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Ṅwana Wa Nḓou Aṱoḓaho U Ḓivha. Indlovu Eyayithanda Izinto Indlela Iindlovu Ezafumana Ngayo Imiboko Emide Curious Baby Elephant

Written by Judith Baker

Illustrated by Wiehan de Jager

Translated by Maphaha Tshimangadzo Nelson

Language Venda

Level Level 2

Narrate full story The audio for this story is currently not available.


Muṅwe na muṅwe u a ḓivha u ri nḓou i na ningo ndapfusa.

Siyazi ukuthi indlovu inomboko omude.

Sonke siyayazi into yokuba indlovu inomboko omde.

Everyone knows that the elephant has a very long nose.


Fhedzi kale ningo ya nḓou yo vha i pfufhi nahone yo khwaṱha. I tshi nga tshienda tsho nambatela vhukati ha tshifhaṱuwo.

Emandulo umboko wendlovu wawumfishane. Wawubukeka kabi.

Kodwa kudala umboko wendlovu wawumfutshane kakhulu futhi utyebile okwesihlangu esibekwe ebusweni bayo. Wawuyimpumlo nje eqhelekileyo.

But a long time ago, the elephant’s nose was short and fat. Like a shoe in the middle of its face.


Ḽiṅwe ḓuvha ha bebwa ndowana. Nḓowana yo ṱoḓa u ḓivha nga ha zwithu zwoṱhe. Nḓowana yo vha na mbudziso kha phukha iṅwe na iṅwe.

Kwazalwa inkonyane eyayithanda izinto. Yayihlala inombuzo ngezinye izilwane.

Ngenye imini kwazalwa ithole lendlovu. Lalinomdla ngayo yonke into. Lalisoloko linombuzo kwisilwanyana ngasinye.

One day a baby elephant was born. She was curious about everything. She had a question for every animal.


Yo ṱoḓa u ḓivha nga ha thudwa. “Ndi ngani ni na mukulo mulapfu,” ya vhudzisa.

Yahlangana nendlulamithi. “Kungani unentamo ende?”

Lalilangazelela ukwazi ngendlulamthi. “Kutheni unomqala omde?” labuza kwindlulamthi.

She was curious about Giraffe. “Why do you have a long neck?” she asked.


Yo ṱoḓa u ḓivha nga ha Tshugulu. “Ndi ngani lunanga lwau lu na ṱhodzi i fhiraho?”

Ngakusasa yahlangana nobhejane. “Kungani unophondo olucijile?”

Lalilangazelela ukwazi ngomkhombe. “Kutheni uneempondo ezitsolo?” Labuza kumkhombe.

She was curious about Rhino. “Why does your horn have a sharp point?”


Yo ṱoḓa u ḓivha nga ha Mvuvhu. “Ndi ngani ni na maṱo matswuku.” Hu vhudzisa nḓowana.

Yaphinde yahlangana nemvubu. “Kungani unamehlo abomvu?”

Lalilangazelela ukwazi ngemvubu. “Kutheni unamehlo abomvu nje?” Labuza kwimvubu.

She was curious about Hippo. “Why do you have red eyes?” she asked.


Ya ṱoḓesa u ḓivha nga Ngweṋa. “Ngweṋa i ḽa mini nga tshifhinga tsha tshiswiṱulo.” Nḓowana i a vhudzisa.

Ngoba yayithanda izinto, yafuna ukwazi ngengwenya. Ngabe ingwenya idlani ngesidlo sakusihlwa?

Kanti lalilangazelela KAKHULU ukwazi ngengwenya. ”Ingwenya itya ntoni ngesidlo sangokuhlwa?”

And she was VERY curious about Crocodile. “What does Crocodile eat for dinner?” she asked.


“Ni songo vhudzisa mbudziso yo raloho,” vhe vha ralo ndi mme awe. Ya ṱuwa yo sinyalala.

“Ungalokothi ubuze umbuzo onjalo!” kusho umama wayo. Yahamba inyukubele.

