كان يا ما كان
kān yā mā kān/kaː.na jaː maː kaː.na/word by word
The English phrase 'once upon a time' is translated into Arabic as كان يا ما كان (kān yā mā kān).
This is the standard way to begin oral-style folk tales and fairy tales in Arabic.
Meaning: traditional beginning of children’s stories, especially fairy tales (adv)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb 'to be' (kān) repeated with particles that function as a rhythmic, storytelling filler, literally meaning 'was, oh, what was'.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is kān yā mā kān (/kaː.na jaː maː kaː.na/).
Did you know?
- The phrase is so deeply ingrained in oral tradition that it can be used humorously by adults to introduce a story that is clearly an obvious lie or an exaggeration.
- The word ما in this phrase is a cognate with the Hebrew word מָה, showing an ancient shared root across these Semitic languages for asking 'what'.
- The rhythmic nature of كان يا ما كان is designed to signal a shift in the listener's mindset, acting as a verbal 'curtain' that separates the real world from the magical world of the story.
Examples in context
- كان يا ما كان، كان هناك ملك عظيم.kāna yā mā kāna, kāna hunāka malik 'aẓīm.Once upon a time, there was a great king.
Example conversation
Sarah is reading a bedtime story to Omar.
- سارة Saraاسمع يا عمر، كان يا ما كان.Isma' ya Omar, kan ya ma kan.Listen Omar, once upon a time.
- عمر Omarهل هذه قصة خيالية يا سارة؟Hal hadhihi qissa khayaliya ya Sarah?Is this a fairy tale, Sarah?
- سارة Saraنعم، إنها قصة عن تنين طيب.Na'am, innaha qissa 'an tinnin tayyib.Yes, it is a story about a kind dragon.
- عمر Omarأنا أحب هذه القصص كثيرًا.Ana uhibbu hadhihi al-qisas kathiran.I love these stories very much.
