Italian grammar · Beginner
Ecco in Italian
Ecco means here is, here are, there is, or there are when you point something out or hand it over. It never changes for singular or plural, and it has no tenses. Object pronouns attach to the end of it: eccolo (here it is), eccomi (here I am). For simply saying that something exists, Italian uses c'è and ci sono instead.
Dove sono le chiavi? Eccole.
Where are the keys? Here they are.
What it is
Use ecco to point at something, present it, or hand it over: ecco il treno (here's the train), ecco il tuo caffè (here's your coffee). Use c'è and ci sono to state that something exists somewhere: c'è un bar qui vicino (there's a bar near here). Ecco is the same for one thing or many, and pronouns attach to it: eccolo, eccola, eccoli, eccole.
Ecco il museo. C'è sempre molta gente. (Here's the museum. There are always a lot of people.)
How to spot it
Ask whether you could point while you say it. If the speaker is showing, handing over, or announcing something present right now, use ecco. If the speaker is describing what exists in a place, use c'è or ci sono.
- Ecco l'autobus. (Here's the bus. (pointing))
- C'è un autobus ogni dieci minuti. (There's a bus every ten minutes. (existence))
- Ecco i biglietti. (Here are the tickets. (handing over))
- Eccomi. (Here I am.)
Ecco is not a verb. It works like a pointing word, so it has no conjugation and no plural.
Ecco Quick Reference
Ecco and c'è / ci sono side by side
| ecco | c'è / ci sono | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | here is, here are, there is (pointing) | there is, there are (existence) |
| Typical use | showing, handing over, announcing an arrival | describing what is in a place |
| Singular and plural | always ecco: ecco il treno, ecco i treni | c'è un treno, ci sono due treni |
| Tenses | none: ecco only refers to now | every tense: c'era, ci sarà, ci sono stati |
| With pronouns | attached: eccolo, eccomi, eccone uno | before the verb: ce n'è uno |
| Example | Ecco le chiavi. (Here are the keys.) | Ci sono due chiavi sul tavolo. (There are two keys on the table.) |
Common Ecco Examples in Italian
The pairs show ecco next to c'è and ci sono, and ecco with one thing or several:
Pointing vs Existence
- Ecco il museo.
- Here's the museum.
- C'è un museo in centro.
- There's a museum in the centre.
Ecco points at a museum you can see. C'è states that a museum exists in the centre.
One Thing vs Several
- Ecco il tuo caffè.
- Here's your coffee.
- Ecco i vostri biglietti.
- Here are your tickets.
Ecco stays the same. Only the noun after it changes.
Here It Is, Here They Are
- Dov'è Marta? Eccola.
- Where's Marta? Here she is.
- Dove sono i bambini? Eccoli.
- Where are the children? Here they are.
The attached pronoun agrees with what it refers to: eccolo, eccola, eccoli, eccole.
Announcing Yourself
- Eccomi, sono pronta.
- Here I am, I'm ready.
- Eccoci a Roma.
- Here we are in Rome.
Eccomi and eccoci announce that you have arrived or are ready.
Ecco as a Reaction
- Ecco perché non risponde.
- So that's why he isn't answering.
- Ecco, lo sapevo.
- There you go, I knew it.
Ecco can also mark a conclusion or a confirmation, much like English there you go or so that's it.
How Ecco Works
Ecco is a single fixed word. Its only changes come from the pronouns you attach to it.
Ecco Never Changes
Ecco has no plural and no tenses. The same word introduces one thing or many, and it always refers to the present moment.
Ecco la pizza e le bibite.
Here's the pizza and the drinks.
One form only: ecco.
Pronouns Attach to the End
Direct object pronouns join ecco as one word: eccomi, eccoti, eccolo, eccola, eccoci, eccovi, eccoli, eccole. They never stand before ecco or as a separate word after it.
Hai visto il mio telefono? Eccolo.
Have you seen my phone? Here it is.
ecco + lo = eccolo.
Ecco Points, C'è States
Ecco presents something the speaker and the listener can see or receive now. C'è and ci sono report what exists in a place, whether or not anyone is looking at it.
C'è una farmacia qui vicino?
Is there a pharmacy near here?
Pointing: ecco. Existence: c'è.
Ecco Che for Something Happening Now
Ecco che plus a verb announces something that is happening as you speak, like English here comes.
