How to Say "Once Upon a Time" in Italian

c'era una volta

/ˈt͡ʃ‿ɛ.ra‿w.na ˈvɔl.ta/

The Italian phrase for "once upon a time" is c'era una volta.

c'era una volta is used as a traditional adverbial opening for children’s stories, particularly fairy tales.

Meaning: traditional beginning of children’s stories, especially fairy tales (adv)

How do you pronounce it?

The pronunciation is /ˈtʃ‿ɛ.ra‿w.na ˈvɔl.ta/. It has 5 syllables, with the stress on the first syllable.

In Italian cinema, the phrase c'era una volta is famously used in the titles of Sergio Leone's 'Once Upon a Time' trilogy, linking the Western genre to the structure of a myth.
The word volta in c'era una volta comes from the Latin word for 'a turn'. In this context, it refers to a turn of the wheel of time or a specific occasion.
While English uses 'once upon a time' to signal a vague past, c'era una volta is often used nostalgically in Italian to talk about 'the good old days' of a city or a lifestyle.

C'era una volta un gatto di nome Tango.
Once upon a time, there was a cat whose name was Tango.
This sentence shows how to use c'era una volta to introduce a character.
Tatoeba #2733290 by Guybrush88, translation #1074109 by tigro1973
C'era una volta un vecchio signore.
Once upon a time, there lived an old man.
This sentence demonstrates the phrase used to introduce an old man.
Tatoeba #1855224 by alexmarcelo, translation #32075 by AlanF_US
C'era una volta una bella principessa.
Once upon a time, there lived a beautiful princess.
This sentence illustrates the phrase used to introduce a beautiful princess.
Tatoeba #1855222 by alexmarcelo, translation #272196 by CK
Un tempo c'era una principessa
Once upon a time, there was a princess.
C'era una volta una strega
Once upon a time, there was a witch.
In tempi che furono, i draghi popolavano la terra
In times that were, dragons populated the Earth.
C'era una volta un piccolo villaggio circondato di montagne maestose…
Once upon a time, there was a small village surrounded by majestic mountains…
Un tempo, nelle terre remote del Sud Italia, viveva un vecchio contadino…
Once upon a time, in the remote lands of Southern Italy, there lived an old farmer…
5 more sentences on Tatoeba

A father reading a story to his daughter before bedtime.

Alessandro

C'era una volta un drago molto grande.
Once upon a time, there was a very big dragon.
Martina

Era cattivo, papà?
Was he mean, dad?
Alessandro

No, era molto gentile.
No, he was very kind.
Martina

Dimmi la storia, per favore.
Tell me the story, please.

Sources

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