Explore our growing collection of rhymes in many South African languages, perfect to sing, say, and share together at home.
Olke bolke Riebeeck stolke,
olke bolke knol.
Êrie tjêrie tjiekerie tjêrie,
êrie tjêrie tjor!
Uittelrympie: Elke kind hou twee vuiste voor hom uit en die hand waar “tjor” val, moet agter die rug gesit word. As altwee jou hande agter jou rug is, is jy uit.
Paddatjie, paddatjie,
wat maak jy daar?
Kwaak-kwaak-kwaak,
kwaak-kwaak-kwaak,
daar op ‘n blaar.
Hier kom die eendjies
uit onder die brug.
Paddatjie skrik so
hy val op sy rug.
Die hik en ek
gaan oor die see;
die hik bly daar,
en ek kom weer.
My liewe neef Louw,
my neus jeuk nou.
Jeuk liewe neef Louw
se neus ook nou?
Handjies klap,
voetjies stap,
ogies kyk,
neusie snuit,
mondjie fluit,
kennebak,
gorrelgat,
doedelsak!
Raak aan die verskillende liggaamsdele terwyl jy die woorde sê.
Een, twee, drie,
al die voëltjies vlie.
Vier, vyf, ses,
elkeen na sy nes.
Is jy boos,
pluk ’n roos,
steek dit op jou hoed,
dan is jy môre weer goed.
Ek en my vroutjie bly stoksielalleen
in die vale pondokkie wat lek as dit reën.
Vra hulle my waarom dek ek hom nie,
dan sê ek: “As die son skyn dan lek hy mos nie.”
Alla wiep, alla wap,
hoe kook jy die pap?
Sonder suiker, sonder melk,
‘n groot bord vir elk.
Oom Olifant, jou reuse dier
die mense lag vir hul plesier,
want waar het jy al ooit gehoor
van ‘n stertjie van agter en ‘n stertjie van voor?
This little piggy went to market.
This little piggy stayed at home.
This little piggy had roast beef.
This little piggy had none.
And this little piggy cried, “Wee, wee, wee!”
All the way home.
Point to thumb as you say line one. Then, point to index finger, middle finger, ring finger and finally the little finger as you say each line.
Two little dickey birds sitting on a wall,
One named Peter, one named Paul.
Fly away Peter, fly away Paul.
Come back Peter, come back Paul!
There was a little frog,
That lived in a bog,
Who climbed on a lilypad
And jumped on a log.
It snapped at a mosquito,
It snapped at a bee,
It snapped at a cricket,
And it snapped at me!
It caught the mosquito.
It caught the bee.
It caught the cricket.
But it didn’t catch me!
Diddle diddle dumpling, my son John
Went to bed with his trousers on,
One shoe off and one shoe on,
Diddle diddle dumpling, my son John.
Polly, put the kettle on,
Polly, put the kettle on,
Polly, put the kettle on,
Let’s all have tea.
Sukey, put it off again,
Sukey, put it off again,
Sukey, put it off again,
They’ve all gone away!
Five currant buns in the baker’s shop,
Big and round with a cherry on top.
Along came a boy with a penny one day,
Bought a currant bun and took it away.
Replace five with four, three, two, one.
Replace boy with girl.
Ring-a-ring o’ roses,
A pocketful of posies.
A-tishoo! A-tishoo!
We all fall down!
Five little monkeys jumping on a bed,
One fell off and bumped his head.
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”
Replace five with four, three, two. When you get to one, replace the last line with:
“Put those monkeys straight to bed!”
Replace Mama with Papa.
Round and round the garden,
Like a teddy bear.
One step, two steps,
Tickle you under there.
Trace your finger in a circle on child’s palm. Walk two steps up arm and then tickle child under chin, arm, or on tummy.
Hey diddle diddle,
The cat and the fiddle,
The cow jumped over the moon.
The little dog laughed to see such fun,
And the dish ran away with the spoon!
Unomaza, shunqu
Wandophula, shunqu;
Esinqeni, shunqu;
Esikabani? shunqu;
EsikaJoni, shunqu;
Joni bani? shunqu;
Joni Maqanda, shunqu;
Ndize, ndize,
Ndize bantwana,
Ngapha kolwandle.
(Le yingonyana eculwa ngulowo ubeleke usana xa efuna lulale emqolo. Atsho elumbambazela de lulale ke ngolo hlobo)
Thula bhabhana,
Mus’ukulila,
umam’uyeza nedinal’ omntwana.
Ngubani na lo?
