---
title: hyena — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «hyena» in the school dictionary: A hyena is a dog-like wild animal from Africa and parts of Asia with strong jaws, a sloping back and, in the spotted kind, a call that sounds like laughing. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# hyena

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** hyena, call, Hyenas, other animals, laugh, Spotted hyenas · **What happens:** be, slope back, spot, sound, laugh, hunt · **To what, where:** like wild animal, Africa, groups, savanna, big groups, clans · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«hyena» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 7 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: [hyena in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/hyena.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A hyena is a dog-like wild animal from Africa and parts of Asia with strong jaws, a sloping back and, in the spotted kind, a call that sounds like laughing.

<!-- fold The tree, 31 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hyena:m1:1
# text = A hyena is a dog-like wild animal from Africa and parts of Asia with strong jaws, a sloping back and, in the spotted kind, a call that sounds like laughing.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	hyena	hyena	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
5	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	like	like	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
8	wild	wild	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
10	from	from	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	Africa	Africa	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	parts	part	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	conj	_	_
14	of	of	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	Asia	Asia	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	13	nmod	_	_
16	with	with	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	jaws	jaw	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	28	punct	_	_
20	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	28	det	_	_
21	sloping	slope	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	28	csubj	_	_
22	back	back	ADV	RB	_	21	advmod	_	_
23	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	28	cc	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	28	punct	_	_
25	in	in	ADP	IN	_	28	case	_	_
26	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	28	det	_	_
27	spotted	spot	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	28	amod	_	_
28	kind	kind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	31	punct	_	_
30	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	31	det	_	_
31	call	call	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	conj	_	_
32	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	33	nsubj	_	_
33	sounds	sound	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	31	acl:relcl	_	_
34	like	like	SCONJ	IN	_	35	mark	_	_
35	laughing	laugh	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	33	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
36	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a hyena | a like wild animal and parts of Asia with strong jaws and a spotted kind and a call |  | Africa |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **slope back** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **spot** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn weather-57 «It V PP.theme» |
| 4 | **sound** | present | a call |  |  |  |  |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |
| 5 | **laugh** | gerund | a call *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Hyenas hunt in groups and also eat what other animals leave behind.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hyena:m2:1
# text = Hyenas hunt in groups and also eat what other animals leave behind.
1	Hyenas	hyena	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	hunt	hunt	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	groups	group	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
6	also	also	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	eat	eat	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
8	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	11	obj	_	_
9	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nsubj	_	_
11	leave	leave	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	_
12	behind	behind	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hunt** | present | Hyenas |  |  | groups |  |  | vn hunt-35.1 «NP V PP.theme PP.location»: agent=Agent in group=Location |
| 2 | **eat** | present | Hyenas *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **leave behind** | present | other animals |  |  |  |  | behind *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent what=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The hyena's laugh echoed across the savanna at night.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hyena:x1:1
# text = The hyena's laugh echoed across the savanna at night.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	hyena	hyena	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	laugh	laugh	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	echoed	echo	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	across	across	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	savanna	savanna	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
9	at	at	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	night	night	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **echo** | past | the hyena's laugh |  |  | the savanna | night |  | vn sound\_existence-47.4 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **laugh** |  | the hyena |  |  |  |  |  | nom laugh «communication intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Spotted hyenas live in big groups called clans.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hyena:x2:1
# text = Spotted hyenas live in big groups called clans.
1	Spotted	spot	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	amod	_	_
2	hyenas	hyena	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	live	live	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	groups	group	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
7	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	_
8	clans	clan	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spot** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn weather-57 «It V PP.theme» |
| 2 | **live** | present | Spotted hyenas |  |  | big groups |  |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in group=Location |
| 3 | **call** | participle | big groups *not said here* | clans |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Hyenas have jaws strong enough to crack bones.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hyena:x3:1
# text = Hyenas have jaws strong enough to crack bones.
1	Hyenas	hyena	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	jaws	jaw	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
5	enough	enough	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	crack	crack	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
8	bones	bone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Hyenas | jaws |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent jaw=Patient |
| 2 | **crack** | to-infinitive | Hyenas *not said here* | bones |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location bone=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Lions and hyenas often fight over food.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hyena:x4:1
# text = Lions and hyenas often fight over food.
1	Lions	lion	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	hyenas	hyena	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	conj	_	_
4	often	often	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	fight	fight	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	over	over	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fight** | present | Lions and hyenas |  |  |  |  | over food; often *property* | vn battle-36.4-1 «NP V PP.theme NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent over food=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Hyenas hunt zebras and wildebeest as well as scavenging.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hyena:x5:1
# text = Hyenas hunt zebras and wildebeest as well as scavenging.
1	Hyenas	hyena	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	hunt	hunt	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	zebras	zebra	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	wildebeest	wildebeest	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	conj	_	_
6	as	as	ADV	RB	ExtPos=ADV	2	advmod	_	_
7	well	well	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	6	fixed	_	_
8	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
9	scavenging	scavenge	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hunt** | present | Hyenas | zebras and wildebeest |  |  |  |  | vn hunt-35.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent zebra=Theme |
| 2 | **scavenge** | gerund | Hyenas *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn search-35.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the cartoon, the hyenas were the villain's helpers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hyena:x6:1
# text = In the cartoon, the hyenas were the villain's helpers.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	cartoon	cartoon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	hyenas	hyena	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
7	were	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	villain	villain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	's	's	PART	POS	_	9	case	_	_
11	helpers	helper	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | past | the hyenas |  |  | the cartoon |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in cartoon=Location |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Female spotted hyenas are bigger than the males and lead the group.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hyena:x7:1
# text = Female spotted hyenas are bigger than the males and lead the group.
1	Female	female	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
2	spotted	spot	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	amod	_	_
3	hyenas	hyena	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
4	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	bigger	big	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	0	root	_	_
6	than	than	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	males	male	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	lead	lead	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spot** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn weather-57 «It V PP.theme» |
| 2 | **is** | present | Female spotted hyenas |  |  |  |  | than the males; big *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **lead** | present | Female spotted hyenas *not said here* | the group |  |  |  |  | vn accompany-51.7 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent group=Theme |

<!-- 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 -->

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