OpenRussian

Home Dictionary Practice Settings

жи́л да бы́л

expression

1.
once there lived, once there was
Typical introduction to a fairy tale.

Examples

Жил да был вели́кий коро́ль.
Once there lived a great king.
Жил да был коро́ль, и бы́ло у него три до́чери.
Once upon a time lived a king who had three daughters.
Жил да был бе́дный мужчи́на и бога́тая же́нщина.
Once upon a time there was a poor man and a rich woman.

Expression parts

даyes; but; and
бытьto be; (present tense) 'есть' -- there is; (past tense) 'был' -- was; (future tense) 'будет' -- will be

Learn

Contributions

Sandy edited translation 4 years ago.
Sandy edited stress 4 years ago.
Sandy edited stress 4 years ago.
Sandy edited stress and translation 4 years ago.

Other Sources (auto generated)

Wiktionary PONS bab.la Reverso

More about the translations

lived once there was