---
title: malapropism — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «malapropism» in the school dictionary: The funny mistake of using a word that sounds like the right word but means something quite different: «He's the pineapple of politeness» instead of «pinnacle». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# malapropism

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** funny mistake, word, He, Saying, malapropisms, us · **What happens:** use, sound, mean, be, say, make · **To what, where:** word, something, pineapple, intensive purposes, malapropism, us · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«malapropism» in the school dictionary: its meaning 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: [malapropism in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/malapropism.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The funny mistake of using a word that sounds like the right word but means something quite different: «He's the pineapple of politeness» instead of «pinnacle».

<!-- fold The tree, 27 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:malapropism:m1:1
# text = The funny mistake of using a word that sounds like the right word but means something quite different: «He's the pineapple of politeness» instead of «pinnacle».
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	funny	funny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	mistake	mistake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
5	using	use	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	acl	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
9	sounds	sound	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
10	like	like	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	right	right	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
14	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	conj	_	_
16	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	15	obj	_	_
17	quite	quite	ADV	RB	_	18	advmod	_	_
18	different	different	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	24	punct	_	_
20	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	24	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	24	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	24	cop	_	_
23	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
24	pineapple	pineapple	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	appos	_	_
25	of	of	ADP	IN	_	26	case	_	_
26	politeness	politeness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	24	punct	_	_
28	instead	instead	ADV	RB	_	31	case	_	_
29	of	of	ADP	IN	_	31	case	_	_
30	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	31	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	pinnacle	pinnacle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
32	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	31	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
33	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | gerund | the funny mistake *not said here* | a word |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent word=Patient |
| 2 | **sound** | present | a word |  |  |  |  | like the right word | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |
| 3 | **mean** | present | a word *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Topic |
| 4 | **is a** *in a quote* | present | He | the pineapple |  |  |  | of politeness; instead pinnacle | tree rules |

<!-- .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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Saying «for all intensive purposes» instead of «for all intents and purposes» is a malapropism.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:malapropism:x1:1
# text = Saying «for all intensive purposes» instead of «for all intents and purposes» is a malapropism.
1	Saying	say	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	19	csubj	_	_
2	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	6	det	_	_
5	intensive	intensive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	purposes	purpose	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
8	instead	instead	ADV	RB	ExtPos=ADP	13	case	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	fixed	_	_
10	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	for	for	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	13	det	_	_
13	intents	intent	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	purposes	purpose	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	13	punct	_	_
17	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	19	cop	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	malapropism	malapropism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	19	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | gerund |  | all intensive purposes |  |  |  | instead all intents and purposes | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent purpose=Topic |
| 2 | **is a** | present | Saying | a malapropism |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandad's malapropisms make us laugh.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:malapropism:x2:1
# text = Grandad's malapropisms make us laugh.
1	Grandad	Grandad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	's	PART	POS	_	1	case	_	_
3	malapropisms	malapropism	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	make	make	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	obj	_	_
6	laugh	laugh	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | Grandad's malapropisms | us |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **laugh** | infinitive | us *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«He's the pineapple of politeness» is a famous malapropism.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:malapropism:x3:1
# text = «He's the pineapple of politeness» is a famous malapropism.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	pineapple	pineapple	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	politeness	politeness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	famous	famous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	malapropism	malapropism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** *in a quote* | present | He | the pineapple |  |  |  | of politeness | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | present | the pineapple | a famous malapropism |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The comedian used lots of malapropisms.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:malapropism:x4:1
# text = The comedian used lots of malapropisms.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	comedian	comedian	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	lots	lot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	malapropisms	malapropism	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | past | the comedian | lots of malapropisms |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent lot=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our teacher asked us to spot the malapropism in the sentence.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:malapropism:x5:1
# text = Our teacher asked us to spot the malapropism in the sentence.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	asked	ask	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	iobj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	spot	spot	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	malapropism	malapropism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	sentence	sentence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ask** *speech: ask* | past | Our teacher |  | us |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP whether S\_INF»: agent=Agent we=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 2 | **spot** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | Our teacher *not said here* | the malapropism |  |  |  | in the sentence | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent malapropism=Destination in sentence=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Dance a flamingo» instead of «flamenco» is a malapropism.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:malapropism:x6:1
# text = «Dance a flamingo» instead of «flamenco» is a malapropism.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Dance	dance	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	csubj	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	flamingo	flamingo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
6	instead	instead	ADV	RB	_	9	case	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	flamenco	flamenco	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
11	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	malapropism	malapropism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	13	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dance** *in a quote* | infinitive |  | a flamingo |  |  |  | instead flamenco | vn modes\_of\_being\_with\_motion-47.3 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location flamingo=Theme |
| 2 | **is a** | present |  | a malapropism |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- 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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