# text = Baba Yaga is a witch in Slavic fairy tales who lives in a hut on chicken legs (a name).
1	Baba	Baba	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	Yaga	Yaga	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	flat	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	witch	witch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	Slavic	slavic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
8	fairy	fairy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	tales	tale	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
10	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
11	lives	live	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	hut	hut	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	_
15	on	on	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	chicken	chicken	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	compound	_	_
17	legs	leg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	nmod	_	_
18	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Baba | a witch |  | Slavic fairy tales |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **live** | present | Slavic fairy tales |  |  | a hut on chicken legs |  |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in hut=Location |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Baby talk: «baba» can mean a baby or a bottle.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:baba:m4:1
# text = Baby talk: «baba» can mean a baby or a bottle.
1	Baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	talk	talk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
4	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	baba	baba	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
7	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	conj	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	bottle	bottle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can | baba | a baby or a bottle |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent baby=Topic |

## Meaning 5 {#m5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In Turkish, Persian and Arabic, "baba" means father or dad.

<!-- fold The tree, 10 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:baba:m5:1
# text = In Turkish, Persian and Arabic, "baba" means father or dad.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	Turkish	Turkish	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	Persian	Persian	PROPN	NNP	_	2	conj	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	Arabic	Arabic	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
8	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	baba	baba	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	_
11	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
12	father	father	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | baba | father or dad |  |  |  | in Turkish and Persian and Arabic | vn representation-110.1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Pivot father=Theme in turkish=Attribute |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We visit Baba every Sunday and she makes varenyky.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:baba:x1:1
# text = We visit Baba every Sunday and she makes varenyky.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	visit	visit	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	Baba	Baba	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	5	det	_	_
5	Sunday	Sunday	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	obl:unmarked	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
9	varenyky	varenyky	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **visit** | present | We | Baba |  |  | sunday |  | vn meet-36.3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent baba=Co-Agent |
| 2 | **make** | present | Baba | varenyky |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent varenyky=Product |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Baba» is the Ukrainian word for granny.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:baba:x2:1
# text = «Baba» is the Ukrainian word for granny.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Baba	Baba	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	Ukrainian	ukrainian	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	granny	granny	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Baba | the Ukrainian word |  |  |  | for granny | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Baba Yaga's hut stood on chicken legs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:baba:x3:1
# text = Baba Yaga's hut stood on chicken legs.
1	Baba	Baba	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	_
2	Yaga	Yaga	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	flat	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	1	case	_	_
4	hut	hut	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	stood	stand	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	chicken	chicken	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	legs	leg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stand** | past | Baba's hut |  |  | chicken legs |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent on leg=Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The bakery sold a rum baba with cream.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:baba:x4:1
# text = The bakery sold a rum baba with cream.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	bakery	bakery	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	sold	sell	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	rum	rum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	baba	baba	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	cream	cream	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sell** | past | the bakery | a rum baba |  |  |  | with cream | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent baba=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My baby brother points at his bottle and says «baba».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:baba:x5:1
# text = My baby brother points at his bottle and says «baba».
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	points	point	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	bottle	bottle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
10	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	baba	baba	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **point** | present | My baby brother |  |  | brother's bottle |  |  | vn wink-40.3.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | My baby brother *not said here* | baba |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent baba=Topic |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Baba told us stories about her village.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:baba:x6:1
# text = Baba told us stories about her village.
1	Baba	Baba	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	told	tell	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	iobj	_	_
4	stories	story	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	about	about	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	village	village	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | past | Baba | stories | us |  |  | about Baba's village | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent we=Recipient story=Topic |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

<!-- pn -->
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