---
title: wallah — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «wallah» in the school dictionary: A person who does a particular job or is connected with a particular thing, as in chai-wallah (a tea seller) or rickshaw-wallah. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# wallah

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** person, chai wallah, dabbawalas, you, rickshaw wallah, Grandad · **What happens:** do, connect, say, charge, pour, deliver · **To what, where:** particular job, something, hot sweet tea, station, thousands, Mumbai · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«wallah» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [wallah in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/wallah.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: India, informal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A person who does a particular job or is connected with a particular thing, as in chai-wallah (a tea seller) or rickshaw-wallah.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wallah:m1:1
# text = A person who does a particular job or is connected with a particular thing, as in chai-wallah (a tea seller) or rickshaw-wallah.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	4	nsubj	_	_
4	does	do	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl:relcl	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	particular	particular	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	job	job	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux:pass	_	_
10	connected	connect	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	conj	_	_
11	with	with	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	particular	particular	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
16	as	as	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
17	in	in	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
18	chai	chai	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	wallah	wallah	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
21	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	24	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
23	tea	tea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	compound	_	_
24	seller	seller	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	24	punct	_	_
26	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	29	cc	_	_
27	rickshaw	rickshaw	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	29	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	27	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	wallah	wallah	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | present | a person and chai wallah or rickshaw wallah | a particular job |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent job=Eventuality |
| 2 | **connect** | present · passive | a person and chai wallah or rickshaw wallah *not said here* |  |  |  |  | with a particular thing | vn mix-22.1-2-1 «NP V PP.patient»: with thing=Co-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}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: old-fashioned UK slang — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A person in charge of something, often said jokingly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wallah:m2:1
# text = A person in charge of something, often said jokingly.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	charge	charge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	often	often	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	said	say	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl:relcl	_	_
10	jokingly	jokingly	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | participle |  |  |  |  |  | jokingly, often *property* | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **charge** |  |  | something |  |  |  |  | nom charge «act transitive»: of=patient |

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"the computer wallah".

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wallah:m2e:1
# text = "the computer wallah".
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	computer	computer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	wallah	wallah	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The chai-wallah poured hot sweet tea at the station.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wallah:x1:1
# text = The chai-wallah poured hot sweet tea at the station.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	chai	chai	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	wallah	wallah	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	poured	pour	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	hot	hot	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
7	sweet	sweet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	tea	tea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
9	at	at	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	station	station	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pour** | past | the chai wallah | hot sweet tea |  | the station |  |  | vn preparing-26.3-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tea=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In Mumbai, dabbawalas deliver thousands of lunchboxes every day.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wallah:x2:1
# text = In Mumbai, dabbawalas deliver thousands of lunchboxes every day.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	Mumbai	Mumbai	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	dabbawalas	dabbawala	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
5	deliver	deliver	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	thousands	thousand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	lunchboxes	lunchbox	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	_
9	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	10	det	_	_
10	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **deliver** | present | dabbawalas | thousands of lunchboxes |  | Mumbai | day |  | vn birth-28.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thousand=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ask the computer wallah to fix the printer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wallah:x3:1
# text = Ask the computer wallah to fix the printer.
1	Ask	ask	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	computer	computer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	wallah	wallah	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	fix	fix	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	printer	printer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ask** *speech: ask* | imperative | you *not said here* | the computer wallah |  |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent wallah=Recipient |
| 2 | **fix** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | the printer |  |  |  |  | vn shake-22.3-2 «NP V NP together»: agent=Agent printer=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The rickshaw-wallah pedalled us through the busy market.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wallah:x4:1
# text = The rickshaw-wallah pedalled us through the busy market.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	rickshaw	rickshaw	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	wallah	wallah	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	pedalled	pedall	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	obj	_	_
7	through	through	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	busy	busy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	market	market	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pedall** | past | the rickshaw wallah | us |  | the busy market |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandad called the man who sold ice cream "the ice-cream wallah".

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wallah:x5:1
# text = Grandad called the man who sold ice cream "the ice-cream wallah".
1	Grandad	Grandad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	called	call	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
6	sold	sell	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
7	ice	ice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	cream	cream	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
11	ice	ice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	cream	cream	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	compound	_	_
14	wallah	wallah	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | past | Grandad |  | the man |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent man=Recipient |
| 2 | **sell** | past | the man | ice cream |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The paper wallah threw the newspaper onto the step.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wallah:x6:1
# text = The paper wallah threw the newspaper onto the step.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	paper	paper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	wallah	wallah	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	threw	throw	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	newspaper	newspaper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	onto	onto	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	step	step	NOUN	NN	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 | **throw** | past | the paper wallah | the newspaper |  |  |  | onto the step | vn throw-17.1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.destinations»: agent=Agent newspaper=Theme onto step=Destination |

<!-- 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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