Ngubhabha wam,
Wenzani na?
Uyadlala, dlala, dlala
Uyadlala, dlala, dlala
Uyadlala.
Wenzani na?
Uyahleka, uyahleka, uyahleka,
Uyalila, uyalila, uyalila,
Uyaqingqa, uyaqingqa, uyaqingqa
Nalo isele!
Emva kwendlu kabawo,
Litya lichola chola,
Lithi ndakuligxotha,
Lithi tsi-gxada, tsi-gxada, tsi.
Iintaka ezintlanu zihleli emthini,
Yathi enye: “Masizimeleni”
Yathi enye: “Masibalekeni”
Yathi enye: “Masigodukeni”
Yathi enye: “Masibhabheni”
Yathi enye: “Masi …”
Gqum!Satsh’isibham!
Gqum!Satsh’isibham!
Bonts’omkhulu, bonts’omkhulu uphi na?
Ndim lo, ndim lo, ndiphilile enkosi.
Wokolatha, wokolatha uphi na?
Ndim lo, ndim lo ndiphilile enkosi.
Mnwe omde, mnwe omde uphi na?
Ndim lo, ndim lo ndiphilile enkosi.
Womsesane, womsesane, uphi na?
Ndim lo, ndim lo ndiphilile enkosi.
Cikicane, cikicane uphi na?
Ndim lo, ndim lo ndiphilile enkosi
Minwe yonke, minwe yonke niphi na?
Sith’aba, sith’aba siphile sonke.
Wena Nogayoyo,
Uyawaphethe ni?
Ndiyawapheth’inja
Uyawa yisaphi?
Ndiyawa yisendle,
Kunan’uyekhaya
Ndoyik’uGayoyo
Ekhal’engxoweni
Esithi, tsiyo-tsiyo
Ndafika kumoni
Entlantlath’inkobe.
Nathi ndikhongoze
Wathi zingeziko
Ndaya ndalinga
Wandibetha ngazo
Nam ndaphindisa
Xhoba labayeni
Bebefik’izolo
Bebefik’ izolo
Baxhelelw’ encinci
Encinci bayala
Baxhelelw’imvubu
Yona nyam’inkulu.
(Esi sicengcelezo zingenziwa ngazo zombini iindlela. Singanenkokheli okanye wonke umntu abandakanyeke kumgca ngamnye.)
Okhokhelayo: Wena Nomathemba, ubethwe ngubani?
Abaphendulayo: Yila ndoda!
Okhokhelayo: Iphi ngoku?
Abaphendulayo: Nants’ esapha!
Okhokhelayo: Khawuyibiz’ izapha.
Abaphendulayo: Owu, Hayi ndiyonqena
Okhokhelayo: Khwel’ihashe
Abaphendulayo: Owu, hayi ndiyonqena
Okhokhelayo: Khwel’idonki
Abaphendulayo: Owu hayi ndiyonqena
As’ke ehla amathmb’ ukubhek’ ezantsi, as’ke ehla amathamb’ ukubhek’ ezantsi.
Retold by Sindiwe Magona
Okhokhelayo:Wena Nomathemba,Ubethwe ngubani?
Abaphendulayo:Yilaa ndoda!
Okhokhelayo:Iphi ngoku?
Abaphendulayo:Nantsi ixoxa
Okhokhelayo:Ixoxa ntoni?
Abaphendulayo:Ixoxa ityala!
Okhokhelayo:Layithini ityala?
Abaphendulayo:Layilahla ityala
Okhokhelayo:Ifunde isifundo
Abaphendulayo:Ifunde isifundo
Umfaz’ akayongqongqo!Umfaz’ akayongqongqo!
Phaya endleleni yafik’imoto,
Yathi pip–pip–pip!
Gololo pop-pop-pop!
Yathini?
Yathi pip-pip-pip!
Gololo pop-pop-pop!
(Apha umama okanye lowo umpeleze umntwana uculela ze aqhwabele umntwana kuba emkhuthaza ukuba makazimele xa efunda ukuma.)
Wema yedwa, yedw’ umntwana yedwa
Wema yedw’ umntwana, yedwa.
(Esi sicengcelezo zibungonyana, kwaye kudlaliswa ngamagama)
Tyelele tyelele
Ngqwang’inanqilo,
Mntaka Mlanjana,
Goduka ncede
Ncede ncikane
Wafa yindlala
Yokophisela
Yokophisela
Ke nna ketlele,
Hona ke mohele,
Hona ke molomo,
Ke bedisa metsi,
Metsi a tjhesang.
