fairy tale endings

[wondershot.livejournal.com]

Is there a Russian equivalent to the classic storybook phrase "...and they lived happily ever after"?

What about "Once upon a time?"

English speakers sometimes use these phrases sarcastically in conversation... does this happen in Russian as well?

Comments

[anais-citadel.livejournal.com]

"...and they lived happily ever after"? - и жили они долго и счастливо
"Once upon a time?" - Однажды
The first I would say is more often used in novels, and the second - in conversation

[oryx_and_crake]

Once upon a time there lived/there were - "Жили-были..."

E.g.
Once upon a time there lived a King and a Queen, and they had no children.
Жили-были царь и царица, и не было у них детей.

[drivebyluna.livejournal.com]

Жили-были is one of my favorite phrases. It's just so fun to say.

[racoonbear.livejournal.com]

"и жили они долго и счастливо" - "and they lived for a long time and were happy "
or
"и жили они долго и счастливо, и умерли в один день" - "and they lived for a long time and were happy and died at the same day "

"Once upon a time" - "Жили-были" - "they lived - " and I don't know how to translate entire phrase. "Были" - "were" - "existed".
"Жили-были старик со старухой у самого синего моря" - "They lived, old man and old woman, really close to the blue sea"

or
"Давным-давно" - "long, long time ago.."
You see, in any case we use 2 words tugthly coupled by intonation.

[kehlen-crow.livejournal.com]

About using the phrase sarcastically... No, I cannot recall anyone using it. Among younger people we sometimes sarcastically say "happy end", exactly like that, "хэппи энд" but I wouldn't say it in a conversation with my parents.

[kehlen-crow.livejournal.com]

It is possible, but not among the people I communicate with :-)

[shoomelka-mysh.livejournal.com]

pretty common Russian equivalent to "...and they lived happily ever after" is "И стали они жить-поживать и добро наживать"

for "Once upon a time?" it's rather "Жили-были/Жил-был/Жила-была" or "В некотором царстве, в некотором государстве..." than "Однажды...", I can't even remember any fairy tales starting with "Однажды"...

[alon_68]

More exactly "...и добра наживать", although it sounds rather old-fashioned.

[dp-maxime.livejournal.com]

For the last one also is "В тридевятом царстве, в тридесятом государстве..."

[arashi-opera.livejournal.com]

"Они жили долго и счастливо и умерли в один день" - close to "they lived happily ever after". This phrase is sometimes used sarcastically among young people.

[vernunft.livejournal.com]

yeah-yeah, i'd agree. it's okay to use it sarcastically. the other question is that such form uses really rarely.

[vernunft.livejournal.com]

well, if you say "Once upon a time somebody blablabla..." it's okay to use:
"давным-давно"
"жил(и)-был(и)"

and if you wanna say "Once upon a time something blablabla..." it's better to use:
"в некотором царстве, некотором государстве"
"в тридевятом царстве, тридесятом государстве"
"в одном далёком царстве, в одном далёком государстве"
for example.

to be honest, you surely may compile both phrases.
such as: "в тридевятом царстве, тридесятом государстве жили-были старик со старухой..."

all in all it always depends on case.

[crimeanelf.livejournal.com]

"...and they lived happily ever after"
="...и стали они жить-поживать и добро наживать" (...and they began to live without problems and earn goods.)

When a tale ends with a marriage, it could also be ended like "...и я там был, мёд-пиво пил, по усам текло, в рот не попало." (...and I was there, drinking mead and beer, it was leaking by my mustache and did not reach my mouth.)

[paparazzzzi.livejournal.com]

...и они жили долго и счастливо (and sometimes + и умерли в один день).
Very common ending and yes, we use it sarcastically.


Once upon a time = давным-давно or Когда-то, давным-давно...

[wondershot.livejournal.com]

Thanks guys. I appreciate it.