How to use ECCO and CIOÈ in Italian

Ecco and cioè are Italian filler words that Italians use all the time. 

Both ecco and cioè are considered Italian filler words. A filler word is a word with no specific meaning that people use in sentences when they speak informally, for mainly two reasons: buying time or giving additional information about what they are saying (such as an emotion).

Understanding fillers is a must if you want to take your Italian to the next level and become eventually fluent. Besides cioè and ecco, Italian language is plenty of other filler words that Italians use all the time. Allora, insomma, and beh are just a few examples. In 9 frequent Italian filler words, I discuss the subject more in-depth. 

HOW TO USE ECCO

 

ECCO = HERE IT IS

ECCO describes something or somebody’s appearance, replacing the sentences “here it is “(something/somebody) in English.

• Ecco i nostri amici   – here are my friends 
• Ecco il treno – here is the train 
• Ecco la mia casa – here is my house

If used with the pronouns mi, ti, lo, la, ci, vi, li, le, “ecco” means

• Eccomi – here I am
• Eccoti – here you are
• Eccola – here she is
• Eccovi – here you are (to a group of people=

ECCO = WELL

Sometimes, “ecco“, is used as a filler word at the beginning of a sentence when you are figuring out what to say and it means something close to well in English

• Ecco…volevo dirti, che non posso venire al cinema con te stasera – Well, I was going to tell you that I can’t go to the movies with you tonight 

 

ECCO with idioms 

The adverb “ecco” is used in a variety of idioms too, for instance: 

• Ecco perché – that’s why
• Ecco fatto – done
• Ecco tutto – that’s all
• Ecco cosa succede quando… – this is what happens when…
• Ecco come – this is how…

 

HOW TO USE CIOÈ

 

CIOE’ = THAT IS TO SAY

One of the most common meanings of cioè is “that is to say “or “namely”

• L’attuale papa, cioè Francesco I, incontrerà il primo ministro tedesco oggi – the current Pope, Francesco I
• Nell’Unione Europea esiste la libertà di movimento delle persone, cioè i cittadini possono risiedere e lavorare in uno qualsiasi dei paesi membri. – In the UE, threre is freedom of movement, that is to say that..

CIOE’ = I MEAN

It is used to correct what you have just said or to add more information, meaning I mean or I meant

• Mi piace veramente Marco…cioè solo come amico – I like Marco a lot, I mean just like a friend 

OTHER MEANINGS 

“Cioè” is also something that people say before they start or continue their sentence.

• Cioè…non ne posso più di questa classe politica! – I mean…I am tired of these politicians.

It can be used in the shape of a question to explain something that is not clear.

• Vado a Panarea in estate. – I am gong to Panarea next summer
• Cioè, dove? – Where?
• Una piccola isola vicino alla Sicilia – It’s a small island next to Sicily