Ntshelle bo, ntshelle bo!
Ntshelle bo!
Tjhukutjhuku, tjhukutjhuku
Ke tjhutjhumakgala
Terene e telele,
E tswa hokae, e lebile kae?
E tswa makgoweng,
E lebile mahaeng.
E tlisa bontate hae
Ba tlo bona bana hae.
Tjhuku, tjhuku, tjhuku!
Tlou ela, e na le nko
E telele hakaakang
Tlou ela, e na le nko
E telele hakaakang.
Ya nka tweba,
Ya nka mokgodutswane,
Ya di tlamella sefateng.
Ke eng hona hoo?
Ho ho putswanyana?
Be, ke lengana,
Le babetsa lehano.
Thiya! Thiya! O tshwerwe ke sefuba
Harola o phehe.
Subela ka nkong,
O tla hlaphohelwa.
Nkgono Makalane a wela ka pitseng
A kgangwa ke tapole,
Katse ya mmona,
A ikutlwa a swabile,
A tswa, a tswa, a ketoha
A tswa, a tswa, a ketoha!
Dikotlolo hloohong!
Naledi phatleng!
Ditshepe thekeng!
Dirifi maotong!
Ke lekwatlakwatla feela!
Ke lekwatlakwatla feela!
Eitse ke dutse kgotla,
Ka utlwa molodi o lla.
Ka kopana le Raditedu,
A nkile selepenyana.
A nkomakoma ka sona,
A nkomakoma ka sona.
Ka ilo kgitla ka setsu,
Ka ilo kgitla ka setsu.
Tswii tswii tweba,
Ke tweba e nyenyane,
E ja bohobe,
Bohobe ba Masilo.
Tlong re e tshware,
Re e shape.
Ha e na tsebe.
Tswii, tswii tswii, haebo!
Tswii, tswii, tswii, haebo!
Tshepo wa Rakgomo,
O na hama kgomo.
A e hama e sa tlangwa.
Kgomo ya mo raha,
Fatshe a polana.
Lebese la qhalana
Hodima moraha,
Hodima moraha.
Ka tsamaya ka tsatsi le leng,
Ka kopana le bana ba bang.
Ba mpotsa hore ke tswa kae,
Ka re ke tswa, ke tswa sekolong.
Sekolong re etsa dihlakiso
Dihlakiso hlakiso tsa mmele.
Ba re lona, lona banana,
Le itsoke, le itsoke setono.
Ba re lona, lona bashanyana
Le hate, le hate lefatshe
(Kungaba namaqembu amabili, elinye liyabuza, elinye liphendule. Kanti bangahlangana bonke, babuze, babuye baphendule.)
Obani bona?
Omantindane.
Bathweleni bona?
Bathwel’ imigqomo,
Bayisaphi bona?
Bayis’ esangomeni,
Sangom’ esinje,
Asigezwa ngenyandezulu
Yon’ eshay’ inyamazane
Ithungel’ emadevini,
Ochith’ ukhophe
Alufak’ edokweni,
Unogwaja mpe!
Isele bhakla! bhakla!
Umkhont’ etsheni hhu! hhu!
Izibankwa pheshe, pheshe!
(Nalapha kungaba ngamaqembu amabili, elinye liyaphawula noma libuze, elinye liphendule. Kanti bangahlangana bonke, babuze, babuye baphendule.)
Sawubona wethu.
Yebo wethu.
‘Phumaphi na?
KwaMatshekana.
Wadlani na?
Isinambathi.
Singani na?
Ngomcengezana.
Abantu pho?
Wo bhekle! Wo bhekle! Wo bhekle!
Ngiyabathanda abazali bami,
Nabo ngiyazi bayangithanda,
Bayangikhulisa futhi bangenzela konke okuhle.
Ngiyabathanda omkhulu nogogo,
Nabo bangithanda njengabazali bami,
Yibona abangikhulisela abazali bami,
Babakhulisa kahle.
Ngiyabathanda omalume nomalumekazi,
Bangiphatha kahle uma ngibavakashele.
Nabazala bami ngiyabathanda,
Sidlala kamnandi nabo.
Umnewethu nomnawami ngiyabathanda.
Nabo bayangithanda, bangikhonzile.
Thina nabo sikhonzene siyathandana.
Kuhle ukuthandana uma nizalana.
Isiphiwo sokukhuluma
Siyisiphiwo sokuphila.
