Umvundla oNgena emlonyeni weNgonyama
The Rabbit Who Entered the Lion's Mouth
⏱ ~15 min read · 60 sentences
1
Kukho umvundla omncinci ehlathini.
There is a small rabbit in the forest.
2
Uhlala nomama wakhe nomntwana wakhe.
He lives with his mother and his child.
3
Ngamanye amaxesha, umvundla uyadlala phandle.
Sometimes, the rabbit plays outside.
4
Ngenye imini, wabona ingonyama enkulu.
One day, he saw a big lion.
5
Ingonyama yayilele phantsi komthi.
The lion was sleeping under a tree.
6
Umvundla woyika kakhulu.
The rabbit was very afraid.
7
Wacinga, 'Kufuneka ndibaleke!'
He thought, 'I must run away!'
8
Kodwa ingonyama yavula amehlo ayo.
But the lion opened its eyes.
9
Yathi, 'Ungubani wena?'
It said, 'Who are you?'
10
Umvundla waphendula, 'Ndingumvundla.'
The rabbit answered, 'I am a rabbit.'
11
Ingonyama yahleka kakhulu.
The lion laughed loudly.
12
Yathi, 'Wena umvundla umncinci kakhulu.'
It said, 'You rabbit are very small.'
13
Umvundla wathi, 'Kodwa ndinobuqili.'
The rabbit said, 'But I have cleverness.'
14
Ingonyama ayikhange ikholwe.
The lion did not believe.
15
Yathi, 'Ungenza ntoni na?'
It said, 'What can you do?'
16
Umvundla wathi, 'Ndingangena emlonyeni wakho.'
The rabbit said, 'I can enter your mouth.'
17
Ingonyama yamangaliswa.
The lion was surprised.
18
Yavula umlomo wayo omkhulu.
It opened its big mouth.
19
Umvundla watsiba ngaphakathi.
The rabbit jumped inside.
20
Wayifumana ingonyama engenamazinyo.
He found the lion without teeth.
21
Wayibuza, 'Aphephi amazinyo akho?'
He asked, 'Where are your teeth?'
22
Ingonyama yatsho, 'Ndilahlekelwe ngamazinyo.'
The lion said, 'I lost my teeth.'
23
Umvundla wathi, 'Kutheni?'
The rabbit said, 'Why?'
24
Ingonyama yaphendula, 'Ndifuna ukutya okuthambileyo.'
The lion answered, 'I want soft food.'
25
Umvundla wathi, 'Ndingakunceda.'
The rabbit said, 'I can help you.'
26
Waphuma emlonyeni wengonyama.
He came out of the lion's mouth.
27
Wayifunela imifuno emnandi.
He found tasty vegetables for it.
28
Ingonyama yazitya ngovuyo.
The lion ate them with joy.
29
Yathi, 'Enkosi, mhlobo wam.'
It said, 'Thank you, my friend.'
30
Umvundla wathi, 'Uyamkeleka.'
The rabbit said, 'You are welcome.'
31
Sukela loo mini, baba ngabahlobo.
From that day, they became friends.
32
Ingonyama ayisayityi inyama.
The lion no longer ate meat.
33
Yayitya imifuno kuphela.
It ate only vegetables.
34
Umvundla wayemtyelela rhoqo.
The rabbit visited it often.
35
Babedlala kunye emlanjeni.
They played together at the river.
36
Ingonyama yayigquma ngolonwabo.
The lion roared with happiness.
37
Umvundla wawuhleka.
The rabbit laughed.
38
Wathi, 'Uyahlala ngoku?'
He said, 'Are you happy now?'
39
Ingonyama yathi, 'Ewe, ndiyavuya.'
The lion said, 'Yes, I am happy.'
40
Yongeza, 'Ungumhlobo olungileyo.'
It added, 'You are a good friend.'
41
Umvundla wavuya kakhulu.
The rabbit was very happy.
42
Wagoduka ebusuku.
He went home at night.
43
Umama wakhe wambuza, 'Ubuphi?'
His mother asked him, 'Where were you?'
44
Umvundla wamxelela ngengonyama.
The rabbit told her about the lion.
45
Umama wakhe wothuka.
His mother was shocked.
46
Wathi, 'Ingonyama iyingozi!'
She said, 'The lion is dangerous!'
47
Umvundla wathi, 'Hayi, inguMhlobo wam.'
The rabbit said, 'No, he is my friend.'
48
Umama wakhe akakhange akholwe.
His mother did not believe.
49
Kodwa wabona ingonyama kusasa.
But she saw the lion in the morning.
50
Yayiza nemifuno emininzi.
It came with many vegetables.
51
Umama womvundla wamangaliswa.
The rabbit's mother was amazed.
52
Wathi, 'Uyinyanisa!'
She said, 'You are telling the truth!'
53
Basuka bonke badla kunye.
Then they all ate together.
54
Ingonyama yaba yinxalenye yosapho.
The lion became part of the family.
55
Umvundla wafunda into ebalulekileyo.
The rabbit learned something important.
56
Wafunda ukuba ubuhlobo bunamandla.
He learned that friendship is powerful.
57
Nabantu bafunda kulo mzekelo.
Even people learn from this example.
58
Uncedo lunokutshintsha iintliziyo.
Help can change hearts.
59
Umvundla nengonyama bahlala bebonwabile.
The rabbit and the lion lived happily.
60
UPHELEKO.
THE END.
📚 Study Guide: Xhosa A2 Reading Notes
1. Grammar & Level Focus (CEFR A2 · Elementary)
This A2 Elementary Xhosa story combines everyday expressions with basic connectors (and, but, because) and simple past or future references. Pay attention to how transitions link actions across sentences.
2. Key Expressions & Sentence Anchors
Kukho umvundla omncinci ehlathini.
There is a small rabbit in the forest.
Sukela loo mini, baba ngabahlobo.
From that day, they became friends.
UPHELEKO.
THE END.
3. Comprehension & Active Recall Check
- Can you summarize the main event of "Umvundla oNgena emlonyeni weNgonyama" in 2–3 simple Xhosa sentences?
- Click 👁 Hide Translation above and re-read sentences 1 to 10 — how many words can you recall without looking?
- Use ▶ Play All to shadow-read aloud along with the native Xhosa audio pronunciation.