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Mukomana weHwai neMhumhi

The Boy Who Cried Wolf
Difficulty: Early Readers · Reading Time: 4 min
Sarungano: "Kare kare zvakako..."  ·  Vateereri: "Dzepfunde!"
Scene 1 🐑
Scene 1: A long time ago, a young boy named Tendai watched over the village sheep upon the green rolling slopes.
Kare kare zvakako, mukomana anonzi Tendai aifudza hwai dzemumusha pamateru egomo rakasvibira.
A long time ago, a young boy named Tendai watched over the village sheep upon the green rolling slopes.
Scene 2 📢
Scene 2: Feeling lonely and bored, he thought of a mischievous prank. He shouted at the top of his voice, "Wolf! Wolf is eating the sheep!"
Ainzwa kusurukirwa, achibva afunga zano rokuvara nhema. Akadanidzira nemanzwi makuru, "Mhumhi! Mhumhi irikudya hwai!"
Feeling lonely and bored, he thought of a mischievous prank. He shouted at the top of his voice, "Wolf! Wolf is eating the sheep!"
Scene 3 🏃🏾‍♂️
Scene 3: The villagers dropped their farm tools and rushed up the hill with sticks and spears, only to find Tendai rolling on the grass laughing.
Vanhu vemumusha vakasiya mabasa vakamhanya nemapfumo netsvimbo, asi vakawana Tendai achingoseka zvake.
The villagers dropped their farm tools and rushed up the hill with sticks and spears, only to find Tendai rolling on the grass laughing.
Scene 4 😠
Scene 4: The next day, Tendai cried out the same false alarm. The villagers rushed up again, shaking their heads in frustration at his deceit.
Zuva rechipiri, Tendai akadanidzira zvakare nemano. Vanhu vakamhanya zvekare, vakazadzwa nehasha vachiona ari maoresa.
The next day, Tendai cried out the same false alarm. The villagers rushed up again, shaking their heads in frustration at his deceit.
Scene 5 🐺
Scene 5: On the third day, a real, terrifying wolf with gleaming amber eyes leapt out from behind the boulders toward the flock!
Zuva rechitatu, mhumhi hombe chaiyo ine maziso anovaima yakasvetuka ichibva mumatombo ichiuya pamakwai!
On the third day, a real, terrifying wolf with gleaming amber eyes leapt out from behind the boulders toward the flock!
Scene 6 😭
Scene 6: Tendai scrambled up a tree in terror, weeping: "A real wolf! Please save me!" But the villagers said: "He is lying to us once more."
Tendai akachema achikwira mumuti achiti: "Mhumhi chaiyo! Ndiponeseiwo!" Asi vanhu vakati: "Ari kunyepa zvakare."
Tendai scrambled up a tree in terror, weeping: "A real wolf! Please save me!" But the villagers said: "He is lying to us once more."
Scene 7 🌅
Scene 7: At sunset Tendai sat alone in tears, learning the painful cost of dishonesty. Our lesson: Lying leaves you with no help in true danger.
Zuva radoka Tendai akasara ega achizvidemba. Chidzidzo chedu: Kureva nhema kunoshayisa shamwari. Ndipo pakafira sarungano.
At sunset Tendai sat alone in tears, learning the painful cost of dishonesty. Our lesson: Lying leaves you with no help in true danger.
🏆 Chidzidzo cheNgano (Moral of the Tale):
Kureva nhema kunoparadza chivimbo. Munyepi akataura chokwadi hapana anomutenda.
English: Lying destroys trust. Even when a liar speaks the truth, no one will believe them.
🔤 Mashoko eMungano (Key Words)
ChiShona Pronunciation English
Mufudzi moo-FOO-dzee Shepherd / Herder
Hwai HWAH-ee Sheep
Mhumhi MHOO-mhee Wolf
Nhema NNEH-mah Lies / Untruth
Chokwadi choh-KWAH-dee Truth
Kudanidzira koo-dah-nee-DZEE-rah To shout / Call out
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