---
title: matabele — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «matabele» in the school dictionary: The Matabele (Ndebele) are a people of south-western Zimbabwe, around the city of Bulawayo. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# matabele

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Matabele, Matabeleland, they, Mzilikazi, Bulawayo, British settlers · **What happens:** be, live, found, call, fight, have · **To what, where:** people, city, region, Matabele kingdom, main city, Matabele · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«matabele» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 5 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: [matabele in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/matabele.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Matabele (Ndebele) are a people of south-western Zimbabwe, around the city of Bulawayo.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:matabele:m1:1
# text = The Matabele (Ndebele) are a people of south-western Zimbabwe, around the city of Bulawayo.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Matabele	matabele	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	Ndebele	ndebele	NOUN	NN	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	_	13	case	_	_
10	south	south	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	western	western	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	Zimbabwe	zimbabwe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
15	around	around	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	city	city	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	_
18	of	of	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	Bulawayo	Bulawayo	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	17	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the Matabele | a people |  | the city of Bulawayo |  | of western Zimbabwe | 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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Matabeleland is the region where they live.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:matabele:m2:1
# text = Matabeleland is the region where they live.
1	Matabeleland	Matabeleland	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	region	region	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	7	advmod	_	_
6	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	live	live	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Matabeleland | the region |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **live** | present | they |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Matabele kingdom was founded by Mzilikazi.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:matabele:x1:1
# text = The Matabele kingdom was founded by Mzilikazi.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	Matabele	Matabele	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	kingdom	kingdom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	founded	found	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	by	by	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	Mzilikazi	Mzilikazi	PROPN	NNP	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 | **found** | past · passive | Mzilikazi | the Matabele kingdom |  |  |  |  | vn establish-55.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent subject=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Bulawayo is the main city of Matabeleland.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:matabele:x2:1
# text = Bulawayo is the main city of Matabeleland.
1	Bulawayo	Bulawayo	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	main	main	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	city	city	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	Matabeleland	Matabeleland	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Bulawayo | the main city |  |  |  | of Matabeleland | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Matabele are also called the Ndebele.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:matabele:x3:1
# text = The Matabele are also called the Ndebele.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Matabele	matabele	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
4	also	also	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	Ndebele	Ndebele	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | present · passive |  | the Matabele |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: subject=Recipient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
British settlers fought wars against the Matabele in the 1890s.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:matabele:x4:1
# text = British settlers fought wars against the Matabele in the 1890s.
1	British	British	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	settlers	settler	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	fought	fight	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	wars	war	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	against	against	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	Matabele	Matabele	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	1890s	1890	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan|NumForm=Combi|NumType=Card	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fight** | past | British settlers | wars |  | the 1890s |  | against the Matabele | vn battle-36.4-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent war=Co-Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Matabeleland has wide, dry grasslands.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:matabele:x5:1
# text = Matabeleland has wide, dry grasslands.
1	Matabeleland	Matabeleland	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	wide	wide	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	dry	dry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	grasslands	grassland	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Matabeleland | wide dry grasslands |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent grassland=Patient |

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**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.

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