---
title: mayan — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «mayan» in the school dictionary: To do with the Maya, the people of Central America (Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras) whose ancient civilisation built stone cities and pyramids. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# mayan

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** people, millions, Mayan pyramid, We, Mayan people, Mayan calendar · **What happens:** do, build, speak, have, write, use · **To what, where:** stone cities, Mayan languages, steep steps, ages, Mayan numbers, dots · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«mayan» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 7 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: [mayan in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/mayan.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To do with the Maya, the people of Central America (Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras) whose ancient civilisation built stone cities and pyramids.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mayan:m1:1
# text = To do with the Maya, the people of Central America (Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras) whose ancient civilisation built stone cities and pyramids.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	24	advcl	_	_
3	with	with	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	Maya	Maya	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	24	nsubj	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	Central	Central	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	flat	_	_
11	America	America	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	_
12	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	Mexico	Mexico	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
15	Guatemala	Guatemala	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
17	Belize	Belize	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
19	Honduras	Honduras	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	13	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	19	punct	_	_
21	whose	whose	PRON	WP$	Poss=Yes|PronType=Rel	23	nmod:poss	_	_
22	ancient	ancient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	23	amod	_	_
23	civilisation	civilisation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	nsubj	_	_
24	built	build	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
25	stone	stone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	26	compound	_	_
26	cities	city	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	24	obj	_	_
27	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	28	cc	_	_
28	pyramids	pyramid	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	26	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	24	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | to-infinitive | the people of Central America  Mexico and Guatemala and Belize *not said here* |  |  |  |  | with the Maya | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **build** | past | the people of Central America  Mexico and Guatemala and Belize | stone cities and pyramids |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent city=Product |

<!-- .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 -->
A Maya person; also the Mayan languages, which millions of people still speak today.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mayan:m2:1
# text = A Maya person; also the Mayan languages, which millions of people still speak today.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	Maya	Maya	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
5	also	also	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	Mayan	mayan	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	languages	language	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
10	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	15	obj	_	_
11	millions	million	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	nsubj	_	_
12	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nmod	_	_
14	still	still	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
15	speak	speak	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	conj	_	_
16	today	today	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **speak** *speech: other* | present | millions of people | the Mayan languages |  |  | still; today |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Mayan pyramid had steep steps up to a temple.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mayan:x1:1
# text = The Mayan pyramid had steep steps up to a temple.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	Mayan	mayan	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	pyramid	pyramid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	steep	steep	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	steps	step	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
7	up	up	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	temple	temple	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the Mayan pyramid | steep steps |  |  |  | up a temple | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent step=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We wrote our ages in Mayan numbers using dots and bars.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mayan:x2:1
# text = We wrote our ages in Mayan numbers using dots and bars.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	wrote	write	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	ages	age	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	Mayan	Mayan	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	numbers	number	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
8	using	use	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
9	dots	dot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	bars	bar	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | past | We | our ages |  | Mayan numbers |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent age=Theme in number=Destination |
| 2 | **use** | gerund | We *not said here* | dots and bars |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent dot=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mayan people still live in Guatemala and speak Mayan languages.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mayan:x3:1
# text = Mayan people still live in Guatemala and speak Mayan languages.
1	Mayan	mayan	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	still	still	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	live	live	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	Guatemala	Guatemala	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	speak	speak	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
9	Mayan	mayan	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	languages	language	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **live** | present | Mayan people |  |  | Guatemala | still |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in guatemala=Location |
| 2 | **speak** *speech: other* | present | Mayan people *not said here* | Mayan languages |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Mayan calendar was very accurate.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mayan:x4:1
# text = The Mayan calendar was very accurate.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	Mayan	mayan	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	calendar	calendar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	very	very	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	accurate	accurate	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the Mayan calendar |  |  |  |  | accurate *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ancient Mayan farmers grew maize, beans and squash.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mayan:x5:1
# text = Ancient Mayan farmers grew maize, beans and squash.
1	Ancient	ancient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
2	Mayan	mayan	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	farmers	farmer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	grew	grow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	maize	maize	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	beans	bean	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	squash	squash	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **grow** | past | Ancient Mayan farmers | maize and beans and squash |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location maize=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A shell stood for zero in Mayan maths.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mayan:x6:1
# text = A shell stood for zero in Mayan maths.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	shell	shell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	stood	stand	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	zero	zero	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	3	obl	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	Mayan	mayan	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	maths	math	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stand** | past | a shell |  |  | Mayan maths |  | for zero | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent in math=Location |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some people claimed the Mayan calendar said the world would end, but it did not say that.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mayan:x7:1
# text = Some people claimed the Mayan calendar said the world would end, but it did not say that.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	claimed	claim	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	Mayan	Mayan	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	calendar	calendar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	world	world	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
10	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	_
11	end	end	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
13	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
14	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	nsubj	_	_
15	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	17	aux	_	_
16	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	17	advmod	_	_
17	say	say	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	conj	_	_
18	that	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	17	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **claim** *speech: other* | past | some people |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | the Mayan calendar |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **end** | would | the world |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |
| 4 | **not** **say** *speech: assert* | past · do-support | world | that |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent that=Topic |

<!-- 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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