---
title: tamale — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «tamale» in the school dictionary: A tamale is a Mexican and Central American food made of corn dough (masa) filled with meat, cheese, beans or vegetables, wrapped in a corn husk or banana leaf and steamed. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# tamale

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** tamale, You, We, Grandma, tamales, whole family · **What happens:** be, make, fill, wrap, steam, unwrap · **To what, where:** Mexican Central American food, masa, corn husk, husk, tamales, corn husks

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A tamale is a Mexican and Central American food made of corn dough (masa) filled with meat, cheese, beans or vegetables, wrapped in a corn husk or banana leaf and steamed.

<!-- fold The tree, 31 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tamale:m1:1
# text = A tamale is a Mexican and Central American food made of corn dough (masa) filled with meat, cheese, beans or vegetables, wrapped in a corn husk or banana leaf and steamed.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	tamale	tamale	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
5	Mexican	Mexican	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
7	Central	Central	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
8	American	American	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
10	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	acl	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	corn	corn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	compound	_	_
13	dough	dough	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	_
14	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	masa	masa	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	15	punct	_	_
17	filled	fill	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	15	acl	_	_
18	with	with	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	meat	meat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
21	cheese	cheese	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
23	beans	bean	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	conj	_	_
24	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	25	cc	_	_
25	vegetables	vegetable	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	23	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	27	punct	_	_
27	wrapped	wrap	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	acl	_	_
28	in	in	ADP	IN	_	31	case	_	_
29	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	31	det	_	_
30	corn	corn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	31	compound	_	_
31	husk	husk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	27	obl	_	_
32	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	34	cc	_	_
33	banana	banana	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	34	compound	_	_
34	leaf	leaf	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	31	conj	_	_
35	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	36	cc	_	_
36	steamed	steam	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	27	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
37	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a tamale | a Mexican Central American food |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **make** | participle |  | a Mexican Central American food *not said here* |  |  |  | of corn dough | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 3 | **fill** | participle |  | masa and beans or vegetables *not said here* |  |  |  | with meat and cheese | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent with meat=Instrument |
| 4 | **wrap** | participle |  | a Mexican Central American food *not said here* |  | a corn husk or banana leaf |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V PP.destination»: agent=Theme in husk=Destination |
| 5 | **steam** | past |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn cooking-45.3 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

<!-- .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 -->
You unwrap and throw away the husk before eating.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tamale:m2:1
# text = You unwrap and throw away the husk before eating.
1	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	unwrap	unwrap	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	throw	throw	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
5	away	away	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	husk	husk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
8	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
9	eating	eat	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **unwrap** | present | You |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **throw away** | present | You *not said here* | the husk |  |  |  | away *property* | vn throw-17.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent husk=Theme |
| 3 | **eat** | gerund | You *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We steamed tamales wrapped in corn husks.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tamale:x1:1
# text = We steamed tamales wrapped in corn husks.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	steamed	steam	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	tamales	tamale	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	wrapped	wrap	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	corn	corn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	husks	husk	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **steam** | past | We | tamales |  |  |  |  | vn cooking-45.3 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent tamale=Patient |
| 2 | **wrap** | participle |  | tamales *not said here* |  | corn husks |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V PP.destination»: agent=Theme in husk=Destination |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandma makes tamales every Christmas.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tamale:x2:1
# text = Grandma makes tamales every Christmas.
1	Grandma	grandma	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	tamales	tamale	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	5	det	_	_
5	Christmas	Christmas	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | Grandma | tamales |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP NP»: agent=Asset tamale=Beneficiary christmas=Product |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't eat the corn husk, just the tamale inside.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tamale:x3:1
# text = Don't eat the corn husk, just the tamale inside.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	eat	eat	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	corn	corn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	husk	husk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	just	just	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	tamale	tamale	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	appos	_	_
11	inside	inside	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **eat** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | the corn husk |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent husk=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some tamales are sweet and filled with fruit.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tamale:x4:1
# text = Some tamales are sweet and filled with fruit.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	tamales	tamale	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	sweet	sweet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	filled	fill	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	conj	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	fruit	fruit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | some tamales |  |  |  |  | sweet *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **fill** | participle | some tamales *not said here* |  |  |  |  | with fruit | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent with fruit=Instrument |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The whole family helped fold the tamales.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tamale:x5:1
# text = The whole family helped fold the tamales.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	whole	whole	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	helped	help	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	fold	fold	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	tamales	tamale	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | past | the whole family |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **fold** | infinitive | the whole family *not said here* | the tamales |  |  |  |  | vn bend-45.2 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent tamale=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A Mexican food truck sold chicken tamales.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tamale:x6:1
# text = A Mexican food truck sold chicken tamales.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	Mexican	Mexican	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	truck	truck	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	sold	sell	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	acl	_	_
6	chicken	chicken	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	tamales	tamale	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sell** | participle | a Mexican food truck *not said here* | chicken tamales |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tamale=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In Central America, tamales are often wrapped in banana leaves.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tamale:x7:1
# text = In Central America, tamales are often wrapped in banana leaves.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	Central	Central	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	flat	_	_
3	America	America	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	tamales	tamale	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj:pass	_	_
6	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux:pass	_	_
7	often	often	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	wrapped	wrap	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	banana	banana	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	leaves	leaf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wrap** | present · passive |  | tamales |  | Central America |  | in banana leaves; often *property* | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: subject=Theme in america=Destination |

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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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