Glossary entry

Spanish term or phrase:

Y colorín colorado, este cuento se ha acabado...

English translation:

Snip, snap snout, this tale's told out.

Added to glossary by Ana Roca
Sep 19, 2008 21:47
16 yrs ago
27 viewers *
Spanish term

Y colorín colorado, este cuento se ha acabado...

Spanish to English Other Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
can any body tell me an equivalent expression in English? thanks!!!
Change log

Feb 25, 2009 01:34: Ana Roca Created KOG entry

Proposed translations

+5
4 hrs
Selected

Snip, snap snout, this tale's told out.

Not as common in English as "colorín colorado" in Spanish, but it rhymes, and it's ancient and traditional. See http://tinyurl.com/4plq7u and don't miss http://www.folktale.net/endings.html for a list of many more traditional endings from many cultures. Some of the typical or traditional ones for English folktales include:
And as far as anyone knows, they are living there still to this day.
And that is how it is to this day.
They lived happily ever after and were never bothered again.
Peer comment(s):

agree Bill Greendyk : Margaret, that second link is indeed priceless!! That said, I think "Snip, snap, snout...." is rather uncommon, isn't it? I suppose it all depends on the story line and what type of tale it is. Perhaps asker could choose from your link.
13 mins
I quite agree.
agree Alejandro Mata
33 mins
agree Bubo Coroman (X) : I think the "end line" has to match the story -- these are good options to choose from.
1 hr
Good point, that the ending has to match the story.
agree Marina56 : simpático. me gusta.
7 hrs
agree Charles Davis : Brilliant! Thank you; this has just solved my problem in a context where "happily ever after" doesn't work.
2627 days
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Everybody has been really helpful, however, I think not necessarily a tale should have a happy ending. The site you provided is wonderful! And I liked Your Option (snip, snap, )since it keeps the rhyme! I googled it and it isn't as uncommon. then I found another page for the record: http://www3.baylor.edu/~Sharon_P_Johnson/folkloreclosings.htm Many Thanks!!!"
+10
2 mins

And they all lived happily ever after.

This is the way I've translated this in children's stories.

Suerte.



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Note added at 3 mins (2008-09-19 21:50:50 GMT)
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Or simply, "And that's the end of the story"...if it does not involve characters in the plot!
Peer comment(s):

agree Jill Ananyi : In working for children's book publishers, I searched for an equivalent and sometimes invented something, but there is no cute equivalent in English.
2 mins
Thanks, Jill. I've tried as well, but run stuck and opted for the much more lame-sounding English 'equivalent'. :)
agree Daniel Coria : Yep!
4 mins
Thanks, Daniel.
agree Gacela20
5 mins
Thanks.
agree Beatriz Ramírez de Haro
6 mins
Thanks.
agree Alejandra Tolj
16 mins
Thanks.
agree J Celeita (X)
59 mins
Thanks.
agree Patricia Fierro, M. Sc.
1 hr
Thanks.
agree jsalas
5 hrs
Thanks.
agree Ventnai : the most usual
9 hrs
Thanks.
agree Marina56 : ok, pero hay que ver como es el cuento y cual es la historia
11 hrs
De acuerdo, como indiqué en mi nota a GoodWords. ¡Gracias!
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1 hr

And that's the end of the story

Se ve mucho.
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2 hrs

And that's the end of the story

typical ending to a children's tale
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+1
2 hrs

~The End~

Depending on the context (the story being translated), it might not make sense to say that they lived happily ever after. When this is the case, the story closes with a simple...
~THE END~
Unfortunately there's no standard cute equivalent in English.
Peer comment(s):

agree Bill Greendyk : I'd have to agree with you here, that a lot depends on the context. However, if this is a children's story (I know that's presuming a lot!), most of them indeed turn out 'happily ever after'. 'Tis all in the context...
1 hr
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5 hrs

And that's the end of that.

You say it's an idiom, so, what I gather is that it's actually not an ending to a fairy tale. If it's not, then my suggestion should work.

Normally, we say, "and that's the enf of that story." "And that's the end of that chapter." or simply, "And that's the end of that."

That's the end of that 7 thumbs up
Phrase used to describe the end of something. Exact wording to be used at all times, even if the item is a plural.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=That's t...
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