“Ungakulinge uphinde ubuze umbuzo onjalo!” watsho umama walo. Waze wahamba engatyhilekanga.

“Never ask a question like that!” said her mother. Then she walked off, frowning.


Nga u ṱavhanya Funguvhu ḽa fhufhela fhasi kha nḓowana. “Ntevheleni mulamboni. Ni ḓo vhona uri ngweṋa i ḽa mini nga tshiswitulo.” Funguvhu ḽa ambesa nga maanda.

Ngokushesha igwababa landizela phansi, lahlala eduze kwendlovu. Lathi, “Ngilandele siye emfuleni, uzobona-ke ukuthi ingwenya idlani kusihlwa.”

Kodwa ngokukhawuleza kwafika uNomyayi owayekrelekrele wathi, “Ndilandele siye emlanjeni. Apho uza kutsho ubone ukuba ingwenya itya ntoni ngesopholo.”

Quickly Crow flew down to baby elephant. “Follow me to the river. There you will see what Crocodile eats for dinner,” squawked Crow.


Nḓowana ya tevhela funguvhu mulamboni.

Nangempela indlovu yalandela igwababa.

Ngenene ithole lendlovu lalandela unomyayi ukuya emlanjeni.

So the baby elephant followed Crow down to the river.


Nḓowana ya fhanda vhukati ha ṱhanga ya swika ya ima khunzikhunzini. Ya lavhelesa ngomu maḓini. Ngweṋa yo vha i ngafhi?

Indlovu yazimpintsha yangena emhlangeni yama osebeni lomfula. Iphi ingwenya pho?

Lazinyanzela ezingcongolweni laze lema enyeleni yomlambo. Lajonga emanzini. Yayiphi ingwenya?

She pushed through the reeds and stood on the bank. She looked into the water. Where was Crocodile?


“Hu rini,” ḽe ḽa ralo ndi tombo ḽi re tsini na khunzikhunzi ya mulambo. “Ndi hone,” i no ralo ndi nḓowana. “Ni nga mmbudza uri Ngweṋa i ḽa mini nga tshifhinga tsha tshiswiṱulo?” i a vhudzisa.

“Sawubona,” kusho itshe ngasosebeni lomfula. “Yebo,” kuphendula indlovu. “Ungangitshela ukuthi ingwenya idlani ngesidlo sakusihlwa?”

“Molo,” kwatsho ilitye elalingakwinyele yomlambo. “Ewe,” laphendula ithole lendlovu. “Ungandichazela ukuba ingwenya itya ntoni ngesopholo?”

“Hello,” said a stone near the river bank. “Hello,” said Baby Elephant. “Can you tell me what Crocodile eats for dinner?” she asked.


“Kwatamani ndi ḓo kona u ni vhudza,” ḽe ḽa ralo ndi tombo. “Fhasi – fhasi” ndi tombo ḽo ambaho nga u ralo Nḓowana ya kwatamela fhasi.

“Lalela-ke, goba ngizokutshela,” kuphendula itshe. “Goba futhi, futhi,” kuqhubeka itshe. Nangempela indlovu yehlela phansi yaze.”

“Goba uze ezantsi ndizokukuxelela,” laphendula ilitye. “Yehla, yehla, kwakhona.” Ngenene ithole lendlovu lagoba, lehla, laphinda lehla laze.

“Bend down and I will tell you,” said the stone. “Lower, lower,” said the stone. So Baby Elephant bent down lower, and lower.


Nga u ṱavhanya ningo ya nḓowana ya farwa nga mano a Ngweṋa. “Ngweṋa i ḓo ḽa inwi nga tshifhinga tsha tshiswiṱulo.” Funguvhu ḽa ralo ḽi tshi tou ambela nṱha, ḽa mbo di fhufha.

“Ngqi!” Ikhala layo lase lise mhlathini wengwenya. “Helele! Izodla wena ingwenya ngesidlo sakusihlwa!” kutswininiza igwababa.