Thina bantu siyakhuluma,
Sikhuluma sibange umsindo.
Izilwane nazo ziyakhuluma,
Okwazo ukukhuluma
Thina kubuye kusidide.
Ukukhuluma isiphiwo sokuxhumana;
Bakhuluma ngezandla, amehlo, namakhanda
Thina saphiwa umlomo, ulimi namazinyo,
Ngakho sibanga umsindo sizwane.
Abanye abakhulumi, kabezwa, kababoni.
Thina esibonayo, esizwayo nesikhulumayo,
Kuhle simbonge ongabonwayo
(Kungakuhle uma yaziwa ngekhanda, ukuze oyihayayo akwazi ukuyaluza, asikaze, agiye njengembongi.)
Thatha magqabhagqabha,
Nyoni engadlelwa nyama,
Ingani ezinye ziyosiwa,
Zizalele amaphuphu.
Ngikuthanda ugcogcoma,
Ugcobhoza ngomunwe
Ezimbizeni zodwani
Nasezinkambeni zembali.
Ngilandela ngamehlo
Laph’ ilanga liphuma,
Ngiguquke liyoshona,
Ngikukha, ngikubuka.
Woza luvemvane,
Ukhulu wath’ undiza
Ezigangeni njengembuzikazi
Engayibon’ ithwel’ umqhele,
Umqhele wakho ngamabala,
Ayizidindi ngathi mabi,
Kanti ayizizingelezi
Ngathi abekwe ngesandla.
Umuhle, vemvane ndini,
Umuhle ungahayi ngoma,
Ufiphaza abasinisi behubo,
Abasiki bezihlangu zifane nawe.
Woza we mvula,
Uzosithela we!
Ngawo amathonsi
Abandayo qa!
Siyakuthanda
Thina bantwanyana
Uma sidlala
Ucabhayiyane,
Co! Co!
Ucabhayiyane.
Umoya uyasitshela
Uma usuzofika.
Kugcwale imifula,
Kugcwale imihosha.
Siyowelaphi na?
Solal’ ezihlahleni,
Sidle izindoni.
Thula, thula, mntwana,
Umama akekho,
Uyothez’ inkuni,
Sizophuz’ incumbe
Um’esebuyile,
Thula, thula,
Thula, mntwana!
Nans’ inunu iza,
Ihuba icasha,
Izolum’ ingane
Ingane kamama,
Ngob’ ikhala,
Ikhalel’ ubala.
Casha wena ngane,
Uthul’ uthi du!
Uthul’ uthi du!
(Kungahambisana nokwenziwa ngezandla. Emgqeni 2, isandla singamiswa okomlomo wethiphothi, kuthi emgqeni 4 isandla noma ingalo igotshwe njengesibambo sethiphothi. Emigqeni 4 no-5 kungalingiswa ukuphuma kwamanzi ethiphothini eya enkomishini.)
Mina ngiyithiphothi.
Lo umlomo wami,
Les’ isandla sami,
Ngithele bo!
Ngithele bo!
(Lapha u-A, angashiwo ngumuntu oyedwa noma iqembu A. Ku-B, kwenanela abeqembu B.)
We Nokuthula!
Wu! Wu! Wu!
Igula lomntwana:
Wu! Wu! Wu!
Zaqheqhe zengane:
Wu! Wu! Wu!
We Nomsutho!
Wu! Wu! Wu!
Woz’ uthule:
Cha, cha, cha, bo!
Mma o sepela ka lekeke,
Tate o sepela ka lekeke,
Makgolo o sepela ka lekeke,
Rakgolo o sepela ka lekeke,
Bana ba sepela ka lekeke,
Ka moka re sepela ka lekeke.
Retologela Borwa, retologela Leboa,
Retologela Bohlabela, retologela Bodikela,
Re ya pele ka lekeke,
Re boela morago ka lekeke.
Agee bana ba ka! Agee mma’rena!
Re sepela ka lekeke, re sepela ka lekeke.
Ke Ledimo, mee mee mee!
Ke Ratšimo, mee mee mee!
Ke ja tšohle, mee mee mee!
Ga ke kgethe, mee mee mee!
Ke ja le bana, mee mee mee!
Bana ba ka, etlang gae,
Re a tšhaba,
Le tšhaba eng?
Ratšimo mo tseleng,
Ratšimo o ja eng?
Bana ba bannyane,
Yo a nthatago a tšhabele gonna.
Ijoo tata’rena! Ijoo bana ba ka!
