How to use ECCO in Italian

In this video lesson I'm going to explain how to use ECCO in Italian. The word "ecco" is very, very, very common and, if you wish to speak Italian naturally, you should definitely know it. In this lesson I will explain in depth what this word means and how to use it.

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I'm Luca. Welcome to my channel! Welcome!

Many people who learned Italian as a foreign language actually told me that they have difficulties with this word. I think that the problem is at least partially due to the fact that the word "ecco" can have different meanings and can be used in different ways.

In this video I'm gonna give you practical examples to help you understand the different functions that "ecco" can have in a sentence. Specifically, I'm gonna explain eight different ways to use the word ECCO.

But let's jump straight into the first use of the word "ecco"!

First of all, the word ECCO can be used to draw attention to something while at the same time pointing to it or showing it.

For example, if someone asks me: "Excuse me, where's the castle?" "Excuse me, where's the castle?" Well, that's the wrong intonation, I guess. Whatever... Excuse me, could you tell me where's the castle?

I could point this person to the castle which can be seen in the distance, do this and say: "Ecco il castello!" So the word ECCO is used while pointing to something. I point to the castle and say: "Ecco il castello!"

Or let's imagine that I and a friend of mine were at the coach station. Let's pretend that we are looking for our coach and cannot find it. Then, after some time, I see the coach we should take, I point to it and say: "Ecco il nostro pullman!".

Another example could be this. Let's pretend that this one were a book. In fact, well, it's not a book, it's a piece of paper. It's a sheet of paper. Anyways, let's pretend that it were a book.

While I'm handing my friend this book, I could say: "Ecco il libro di cui ti avevo parlato". So in this case I'm not pointing to the book, but I'm clearly showing the book, therefore I say: "Ecco il libro di cui ti avevo parlato".

Or, if I'm handing his book back to him, I could say: "Ecco il tuo libro".

Or, while giving someone a present, I could tell them: "Ecco il tuo regalo!". So, while I'm giving them their present,   I tell them: "Ecco il tuo regalo".

The word ECCO can also be used in reference to things that can't be physically seen. That is, also for abstract things, so to speak.

So, if I see someone who looks happy, I can say: "Ecco un uomo felice!". Or, another example could be: "Ecco la vera felicità!".

Happiness is abstract, it can't be physically seen. However, if I want to draw attention to this, I can use the word "ecco".

But let's move on to the second way of using the word "ecco"!

Secondly, the word ECCO can be used to point to someone or something appearing all of a sudden.

For example, let's pretend that a friend of mine and I were waiting for our common friend Giovanni. We are waiting outside in the streets and after a while I see Giovanni getting off a bus. I could tell my friend: "Ecco Giovanni!".

Or, another example could be this. Let's pretend my friend and I are waiting for the train. We are waiting at the rail track, or rather on the platform, and after a while I see the train approaching in the distance. In this case, as soon as I see the train, I can exclaim: "Ecco il nostro treno!"

So, as you can see, this second use of the word "ecco" is actually similar to the first one. It's just that in this case there's something appearing all of a sudden.

But let's see the third way of using the word ECCO!

The word ECCO can also be used to point out a fact or event. For example: "Ecco cosa succede quando uno fa le cose in fretta e non presta attenzione!".

Another example could be this: "L'ho sempre aiutata ed ecco il risultato!" In this case the word "ecco" points out a fact or event.

Let's move on to the fourth meaning of "ecco"!

In some case, "ecco" can introduce the beginning of a story, account or explanation. For example, I can say: "Ecco come è andata" and next tell the relevant story.

Or I could say: "Ecco come stanno le cose" and next explain what the situation is.

So in this case the word ECCO introduces an explanation, that is, first we have the word "ecco" and next comes the explanation.

But let's move on to the fifth meaning of the word "ecco"!

The word ECCO can also be used as a conclusion. So not only to introduce a story or explanation, as we have seen, but also to conclude a speech. This is quite peculiar, because the word "ecco" can be used both as introduction and conclusion.

I'm gonna give you an example with the word "ecco" used to conclude a speech.

