happily ever after
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happily ever after
- /ˈhæpɪli ˌɛvəɹ‿ˈɑːftə/ UK
- /-ˈæf-/ UK
- /ˈhæpəli ˌɛvəɹ‿ˈæftəɹ/ US
Rhymes with -ɑːftə(ɹ), -æftə(ɹ)
Where it comes from
The adverb is derived from happily (adverb) + ever after (adverb), used as a formulaic ending in works for children especially since the 19th century. The noun is derived from the adverb.
adverb
- Chiefly preceded by he, she, they, etc., lived: often used as a formulaic ending in fairy tales, stories for children, and similar works: in a state of happiness for the rest of his, her, their, etc., lives. And they lived happily ever after.
noun happily ever afters · happily-ever-after
-
A story, or a conclusion to a story, in which all the loose ends of the plot are tied up, and all the main characters are left in a state of contentment or happiness.
But this is 1979: marriage once again is on a lot of minds and romantic comedies, complete with tradition and happily-ever-afters, are back in style.
Similar: eucatastrophe, fairy-tale ending, happy ending, happy ever after
-
A happy period of time which is imagined never to end; specifically, the state of happiness in which one or more people (typically a loving couple) dwell for the rest of his, her, their, etc., lives.
In the real world, there are no happily ever afters, no storybook endings. We must always fight intolerance and fanaticism.
Similar: fairy-tale ending, happy ever after
Translations
Every language
adv in a state of happiness for the rest of his, her, their, etc., lives
| Español | felices y comieron perdices, y colorín colorado, este cuento se ha acabado, felices por siempre jamás, felices el resto de sus días, feliz para siempre |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 그들은 행복하게 오래 오래 살았답니다 geudeureun haengbokhage orae orae saratdamnida |
| 日本語 | めでたしめでたし medetashi medetashi |
| हिन्दी | उसके बाद वे ख़ुशी ख़ुशी रहने लगे uske bād ve xuśī xuśī rahne lage |
| Português | felizes para sempre |
| Français | ils vécurent heureux et eurent beaucoup d’enfants |
| Deutsch | und sie lebten glücklich bis ans Ende ihrer Tage, und wenn sie nicht gestorben sind, dann leben sie noch heute |
| Italiano | e vissero per sempre felici e contenti |
| Ελληνικά | κι έζησαν αυτοί καλά κι εμείς καλύτερα ki ézisan aftoí kalá ki emeís kalýtera |
| Русский | и жили они́ до́лго и счастливо i žili oní dólgo i sčastlivo |
| العربية | وَعَاشُوا عِيشَة سَعِيدَة |
| עברית | בְּאוֹשֶׁר וָעוֹשֶׁר עַד עֶצֶם הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה beósher va'ósher 'ad 'étzem hayóm hazé |
noun story, or a conclusion to a story, in which all the loose ends of the plot are tied up, and all the main characters are left in a state of contentment or happin
| 中文 | 大團圓 /大团圆 dàtuányuán |
|---|---|
| Português | felizes para sempre |
noun happy period of time which is imagined never to end; state of happiness in which one or more people dwell for the rest of their lives
| Português | felizes para sempre |
|---|
Talk about this word "happily ever after." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/happily%20ever%20after. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. happily ever after. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/happily%20ever%20after "happily ever after." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/happily%20ever%20after.Cite this
@misc{happily_ever_after_2026,
title = {happily ever after},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/happily%20ever%20after},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
