---
title: masai — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «masai» in the school dictionary: The Maasai (Masai) are a people of Kenya and Tanzania, famous for cattle herding and their bright red cloth. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# masai

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Maasai, Masai Mara, warriors, We, Maasai beadwork · **What happens:** be, keep, wear, call, know, jump · **To what, where:** people, wildlife reserve, Kenya, large herds, Many Maasai, red cloth · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«masai» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [masai in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/masai.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Maasai (Masai) are a people of Kenya and Tanzania, famous for cattle herding and their bright red cloth.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:masai:m1:1
# text = The Maasai (Masai) are a people of Kenya and Tanzania, famous for cattle herding and their bright red cloth.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Maasai	Maasai	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	Masai	Masai	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	4	punct	_	_
6	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	Kenya	Kenya	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	Tanzania	Tanzania	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	famous	famous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	conj	_	_
15	for	for	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	cattle	cattle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	compound	_	_
17	herding	herding	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	_
18	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
19	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	22	nmod:poss	_	_
20	bright	bright	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	22	amod	_	_
21	red	red	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	22	amod	_	_
22	cloth	cloth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the Maasai | a people |  |  |  | of Kenya and Tanzania | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | the Maasai *not said here* |  |  |  |  | for cattle herding and herding's bright red cloth | 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.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Masai Mara is a wildlife reserve in Kenya.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:masai:m2:1
# text = The Masai Mara is a wildlife reserve in Kenya.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	Masai	Masai	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	Mara	Mara	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	wildlife	wildlife	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	reserve	reserve	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	Kenya	Kenya	PROPN	NNP	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 | the Masai Mara | a wildlife reserve |  | Kenya |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Maasai keep large herds of cattle.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:masai:x1:1
# text = The Maasai keep large herds of cattle.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Maasai	Maasai	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	keep	keep	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	herds	herd	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	cattle	cattle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | present | the Maasai | large herds of cattle |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent herd=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Many Maasai wear red cloth called shuka.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:masai:x2:1
# text = Many Maasai wear red cloth called shuka.
1	Many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	Maasai	Maasai	X	FW	Foreign=Yes	3	obl	_	_
3	wear	wear	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	red	red	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	cloth	cloth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	_
7	shuka	shuka	X	FW	Foreign=Yes	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wear** | present |  | Many Maasai |  |  |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.source»: agent=Agent cloth=Source |
| 2 | **call** | participle |  | red cloth *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Maasai warriors are known for their high jumping dance.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:masai:x3:1
# text = Maasai warriors are known for their high jumping dance.
1	Maasai	maasai	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	warriors	warrior	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	known	know	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
6	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
7	high	high	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
8	jumping	jump	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	9	amod	_	_
9	dance	dance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **know** | present · passive |  | Maasai warriors |  |  |  | for warriors's high jumping dance | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: subject=Stimulus |
| 2 | **jump** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **dance** |  | warriors *= warrior* |  |  |  |  |  | nom dance «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We watched lions in the Masai Mara.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:masai:x4:1
# text = We watched lions in the Masai Mara.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	watched	watch	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	lions	lion	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	Masai	Masai	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	Mara	Mara	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **watch** | past | We | lions |  | the Masai Mara |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent lion=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Maasai speak a language called Maa.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:masai:x5:1
# text = The Maasai speak a language called Maa.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Maasai	Maasai	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	speak	speak	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	language	language	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	_
7	Maa	Maa	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **speak** *speech: other* | present | the Maasai | a language |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **call** | participle |  | a language *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Maasai beadwork is very colourful.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:masai:x6:1
# text = Maasai beadwork is very colourful.
1	Maasai	maasai	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	beadwork	beadwork	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	very	very	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	colourful	colourful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Maasai beadwork |  |  |  |  | colourful *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 -->

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