---
title: maya — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «maya» in the school dictionary: A people of Central America (southern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize and nearby) whose ancient civilisation built stone cities and pyramids. 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/maya/)

<!-- 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/) / maya

# maya

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** people, southern Mexico, girl, ancient Maya, Maya, Chocolate drinks · **What happens:** build, civilise, name, count, be, use · **To what, where:** stone cities, tall stone pyramids, twenties, sign, number glyphs, Mexico · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«maya» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [maya in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/maya.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A people of Central America (southern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize and nearby) whose ancient civilisation built stone cities and pyramids.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maya:m1:1
# text = A people of Central America (southern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize and nearby) whose ancient civilisation built stone cities and pyramids.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	Central	Central	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	flat	_	_
5	America	America	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	southern	southern	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	Mexico	Mexico	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	Guatemala	Guatemala	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	Belize	Belize	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
14	nearby	nearby	ADV	RB	_	18	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	14	punct	_	_
16	whose	whose	PRON	WP$	Poss=Yes|PronType=Rel	18	nmod:poss	_	_
17	ancient	ancient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	civilisation	civilisation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	_
19	built	build	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
20	stone	stone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	compound	_	_
21	cities	city	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	obj	_	_
22	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	23	cc	_	_
23	pyramids	pyramid	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	21	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	19	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **build** | past | a people of Central America  southern Mexico and Guatemala and Belize and southern Mexico and Guatemala and Belize and ancient civilisation's ancient civilisation | stone cities and pyramids |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent city=Product |
| 2 | **civilise** |  | southern Mexico and Guatemala and Belize and southern Mexico and Guatemala and Belize and ancient civilisation's ancient civilisation |  |  |  |  |  | nom civilisation «process transitive»: poss=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 -->
One of the Mayan languages.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maya:m2:1
# text = One of the Mayan languages.
1	One	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	0	root	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	Mayan	mayan	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	languages	language	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A girl's name.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maya:m3:1
# text = A girl's name.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	girl	girl	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **name** |  | a girl |  |  |  |  |  | nom name «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The ancient Maya built tall stone pyramids.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maya:x1:1
# text = The ancient Maya built tall stone pyramids.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	ancient	ancient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	Maya	Maya	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	built	build	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	tall	tall	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	stone	stone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	pyramids	pyramid	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **build** | past | the ancient Maya | tall stone pyramids |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pyramid=Product |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Maya counted in twenties, not tens.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maya:x2:1
# text = The Maya counted in twenties, not tens.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Maya	Maya	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	counted	count	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	twenties	twenty	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
8	tens	ten	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **count** | past | the Maya |  |  | twenties and tens |  |  | vn matter-91 «NP V»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Maya were among the first people to use a sign for zero.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maya:x3:1
# text = The Maya were among the first people to use a sign for zero.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Maya	Maya	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	among	among	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	7	amod	_	_
7	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	use	use	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	acl	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	sign	sign	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
12	for	for	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	zero	zero	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the Maya |  |  |  |  | among the first people | tree rules |
| 2 | **use** | to-infinitive |  | a sign |  |  |  | for zero | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP PP.predicate»: agent=Agent sign=Theme for zero=Eventuality |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Chocolate drinks were important to the Maya.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maya:x4:1
# text = Chocolate drinks were important to the Maya.
1	Chocolate	chocolate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	drinks	drink	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	important	important	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	Maya	Maya	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | Chocolate drinks |  |  |  |  | to the Maya; important *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We made Maya number glyphs with dots and bars.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maya:x5:1
# text = We made Maya number glyphs with dots and bars.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	Maya	Maya	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	glyphs	glyph	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	dots	dot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	bars	bar	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | We | number glyphs |  |  |  | with dots and bars | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent glyph=Product |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Millions of Maya people still live in Mexico and Guatemala today.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maya:x6:1
# text = Millions of Maya people still live in Mexico and Guatemala today.
1	Millions	million	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	Maya	Maya	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	nmod	_	_
5	still	still	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	live	live	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	Mexico	Mexico	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	Guatemala	Guatemala	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	_
11	today	today	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **live** | present | Millions of Maya people |  |  | Mexico and Guatemala | still; today |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in mexico=Location |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Maya is in my class and sits next to me.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maya:x7:1
# text = Maya is in my class and sits next to me.
1	Maya	Maya	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	sits	sit	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
8	next	next	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
9	to	to	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Maya |  |  | my class |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **sit** | present | Maya *not said here* |  | me |  |  | next *property* | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Maya writing used picture-like symbols called glyphs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maya:x8:1
# text = Maya writing used picture-like symbols called glyphs.
1	Maya	Maya	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	writing	write	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	picture	picture	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	like	like	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	symbols	symbol	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
8	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	acl	_	_
9	glyphs	glyph	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | gerund · passive |  | Maya |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **call** | participle | like symbols *not said here* | glyphs |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- 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: [may](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/may/)
- next →: [mayan](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mayan/)
- ↑ back to [M in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/)