---
title: shona — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «shona» in the school dictionary: The Shona are a people of southern Africa who live mainly in Zimbabwe. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# shona

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Shona, people, dad, Mhoro, millions, We · **What happens:** be, live, speak, mean, see, build · **To what, where:** people, Zimbabwe, language, first name, Shona, beautiful Shona stone carvings · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Shona are a people of southern Africa who live mainly in Zimbabwe.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shona:m1:1
# text = The Shona are a people of southern Africa who live mainly in Zimbabwe.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Shona	Shona	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	southern	southern	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	Africa	Africa	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
9	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj	_	_
10	live	live	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
11	mainly	mainly	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	Zimbabwe	Zimbabwe	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the Shona | a people |  |  |  | of southern Africa | tree rules |
| 2 | **live** | present | a people |  |  | Zimbabwe |  | mainly *property* | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in zimbabwe=Location |

<!-- .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 -->
Shona is the language of the Shona people, one of the official languages of Zimbabwe.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shona:m2:1
# text = Shona is the language of the Shona people, one of the official languages of Zimbabwe.
1	Shona	Shona	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	language	language	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	Shona	Shona	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	4	conj	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	official	official	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	languages	language	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nmod	_	_
15	of	of	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	Zimbabwe	Zimbabwe	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	14	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Shona (or Shonagh) is also a girl's first name, mainly in Scotland and Ireland.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shona:m3:1
# text = Shona (or Shonagh) is also a girl's first name, mainly in Scotland and Ireland.
1	Shona	Shona	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
2	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	Shonagh	Shonagh	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	4	punct	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
7	also	also	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	girl	girl	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	's	's	PART	POS	_	9	case	_	_
11	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	12	amod	_	_
12	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
14	mainly	mainly	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	_
15	in	in	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	Scotland	Scotland	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	12	appos	_	_
17	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
18	Ireland	Ireland	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	16	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Shona | a girl's first name |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My friend's dad speaks Shona and English.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shona:x1:1
# text = My friend's dad speaks Shona and English.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	friend	friend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	speaks	speak	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	Shona	Shona	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	English	English	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **speak** *speech: other* | present | My friend's dad | Shona and English |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Mhoro" means "hello" in Shona.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shona:x2:1
# text = "Mhoro" means "hello" in Shona.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Mhoro	Mhoro	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	hello	hello	INTJ	UH	_	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	Shona	Shona	PROPN	NNP	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 | **mean** | present | Mhoro |  |  |  |  | in Shona | vn representation-110.1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Pivot hello=Theme in shona=Attribute |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Shona is spoken by millions of people in Zimbabwe.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shona:x3:1
# text = Shona is spoken by millions of people in Zimbabwe.
1	Shona	Shona	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	spoken	speak	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	by	by	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	millions	million	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl:agent	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	Zimbabwe	Zimbabwe	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 | **speak** *speech: other* | present · passive | millions of people in Zimbabwe | Shona |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We saw beautiful Shona stone carvings at the museum.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shona:x4:1
# text = We saw beautiful Shona stone carvings at the museum.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	saw	see	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	beautiful	beautiful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
4	Shona	Shona	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
5	stone	stone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	carvings	carving	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
7	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	museum	museum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **see** | past | We | beautiful Shona stone carvings |  | the museum |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer carving=Stimulus |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Shona from Glasgow is the best swimmer in our club.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shona:x5:1
# text = Shona from Glasgow is the best swimmer in our club.
1	Shona	Shona	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
2	from	from	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	Glasgow	Glasgow	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	best	good	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	7	amod	_	_
7	swimmer	swimmer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	club	club	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Shona from Glasgow | the best swimmer |  | our club |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Shona people built great stone walls long ago.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shona:x6:1
# text = The Shona people built great stone walls long ago.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	Shona	Shona	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	built	build	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	stone	stone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	walls	wall	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
8	long	long	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	9	advmod	_	_
9	ago	ago	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **build** | past | the Shona people | great stone walls |  |  |  | ago *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent wall=Product |

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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.

<!-- /div -->

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