érase una vez... ¿ Que quiere decir 'érase' ?

Question

érase una vez... ¿ Que quiere decir 'érase' ?

Once-upon-a-time = érase una vez.

Where does this word, érase' come from ?

Answer 1

Hello Falda

The Spanish also say: Había una vez

Había una vez / érase una vez = Once upon a time

Había comes from the auxiliary verb haber = to have, but I think it is used idiomatically here so cannot be translated literally!

érase may come from the verb ser

However, I am not totally sure where érase comes from but I will keep looking and will post if I I find out. A native, like Pablo, Gex or Chileno may post the correct answer before me so keep looking out for new responses!

I hope this helps

Yes, thanks. It might just be one of those weird words only ever used in set expressions, like the English, 'muchness' or 'tribulations'... - Faldaesque, Sep 25, 2014

Yes, I did wonder about it and thought that it might not even have a direct translation outside of ths phrase about it - FELIZ77, Sep 25, 2014

You are welcome, Falda, thanks for the vote :) - FELIZ77, Sep 25, 2014

im native also - Rey_Mysterio, Sep 26, 2014

Answer 2

ok to add to feliz....habia una vez

hubiese una vez

fu ese una vez

erase una vez

note: fu ese it wouldn't let me type it together without giving me problems. and it has an accent above the first e.

erase has an accent above the first e. it also gave me problems typing it in

Answer 3

Psst, you might want to use that forum search feature sometime, FE :p

It turns up a wealth of information, especially on érase. I like this particular thread.

Answer 4

érase = there was a time = once upon

Am I right?

Answer 5

once...as in once upon a time