ecc.
The Italian phrase for 'etc' is ecc.
ecc. is an abbreviation used at the end of a list to indicate that there are other similar items.
What does it mean word for word?
The abbreviation ecc. stands for e così via, which literally means 'and so on' or 'and so forth'.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying e ecc. Since the abbreviation ecc. already includes the word for 'and' (e), adding another 'e' before it is redundant.
Did you know?
- Italian speakers sometimes use e compagnia after a person's name to mean 'and the like', serving as a human-centric version of ecc.
- The word via in e così via literally means 'way' or 'street', but here it functions as a particle indicating continuation.
- In Italian, adding the word eccetera (the full word for ecc.) at the end of a sentence is often used rhetorically to signal that the speaker finds the rest of the list obvious or tedious.
Examples in context
- Odio posti come Boston, Chicago, ecc…I hate places like Boston, Chicago, etc.This sentence shows how to use ecc. when listing cities.Tatoeba #8379423 by Guybrush88, translation #4903678 by DostKaplan
- Nel mio orto ci sono molte verdure: lattuga, cipolla, aglio, ecc.There are in my garden a lot of vegetables: lettuce, onion, garlic, etc.This sentence demonstrates using ecc. at the end of a list of vegetables.Tatoeba #1740788 by Guybrush88, translation #1740184 by Djef_Messaoudi
- Ho visitato Roma, Firenze, Milano, ecceteraI visited Rome, Florence, Milan, etc.
- Amo leggere romanzi, ascoltare musica classica, ed altro ancoraI love reading novels, listening to classical music, and much more.
- Questo ristorante offre pizza, pasta, e similiThis restaurant offers pizza, pasta, and similar items.
- Mi piace viaggiare, ascoltare musica, ecc.I enjoy traveling, listening to music, etc.
- Mi piace andare al cinema, al parco, etceteraI like going to the movies, the park, etc.
- Ho comprato frutta, verdura, carne, etc.I bought fruits, vegetables, meat, etc.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Matteo and Chiara are discussing what to buy at the grocery store.
- MatteoDobbiamo comprare mele, pere, arance, ecc.We need to buy apples, pears, oranges, etc.
- ChiaraHai già segnato tutto nella lista?Have you already noted everything on the list?
- MatteoSì, ho scritto frutta, latte, pane, ecc.Yes, I wrote fruit, milk, bread, etc.
- ChiaraPerfetto, allora andiamo subito al supermercato.Perfect, then let's go to the supermarket right away.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ecc., CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