Ecco che arriva il treno.
Here comes the train.
ecco che + verb.
Ecco Perché for That Is Why
Ecco perché introduces the explanation for something, and it is one of the most frequent uses of ecco in conversation.
Ha perso il treno, ecco perché è in ritardo.
He missed the train, that's why he's late.
ecco perché = that's why.
Common Mistakes with Ecco
Incorrect: Eccono i biglietti. (Here are the tickets.)
Correct: Ecco i biglietti. (Here are the tickets.)
Ecco is not a verb and has no plural form. The same ecco introduces one ticket or many.
Incorrect: Ecco lo. (Here it is.)
Correct: Eccolo. (Here it is.)
Pronouns attach to ecco and form one word, in the same way they attach to an infinitive.
Incorrect: Dove sono le chiavi? Eccoli. (Where are the keys? Here they are.)
Correct: Dove sono le chiavi? Eccole. (Where are the keys? Here they are.)
The attached pronoun agrees with the noun. Le chiavi is feminine plural, so the pronoun is le.
Incorrect: Ecco un supermercato in questa via. (There's a supermarket on this street.)
Correct: C'è un supermercato in questa via. (There's a supermarket on this street.)
The sentence states that a supermarket exists, so it needs c'è. Ecco would only work if you were pointing at it.
Edge Cases Worth Knowing
Ecco combines with ne and with two pronouns, and it appears in a few very common set phrases.
Ecco with ne and with two pronouns
Ne attaches to ecco to mean here is some or here are some of something: eccone uno. An indirect pronoun can come before the direct one, and both attach: eccotelo means here it is for you.
- Vuoi una mela? Eccone una.
- Do you want an apple? Here's one.
- Cerchi il libro? Eccotelo.
- Are you looking for the book? Here it is for you.
Eccotelo is ecco plus te plus lo. Mi and ti change to me and te before lo, la, li, le, and ne.
Set phrases
Several fixed expressions with ecco are part of everyday Italian, especially in shops and restaurants.
- Ecco a Lei.
- Here you are. (formal)
- Ecco a te.
- Here you are. (informal)
- Ecco fatto.
- All done.
- Ecco qua.
- Here you go.
Ecco a Lei is what a waiter says when bringing your order.
Ecco as a filler
At the start of a sentence, ecco can introduce what you are about to say, like English well or so. It gives you a moment to organise your thoughts.
- Ecco, volevo dirti una cosa.
- Well, I wanted to tell you something.
- Ecco, il problema è questo.
- So, the problem is this.
This use is very common in speech and sounds natural, not hesitant.
Quick Check: Ecco
Complete each sentence with ecco, a form of ecco with a pronoun, c'è, or ci sono.
1. Dov'è il bagno? ___ (here it is).
Answer: Eccolo
il bagno is masculine singular
2. Dove sono le ragazze? ___ (here they are).
Answer: Eccole
le ragazze is feminine plural
3. ___ un bar vicino alla stazione?
Answer: C'è
asking whether something exists
4. Il suo caffè, signora. Ecco ___.
Answer: a Lei
the formal set phrase
5. Sei pronto? Sì, ___ (here I am).
Answer: eccomi
ecco + mi
6. ___ (here we are) finalmente a casa.
Answer: Eccoci
ecco + ci
Ecco FAQs
- What does ecco mean in Italian?
- Ecco means here is, here are, there is, or there are when you point something out or hand it over: ecco il treno, ecco i tuoi soldi. It can also mean there you go or that's it, and ecco perché means that's why.
- What is the difference between ecco and c'è?
- Ecco points at something present right now: ecco il bar (here's the bar). C'è states that something exists: c'è un bar in piazza (there's a bar in the square). C'è changes to ci sono for plurals and has tenses; ecco never changes.
- What do eccolo and eccola mean?
- Eccolo means here it is or here he is, for a masculine noun. Eccola means here it is or here she is, for a feminine noun. The plurals are eccoli and eccole. The pronoun attaches to ecco as one word.
- Does ecco have a plural?
- No. Ecco is the same before singular and plural nouns: ecco la chiave, ecco le chiavi. Only an attached pronoun changes: eccola, eccole.
- How do you say here you are when handing something over?
- Ecco a te with a friend, ecco a Lei in formal situations, or simply ecco. Ecco qua is also very common. These are the standard phrases in shops, cafés, and restaurants.