For example, let's pretend a student didn't do his Italian language homework. When the teacher asks him why he didn't do his Italian language homework, the student explains the reason why he didn't do his Italian home assignments.

After explaining the reason, the student could end his speech like so: "Ecco perché non ho fatto i compiti".

Another example could be this. Let's pretend that someone asked me why I replied to them in a certain way.

I could answer this person: "Ero arrabbiato. Ecco perché ti ho risposto così". Or I could just say: "Ero arrabbiato. Ecco perché".

Let's see the sixth way of using the word "ecco"!

The word "ecco" often combines with pronominal particles.

For example, when I get to a place where there are people waiting for me, I could say: "Eccomi!" In this case I don't say "ecco", I say "eccomi". So there's "ecco" plus the pronominal particle "mi". The word "eccomi" essentially means: here I am, I've arrived.

Similarly, when I and a friend of mine, or another individual, get to a place where there are people waiting for us, I can say, speaking on behalf of the both of us: "Eccoci!". In this case I don't say "eccomi", but I say "eccoci", because it's not just me, but it's the two of us. "Eccoci" is the combination of the words ECCO plus CI, which is the pronominal particle for first-person-plural, that is "we". So "eccoci" essentially means: here we are, we arrived.

If I'm waiting for you, when I see you, I can say: "Eccoti!". "Eccoti" is the combination of "ecco" plus "ti".

If I'm waiting for you and other people, when I see you approaching I can say: "Eccovi!". "Vi" is the pronominal particle for the pronoun "voi".

Similarly, if I and a friend of mine are waiting for Roberto and after a while I see him, I can tell my friend: "Eccolo!". In this case the word "ecco" combined with  the pronoun LO, hence I say "Eccolo!".

If we were waiting for Laura, a feminine subject, I would say: "Eccola!".

If we were waiting for Laura and Elisa, two feminine subjects, I would say: "Eccole!"

But let's move on to the seventh way of using the word "ecco"!

The seventh way of using the word "ecco" is actually related to a very, very, very common phrase, which is "Ecco fatto!".

This phrase is used when completing a task, that is, when a job has been finished and there's nothing else to do. When one finishes the job, they can say: "Ecco fatto!". What does it mean? It means: I'm done.

For example, if the sink tap is not working and you call the plumber, right? The plumber works on it and when he is done he says: "Ecco fatto!". What does it mean? I'm done.

But let's move on to the eight meaning of "ecco".

The word ECCO is often used in speaking as a filler word to make a sentence stronger or more expressive. Depending on the situation and the specific sentence, it may convey different nuances.

I'll give you an example!

"Non voglio insistere, ma, ecco, forse ti conviene pensarci bene". In this case the word "ecco" doesn't have a specific meaning. I could easily say: "Non voglio insistere, ma forse ti conviene pensarci bene". However, I'd say that the word "ecco" gives this sentence slightly more emphasis, making it more expressive.

Similarly, I could say: "Ecco, volevo parlarti di una cosa". What does ECCO mean in this sentence? Actually, it doesn't mean anything, it's more of a filler word. That is, I could easily say: "Volevo parlarti di una cosa".

Me personally, if someone tells me "Ecco, volevo parlarti di una cosa", I think that this individual is a bit embarrassed, and for this reason they are buying time, and therefore they use this word, a filler word so to speak, and they say "ecco" to buy time.

It is also true, though, that if something bad happens, I can say: "Ecco, ci mancava anche questa!". Or: "Ecco, ci mancava solo questa!". In this case the word "ecco" makes the sentence stronger, more expressive, if you will.

Needless to say, it really depends on how this word is pronounced, that is, on intonation. Because one thing is if someone says "Ecco, ti volevo parlare di una cosa", another thing is if someone says "Ecco, ci mancava solo questa!". The word is the same, but it is pronounced in completely different ways.

Another example could be: "Ecco, lo sapevo!". What does "ecco" mean in this sentence? It doesn't mean anything. It just makes the sentence stronger. I could easily say: "Lo sapevo!". It's just that the sentence with "ecco" is slightly stronger and more expressive.

I hope everything is clear! If you have any queries, please let me know in the comments!

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