how to say “once upon a time” in Hebrew

ByAmi Steinberger

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/היו-היה-#.m4a” /]הָיֹה הָיָה

Just like children’s stories in English often open with once upon a time, Hebrew kids’ stories start with היו היה[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/היו-היה-#.m4a” /] – literally, was there was.

For example:

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/היו-היה-#.m4a” /]היו היה בארץ רחוקה…

Once upon a time in a faraway land…

If what was is female, the expression becomes היו הייתה[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/היו-היה-#.m4a” /], as in:

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/היו-היה-#.m4a” /]היו הייתה נסיכה…

Once there was a princess…

And if it’s were, then:

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/היו-היה-#.m4a” /]היו היו ילדים סקרנים…

Once there were curious children…

היו היה can also be spelled היה היה.

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