“Xhakamfu!” Impumlo yethole lendlovu yabe sele isezindlathini zengwenya. “Ingwenya iza kutya wena ngesopholo!” Wakhala watsho unomyayi.

Then suddenly, “Snap!” Baby Elephant’s nose was caught in Crocodile’s jaws. “Crocodile will eat you for dinner!” squawked Crow, and flew away.


Nḓowana ya sendela murahu nga milenzhe yayo yo khwaṱhaho ya kokodza, ya kokodza u dovha na u dovha fhedzi ngweṋa ya si litshedze ningo.

Indlovu yazabalaza ngemilenze yayo yangemuva eqinile, yadonsa, yadonsa, yadonsa. Ingwenya ayizange iyidedele. Ikhala lendlovu ladonseka, ladonseka, ladonseka. Dalakaxa! Yawa yashayeka ngomhlane odakeni.

Ithole lendlovu laxhathisa ngemilenze yalo yangemva eqinileyo, latsala, latsala, latsala. Kodwa ingwenya ayatsho ukuliyeka.

Baby Elephant sat back on her strong legs and pulled. She pulled, and pulled. But Crocodile did not let go of her nose.


Ningo ya nḓowana ya tatamuwa na u tatamuwa, ya tatamuwa na u tatamuwa. Zwenezwo “bi” ya wela murahu.

Tshobe ingwenya emanzini. “Ngaze ngaphuthelwa ukudla okumnandi!”

Impumlo yethole lendlovu yanwebeka, yanwebeka, yanwebeka laze. “Dudlu!” lawa labetheka ngomqolo.

Baby Elephant’s nose stretched, and stretched, and stretched. Then, “Thud!” she fell on her back.


Ngweṋa ya nzwaṱimela maḓini. Yo vha i khou vhilaela nga u ponyokisa tshiswiṱulo tshayo.

Indlovu yabheka umboko wayo. “Maye! Ikhala lami leli, elide kangaka?”

Ngokudikwa kukuphuncukwa sisidlo, ingwenya yatshona phantsi kwamazi.

Crocodile sunk back into the water. He was cross about losing his dinner.


Nḓowana ya sedza kha ningo yayo. Yo vha yo tatamudzwa ya lapfesa. Yo vha i khou balelwa u vhona mafhelelo ayo.

Lalilide kangangoba lalikwazi ukufinyelela emagatsheni aphezulu esihlahleni.

Ithole lendlovu lajonga impumlo yalo. Kodwa lalingakwazi ukubona apho yayiphela khona!

Baby Elephant looked at her nose. It was stretched very long. She could not see where it ended!


Ningo yo vha yo lapfa lune nḓowanan ya kona u fula mitshelo i re matavhini malapfu lapfu.

Indlovu kwayisiza lokhu. Yayisikwazi ukuzigeza umhlane wayo ngamanzi uma ilanga lishisa.

Impumlo yalo yayinde kangangokuba yayinokukwazi ukukha iziqhamo emasebeni aphezulu emithi.

Her nose was so long she could pick fruit from high branches.


Ningo yo vha yo lapfa lune ya kona u ṱamba muvhili yo ka maḓi ngayo. U bva lenelo ḓuvha nḓou dzoṱhe dzo vha na musingo mulapfu u re na mushumo.

Kusukela ngalelo langa, zonke izindlovu zinemiboko emide elusizo kuzona.

Impumlo yalo yayinde kangangokuba yayinokukwazi nokuhlamba umqolo walo ngamanzi. Ukusukela ngaloo mini, zonke iindlovu zaba nemiboko emide eluncedo.

Her nose was so long she could shower her back with water. From that day, all elephants had long and useful trunks.


Written by: Judith Baker
Illustrated by: Wiehan de Jager
Translated by: Maphaha Tshimangadzo Nelson
Language: Venda
Level: Level 2
Source: Curious baby elephant from African Storybook
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 International License.
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