Melangell and the Little Hare
Melangell a’r Sgwarnog Fach
A gentle Welsh legend about kindness, quiet woods, a frightened little hare, and a brave promise to protect animals.
Welsh Words to Learn
Say Together
Story Sounds
Little Hare
Hop, hop, hop!
Quiet Woods
Shhh...
Big Dogs
Woof, woof!
Horse
Clip-clop!
Chapter 1: The Clever Princess
Tywysoges tuh-WUH-sog-ess — Princess
Coed koyd — Woods / trees
Dyffryn DUH-frin — Valley
Princess Melangell did not want to live in a noisy palace.
She loved the quiet coed koyd — woods.
She went to live in a beautiful, green dyffryn DUH-frin — valley.
Welsh Version for Parents
Doedd Tywysoges Melangell ddim eisiau byw mewn palas swnllyd.
Roedd hi’n caru’r coed tawel.
Aeth hi i fyw mewn dyffryn prydferth, gwyrdd.
Chapter 2: The Scared Hare
Sgwarnog SGWAR-nog — Hare
Ofnus OV-niss — Scared
Cŵn koon — Dogs
One day, a little sgwarnog SGWAR-nog — hare — was running fast.
Hop, hop, hop!
It was very ofnus OV-niss — scared.
Big hunting cŵn koon — dogs — were chasing it.
Woof, woof, woof!
Welsh Version for Parents
Un diwrnod, roedd sgwarnog fach yn rhedeg yn gyflym.
Hop, hop, hop!
Roedd hi’n ofnus iawn.
Roedd cŵn hela mawr yn ei herlid.
Wff, wff, wff!
Chapter 3: The Safe Hideout
Coeden KOY-den — Tree
Clogyn KLOG-in — Cloak
Diogel dee-OH-gel — Safe
The little hare saw Melangell sitting under a coeden KOY-den — tree.
It ran and hid safely inside her long, warm clogyn KLOG-in — cloak.
“Shhh,” whispered Melangell.
Welsh Version for Parents
Gwelodd y sgwarnog fach Melangell yn eistedd o dan goeden.
Rhedodd a chuddiodd yn ddiogel y tu mewn i’w chlogyn hir, cynnes.
“Shhh,” sibrydodd Melangell.
Chapter 4: The Angry Prince
Tywysog tuh-WUH-sog — Prince
Ceffyl KEFF-il — Horse
Dal dahl — Catch
A Tywysog tuh-WUH-sog — Prince — rode up on his big ceffyl KEFF-il — horse.
Clip-clop, clip-clop!
He wanted to catch the hare.
But his dogs stopped barking and ran away!
Welsh Version for Parents
Marchogodd Tywysog i fyny ar ei geffyl mawr.
Clip-clop, clip-clop!
Roedd e eisiau dal y sgwarnog.
Ond gwnaeth ei gŵn stopio cyfarth a rhedeg i ffwrdd!
Chapter 5: The Gentle Promise
Caredig kah-RED-ig — Kind
Addo AH-thoh — Promise
Diogel dee-OH-gel — Safe
The Prince saw how caredig kah-RED-ig — kind — Melangell was.
He promised never to hunt animals in her valley again.
The little hare was happy and diogel dee-OH-gel — safe.
Welsh Version for Parents
Gwelodd y Tywysog pa mor garedig oedd Melangell.
Addawodd na fyddai byth yn hela anifeiliaid yn ei dyffryn eto.
Roedd y sgwarnog fach yn hapus ac yn ddiogel.
Mini Games
Hop, Little Hare
Hide in the Cloak
The Gentle Promise
Parent FAQ
What is the moral of the story of Melangell?
The story teaches children about kindness, protecting wildlife, and being brave in the face of danger.
Is this version suitable for toddlers?
Yes. This version is gentle, short, interactive, and written for ages 2–5, with Welsh words shown clearly for parents to practise with children.
One-Page Printable Activity
Colour the little hare, trace the Welsh words, and draw a safe green valley.