Ge ke be ke sa le letšobjana,
Ge ke be ke lala ke lla bošego bjohle,
Mma wa ka a lala a eme bošego bjohle,
A ntlhokosetša bošego bjohle.
Ge ke be ke longwa ke mala,
Ke inyoka-nyoka ke itshopa-tshopa,
Mma wa ka a lala a eme bošego bjohle,
A ntlhokosetša bošego bjohle.
Ke go rata rati-rati mma wa ka montedi.
Koko-koko, ka gare,
Thobela malome wa tšona,
Dikgomo tša ka di kae?
Ke sa ja bogobe ka nama ye tsefago.
O jele dikgomo tša ka,
A di ja le Ratšimo,
Ratšimo wa gaMadiba,
GaMadiba wa boMadiba’majakgomo,
Majakgomo ba jele kgomokgolo,
Kgomokgolo sebata sa boSerišane,
Serišane sa Kotolo seokamela mathakeng,
Kotolo ke thaba ya badimo,
Badimo baji ba bjangbotala,
Kgomo-muu-muu! Kgomo-muu-muu!
Mantlapulele, pula ya medupi.
Dupelela fase, ke bine mantlapulele,
Mma mpulele, ke binele hlahlamedupi,
Ke binele hlahlamedupi ya boMapula
Se na ka boleta, se lota le monola,
Hlahlamedupi se tlatša madibamaso,
Madibamaso a bokubu le bokwena,
Mma mpulele ke binele hlahlamedupi,
Ke re maruru maebana, ngwana mošalela ka fase,
Bommage ba loya, ba loya ka tšhwene.
Matlapulele, pula ya medupi.
Rakgolo o tšwa kae?
Ke tšwa Bopedi ngwana’ngwanaka,
Bopedi ba ja eng?
Ba ja mafela le maraka,
Ba photla ditloo le dinyebu.
Makgolo o tšwa kae?
Ke tšwa sepetlele ngwana’ngwanaka,
Sepetlele sa kae?
Sa Bopedi ngwana’ngwanaka,
Makgolo o bolawa ke eng?
Ke bolawa ke hlogo magetla, hlogo magetla,
Sehuba le letheka, sehuba le letheka,
Mangwele le menwana, mangwele le menwana.
Nkabe ke le nonyana,
Nkabe ke tšea, diphego ka fofa,
Ijoo! Ijoo! Ijoo!
O ile makgolo mošo’la,
Ijoo! Ijoo! Ijoo!
Makgolo ile mošol’a noka ya Lepelle,
Lepelle le falala ka dikeledi.
Nkabe ke le nonyana,
Ijoo! Ijoo! Ijoo!
Nkabe ke tšea diphego ka fofa,
Nkabe ke yo hlola makgolo.
O ile makgolo,
Makgolo ile mošol’a noka ya Lepelle,
Ijoo! Ijoo! Ijoo!
Nonyana tše pedi,
Tša go tšwa Bopedi,
Tša go bolela Sepedi,
Godimo ga mohlare.
Ye nngwe ke Mantsho,
Ye nngwe ke Mošweu.
Fofa Mantsho, fofa Mošweu.
Boa Mantsho, boa Mošweu.
Ye nngwe ya re, šole motho.
Ye nngwe ya re, a re tšhabeng.
Ka moka tša re: A re mo tšhabe rena!
A re mo tšhabe rena! A re mo tšhabe!
Segwagwa, segwagwa, segwagwa
Sa re go nna, go nna, go nna
Sa re etla, etla, etla
Nna ka gana, ka gana, ka gana
Sa re go nna, go nna, go nna
Sa re mpepu, mpepu, mpepu
Nna ka gana, ka gana, ka gana
Sona sa lla, sa lla, sa lla
Sa re gwaa-gwaa-gwaa-gwaa!
Sa re gwaa-gwaa-gwaa-gwaa!
Ke mmutla motona,
Ke fenya phiri le tau.
Ke mmutla motona,
Ke fenya phukubje le tlou.
Ke mmutla motona,
Ke hlalefetša phiri le tau.
Ke mmutla motona,
Ke hlalefetša phukubje le tlou.
Ke mmutla motona,
Ke jela batho mabele.
Ke mmutla motona,
Ke jela batho dinawa.
Ke mmutla motona,
Ga ke tšhabe motho, ga ke tšhabe selo.
Ke mmutla motona!
What could possibly happen when a starving cow is left alone with three fluffy little chicks? And what would happen when the cow comes home and finds a big pile of hay? What if she ate and ate and ate …
