---
title: mammy — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «mammy» in the school dictionary: A child's word for mother, like «mum» or «mammy» said by Irish children. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mammy/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [M](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/) / mammy

# mammy

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** child, Black woman, I, Siobhan, lots, mammy · **What happens:** say, word, use, look, not use, talk · **To what, where:** mammy, racist stereotype name, family, biscuit, Dublin, best brown bread · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«mammy» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [mammy in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/mammy.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: informal, Ireland, UK north, Scotland — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A child's word for mother, like «mum» or «mammy» said by Irish children.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mammy:m1:1
# text = A child's word for mother, like «mum» or «mammy» said by Irish children.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	child	child	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	mother	mother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	like	like	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
13	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	mammy	mammy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	14	punct	_	_
16	said	say	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	14	acl	_	_
17	by	by	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	Irish	Irish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
19	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | participle |  | mammy *not said here* |  |  |  | by Irish children | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **word** |  | a child |  |  |  |  | for mother | nom word «communication transitive»: poss=agent for=obl |

<!-- .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}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: old-fashioned, offensive, US history — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A racist stereotype name once used for a Black woman who looked after a white family's children; it is not used today except when talking about history.

<!-- fold The tree, 28 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mammy:m2:1
# text = A racist stereotype name once used for a Black woman who looked after a white family's children; it is not used today except when talking about history.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	racist	racist	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	stereotype	stereotype	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	once	once	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	6	advmod	_	_
6	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	acl	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	Black	black	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	woman	woman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
11	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	12	nsubj	_	_
12	looked	look	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	acl:relcl	_	_
13	after	after	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	's	's	PART	POS	_	16	case	_	_
18	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	23	punct	_	_
20	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	23	nsubj:pass	_	_
21	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	23	aux:pass	_	_
22	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	23	advmod	_	_
23	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	conj	_	_
24	today	today	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	obl:unmarked	_	_
25	except	except	ADP	IN	_	27	mark	_	_
26	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	27	advmod	_	_
27	talking	talk	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	23	advcl	_	_
28	about	about	ADP	IN	_	29	case	_	_
29	history	history	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	27	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | participle |  | a racist stereotype name *not said here* |  |  |  | for a Black woman; once *property* | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **look** | past | a Black woman |  |  |  | after a white family's children |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |
| 3 | **not** **use** | present · passive |  | family |  |  | today |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |
| 4 | **talk** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | about history | vn talk-37.5 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent about history=Topic |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mammy, can I have a biscuit?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mammy:x1:1
# text = Mammy, can I have a biscuit?
1	Mammy	Mammy	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	vocative	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	have	have	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	biscuit	biscuit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | can | I | a biscuit |  |  |  | Mammy *vocative* | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent biscuit=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Siobhan ran home to tell her mammy about the prize.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mammy:x2:1
# text = Siobhan ran home to tell her mammy about the prize.
1	Siobhan	Siobhan	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	ran	run	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	home	home	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	tell	tell	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
6	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	mammy	mammy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	about	about	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	prize	prize	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **run** | past | Siobhan |  |  |  |  | home *property* | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **tell** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive | Siobhan *not said here* | Siobhan's mammy |  |  |  | about the prize | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent mammy=Recipient about prize=Topic |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In Dublin lots of kids still say mammy instead of mum.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mammy:x3:1
# text = In Dublin lots of kids still say mammy instead of mum.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	Dublin	Dublin	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
3	lots	lot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	kids	kid	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	_
6	still	still	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	say	say	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	mammy	mammy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
9	instead	instead	ADV	RB	ExtPos=ADP	11	case	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	fixed	_	_
11	mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | lots of kids | mammy |  | Dublin | still | instead mum | vn pronounce-29.3.1 «NP V NP PP.manner»: agent=Agent mammy=Theme in dublin=Manner |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Wait till your mammy hears about this!» said Granda.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mammy:x4:1
# text = «Wait till your mammy hears about this!» said Granda.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Wait	wait	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	ccomp	_	_
3	till	till	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
4	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	mammy	mammy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	hears	hear	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
7	about	about	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	this	this	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
11	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
12	Granda	Granda	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wait** *in a quote* | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **hear** *in a quote* | present | your mammy |  |  |  |  | about this | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V PP.stimulus»: agent=Experiencer about this=Stimulus |
| 3 | **say** *speech: express* | past | Granda |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My mammy makes the best brown bread in Cork.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mammy:x5:1
# text = My mammy makes the best brown bread in Cork.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	mammy	mammy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	best	good	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	7	amod	_	_
6	brown	brown	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	bread	bread	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	Cork	Cork	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | My mammy | the best brown bread |  | Cork |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset bread=Product |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The old film used a hurtful «mammy» character, and our teacher explained why it is racist.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mammy:x6:1
# text = The old film used a hurtful «mammy» character, and our teacher explained why it is racist.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	film	film	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
6	hurtful	hurtful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
7	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	mammy	mammy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	8	punct	_	_
10	character	character	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
13	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	14	nmod:poss	_	_
14	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nsubj	_	_
15	explained	explain	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	parataxis	_	_
16	why	why	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	19	advmod	_	_
17	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	19	nsubj	_	_
18	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	19	cop	_	_
19	racist	racist	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | past | the old film | a hurtful mammy character |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent character=Patient |
| 2 | **explain** *speech: assert* | past | our teacher |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is** | present | teacher |  |  |  |  | racist *property* | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mammy and Daddy are coming to the school play.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mammy:x7:1
# text = Mammy and Daddy are coming to the school play.
1	Mammy	Mammy	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	Daddy	Daddy	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	conj	_	_
4	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	coming	come	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	play	play	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | present · progressive | Mammy and Daddy |  |  | the school play |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme to play=Initial\_Location |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Mammy," says the child, "they've pulled granny's skin off while you were away."

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mammy:x8:1
# text = "Mammy," says the child, "they've pulled granny's skin off while you were away."
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Mammy	Mammy	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
5	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	child	child	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
9	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj:pass	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	've	have	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	_
12	pulled	pull	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	conj	_	_
13	granny	granny	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	's	's	PART	POS	_	13	case	_	_
15	skin	skin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	_
16	off	off	ADP	RP	_	12	compound:prt	_	_
17	while	while	SCONJ	IN	_	20	mark	_	_
18	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	20	nsubj	_	_
19	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	20	cop	_	_
20	away	away	ADV	RB	_	12	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | Mammy | the child |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent child=Topic |
| 2 | **pull off** *in a quote* | present · perfect · passive |  | they |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **is** *in a quote* | past | you |  |  |  |  | away *property* | 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [mammoth](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mammoth/)
- next →: [mamo](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mamo/)
- ↑ back to [M in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/)